# 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.

## Report
### Background

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

* (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

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

### Starting Lineup

| 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
### Stage Results

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

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

* 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
### Television

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

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

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Kyle Larson | 4,123 |
| 2 | 2 | Ryan Blaney | 4,072 (–51) |
| 1 | 3 | Denny Hamlin | 4,064 (–59) |
| 1 | 4 | Kyle Busch | 4,063 (–60) |
| 1 | 5 | Chase Elliott | 4,055 (–68) |
| 2 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | 4,048 (–75) |
| 4 | 7 | Martin Truex Jr. | 4,041 (–82) |
| 1 | 8 | Joey Logano | 4,020 (–103) |
| | 9 | Kevin Harvick | 2,248 (–1,875) |
| | 10 | Christopher Bell | 2,198 (–1,925) |
| | 11 | Kurt Busch | 2,196 (–1,927) |
| | 12 | Tyler Reddick | 2,192 (–1,931) |
| | 13 | William Byron | 2,183 (–1,940) |
| 1 | 14 | Aric Almirola | 2,136 (–1,987) |
| 1 | 15 | Alex Bowman | 2,135 (–1,988) |
| | 16 | Michael McDowell | 2,107 (–2,016) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Chevrolet | 1,216 |
| 2 | Toyota | 1,137 (–79) |
| 3 | Ford | 1,135 (–81) |