2021 Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500

The 2021 Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on October 17, 2021, at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. Contested over 334 laps on the 1.5 mile (2.4 km) intermediate quad-oval, it was the 33rd race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, the seventh race of the Playoffs, and first race of the Round of 8.

2021 Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Race 33 of 36 in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series
Date October 17, 2021 (2021-10-17)
Location Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas
Course Permanent racing facility
1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Distance 334 laps, 501 mi (801.6 km)
Average speed 134.859 miles per hour (217.035 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Grid positions set by competition-based formula
Most laps led
Driver Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 257
Winner
No. 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network NBC
Announcers Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Radio in the United States
Radio PRN
Booth Announcers Doug Rice and Mark Garrow
Turn Announcers Rob Albright (1 & 2) and Pat Patterson (3 & 4)

Report

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Background

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Texas Motor Speedway, the track where the race was held.

Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas. The track measures 1.5 miles (2.4 km) around and is banked 24 degrees in the turns, and is of the oval design, where the front straightaway juts outward slightly. The track layout is similar to Atlanta Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway (formerly Lowe's Motor Speedway). The track is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., the same company that owns Atlanta and Charlotte Motor Speedway, as well as the short-track Bristol Motor Speedway.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.
No. Driver Team Manufacturer
00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet
1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford
3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford
7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
13 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota
14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
15 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford
18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford
22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota
24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford
41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet
47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet
52 Josh Bilicki (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford
53 Joey Gase (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
66 David Starr (i) MBM Motorsports Ford
77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Ford
99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet
Official entry list

Qualifying

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Kyle Larson was awarded the pole for the race as determined by competition-based formula.[4]

Starting Lineup

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Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
2 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
3 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
4 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
5 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
6 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
7 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford
8 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
9 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
10 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford
11 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
12 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
13 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford
14 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
15 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
16 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
17 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
18 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota
19 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet
20 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
21 43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet
22 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
23 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
24 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
25 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
26 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
27 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
28 38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford
29 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
30 00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet
31 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford
32 77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
33 52 Josh Bilicki (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford
34 51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet
35 78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Ford
36 15 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
37 53 Joey Gase (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
38 66 David Starr (i) MBM Motorsports Ford
39 13 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota
Official starting lineup

Race

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Kyle Larson was the pole sitter for the race. 30 laps into the race, a crash occurred off turn 2 taking out a number of competitors. Kyle Busch won Stage 1 and Larson won Stage 2. Multiple playoff drivers suffered issues late in the race, with Joey Logano blowing an engine and Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. involved in wrecks. Larson would lead 257 of the 334 laps to win his eighth race of the season and be the first to advance into the Championship 4.

Stage Results

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Stage One Laps: 105

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 10
2 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 9
3 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 8
4 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 7
5 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6
6 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 5
7 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 4
8 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 3
9 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 2
10 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 1
Official stage one results

Stage Two Laps: 105

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 10
2 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 9
3 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 8
4 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 7
5 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 6
6 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 5
7 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 4
8 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 3
9 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 2
10 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1
Official stage two results

Final Stage Results

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Stage Three Laps: 124

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 1 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 334 52
2 12 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 334 50
3 11 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 334 34
4 7 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 334 40
5 24 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 334 39
6 4 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 334 48
7 6 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 334 33
8 3 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 334 40
9 9 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 334 32
10 19 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 334 27
11 2 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 334 34
12 21 43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 334 25
13 13 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 334 24
14 15 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 334 23
15 26 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 334 30
16 17 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 332 33
17 16 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 332 20
18 22 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 331 19
19 20 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 330 18
20 29 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 329 17
21 10 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 327 16
22 35 78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Ford 324 0
23 38 66 David Starr (i) MBM Motorsports Ford 323 0
24 36 15 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 321 0
25 8 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 320 12
26 33 52 Josh Bilicki (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 319 0
27 39 13 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 317 0
28 25 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 311 9
29 28 38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 299 8
30 5 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 298 25
31 30 00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet 59 6
32 18 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 38 5
33 14 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 36 4
34 27 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 31 3
35 31 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 31 2
36 23 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 30 1
37 32 77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 30 0
38 34 51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet 30 0
39 37 53 Joey Gase (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 29 0
Official race results

Race statistics

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  • Lead changes: 8 among 5 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 11 for 55
  • Red flags: 1 for 11 minutes and 9 seconds
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 42 minutes and 54 seconds
  • Average speed: 134.859 miles per hour (217.035 km/h)

Media

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Television

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NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Two–time Texas winner Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and 2000 Texas winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. called the race from the broadcast booth. Parker Kligerman, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast handled the pit road duties from pit lane.

NBC
Booth announcers Pit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen
Color-commentator: Jeff Burton
Color-commentator: Steve Letarte
Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Parker Kligerman
Marty Snider
Kelli Stavast

Radio

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PRN covered their final 2021 broadcast, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice & Mark Garrow covered the action for PRN when the field raced down the front straightaway. Nick Yeoman covered the action for PRN from a platform outside of Turns 1 & 2, & Pat Patterson covered the action from a platform outside of Turns 3 & 4 for PRN. Brad Gillie, Brett McMillan and Heather DeBeaux had the call from pit lane for PRN.

PRN
Booth announcers Turn announcers Pit reporters
Lead announcer: Doug Rice
Announcer: Mark Garrow
Turns 1 & 2: Nick Yeoman
Turns 3 & 4: Pat Patterson
Brad Gillie
Brett McMillan
Heather DeBeaux

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ "2021 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  2. ^ "Texas Motor Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on October 30, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  3. ^ "Entry List" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. October 11, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Starting Lineup". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. October 13, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  5. ^ "Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR. October 17, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  6. ^ "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. October 17, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021.


Previous race:
2021 Bank of America Roval 400
NASCAR Cup Series
2021 season
Next race:
2021 Hollywood Casino 400