It is a full weekend of racing in the Lone Star State this weekend as all three Series head to Austin.
XPEL 225
Saturday, March 23 @ 1:30PM EST
Austin, Texas
42 Laps/143.22 Miles
The Craftsman Truck Series will be shifting (No pun intended) from the half-mile short track at Bristol to the mammoth of a circuit that is Circuit of the Americas. At Bristol, Christian Eckes and Kyle Busch put on a show that saw the two battling seemingly from the drop of the green to the fall of the checkered at the end of the night. On the final run, Busch was over a second back from Eckes with about 10 laps remaining, and like only Kyle Busch could do, he ran Eckes down. Inch by inch, Busch closed the gap, putting himself within a car-length of Eckes on the Final Lap; it was too little, too late. As we always seem to say, “If he had one more lap…”. Well, he didn’t, Eckes held on for his sixth career win and his first of the 2024 season.
Most Recent Winner At Circuit Of The Americas
Last time the Craftsman Truck Series headed to Austin, Texas, Zane Smith grabbed the Checkered Flag for his second consecutive win at the track. Smith is not in the field this weekend, and for that matter, neither is 2021 winner Todd Gilliland.
Names To Watch
Jack Hawksworth: If you follow Sportscar Racing, you almost certainly know the name. Hawksworth is a 10-time winner in IMSA competition (Including a class victory last weekend in the 12-Hours of Sebring) and defending Champion of the GTD Pro class. Hawksworth will be piloting the #1 for Tricon Garage on Saturday.
Connor Zilisch: From one Sebring winner to another, 17-year-old Connor Zilisch is one of NASCAR’s top prospects and will be making his first start above the ARCA level. Zilisch is already a very decorated Sportscar driver. Just this year, in his two starts in the LMP2 class in IMSA, Zilisch has won the 24-Hours Of Daytona and the 12-Hours Of Sebring. Most drivers won’t win either of those races throughout their entire career, and Zilisch has won both of them before his 18th Birthday. It is also worth noting that Zilisch was the one in the car at the finish in both of those races, so when it comes down to it, he knows how to get the job done. Zilisch will be in the #7 for Spire Motorsports.
Marco Andretti: The youngest Andretti has slowly been shifting to stock cars lately. He made a few Truck Series starts a year ago and has competed in both ARCA races this year as well. Andretti will be driving the #04 for Roper Racing.
Ross Chastain: The Watermelon Man and 2022 Cup Series winner at COTA will return to his friends at Niece Motorsports to drive the #45. He won three races there in 2019 en route to his best points finish of second in the series.
My Pick To Win: Connor Zilisch
Focused Health 250
Saturday, March 23 @ 5:00PM EST
Austin, Texas
48 Laps/163.68 Miles
The Xfinity Series was off this past weekend at Bristol, but they are back to take on the Circuit of the Americas.
Most Recent Winner At Circuit Of The Americas
AJ Allmendinger won this race a year ago, and he is back, so you would have to assume he is the overwhelming favorite.
Names To Watch
Ed Jones: The Dubai native and former INDYCAR driver will make his second stock car start this weekend, driving the #24 for Sam Hunt Racing. Jones has made 63 INDYCAR starts and competed in 7 IMSA races a year ago.
Sage Karam: The veteran of 9 Indianapolis 500s has been competing in the Xfinity Series on a part-time basis since 2021. Karam proved he might have what it takes to be competitive in the series after a phenomenal run for Sam Hunt Racing in the #24 at Road America last summer. In that race, Karam put forth a valiant effort but ultimately fell to Sam Mayer and wound up finishing a career-best 4th. Karam will be back with Sam Hunt Racing again this weekend but in the 26-car this time around. Karam will look to continue his road course success from last summer.
Kyle Larson: Larson is back in the Xfinity Series with Hendrick Motorsports in the #17 this weekend. Larson will be looking for his 15th win in the Series.
Shane Van Gisbergen: This is what we have all been waiting for: SVG in an Xfinity Series car at a road course. Van Gisbergen has had a strong start to his rookie year in the Xfinity Series. He currently sits 14th in the points standings and is only 7 points out of a playoff spot. Van Gisbergen looks to become the first New Zealand-born driver to win in the Xfinity Series.
My Pick To Win: Shane Van Gisbergen
EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix
Sunday, March 24 @ 3:30PM EST
Austin, Texas
68 Laps/231.88 Miles
Sunday’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway was one of the greatest races the track has ever seen. There was consistent passing for the lead, massive amounts of tire wear, and, at the end of the day, experience prevailed over youth. Ty Gibbs dominated the day, but the constant pushing of the tires bit him on the final green flag run, and he faded, leaving Gibbs’ teammates, Denny Hamlin, and Martin Truex Jr, to battle it out for the win. In the end, it would be Hamlin getting his second consecutive win at Bristol and the fourth of his career at the track.
Most Recent Winner At Circuit Of The Americas
Tyler Reddick won last year in dominating fashion, leading 41 of the completed 75 laps.
Names To Watch
AJ Allmendinger: One of the most decorated road racers of the last decade, AJ Allmendinger, will drive the #13 for Kaulig Racing this weekend. Last fall, Allmendinger won at the Charlotte Roval for his third career win. He will be gunning for his fourth on Sunday.
Shane Van Gisbergen: While Allmendinger looks to defend his 3rd career win, Shane Van Gisbergen will be making his 3rd career start; with that said, Van Gisbergen arguably poses just as big of a threat as Allmendinger. Van Gisbergen has effectively been driving this style of car for approximately the last 15 years as NASCAR took a lot of inspiration from the Australian Supercars car when designing the Seventh Generation Cup Car. It paid off for Van Gisbergen last year on the streets of Chicago, and he backed it up with a Top 10 at the Indianapolis Road Course.
Kamui Kobayashi: For those not in the know, Kamui Kobayashi is a veteran of 75 Formula 1 Grand Prix and one of the very best Sportscar drivers in the world. He won the 24 Hours of Daytona Overall in 2019 and 2020. Kobayashi has won the Pole for the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times and has placed on the podium four times. He made his NASCAR debut last year at Indianapolis, driving for 23XI Racing in the #67. He will be driving for 23XI yet again, however he will be in the #50 as his sponsor, Mobil 1, is celebrating their 50th Anniversary this year.
My Pick To Win: Ross Chastain
Betting Odds
(All betting odds provided by DraftKings)
Favorites
Tyler Reddick +450
Chase Elliott +750
Shane Van Gisbergen +900
William Byron +1000
Christopher Bell +1000
Longshots
Kamui Kobayashi +4000
Todd Gilliland +10000
Kaz Grala +40000
Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images
