NASCAR Cup qualifying: Keselowski on pole for Texas playoff round, Logano joins on front row

After jettisoning four drivers from the chase, the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs starts the Round of 12 at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend. Chase Elliott, the 2020 series champion, enters Texas as the points leader, with a 15-point edge over 2018 champion Joey Logano and a 20-point lead over Ross Chastain.

Two drivers in the playoff field posted “wins” at Texas earlier this year as Daniel Suarez won the All-Star Open and Ryan Blaney won the All-Star Race later that night. Kyle Larson, another playoff competitor, won this race last year en route to his series championship.

Everything you need to know for the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500:

NASCAR Cup Series Texas weekend schedule and how to watch

Fans in the United States can watch the race on the USA network, the USA mobile app or the NBC Sports app (cable or satellite subscription required). Radio coverage is available on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM.

(All times ET)

Sunday, Sept. 25

Pre-race show: 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. ET (USA)

AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500: 3:30 – 7:30 p.m. ET (USA, MRN, SiriusXM)

Post-race show: 7:30 – 8 p.m. ET (USA)

AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500 starting grid

1. Brad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing Ford

2. Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford

3. William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

4. Tyler Reddick (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

5. Michael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford

6. Chase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

7. Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

8. Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

9. Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

10. Daniel Suarez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

11. Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford

12. Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

13. Chris Buescher (17), RFK Racing Ford

14. Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford

15. Martin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

16. Ty Gibbs (45), 23XI Racing Chevrolet

17. Alex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

18. Kyle Busch (18), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

19. Bubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing Toyota

20. Harrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford

21. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet

22. Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

23. Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

24. Cole Custer (41), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

25. Aric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

26. Noah Gragson (16), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

27. Erik Jones (43), Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet

28. Todd Gilliland (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford

29. Corey Lajoie (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

30. Chase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

31. Justin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

32. Ty Dillon (42), Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet

33. Garrett Smithley (15), Rick Ware Racing Ford

34. BJ McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports Ford

35. Landon Cassill (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

36. Cody Ware (51), Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet

Top drivers and best bets for the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500

Playoff drivers have the four best moneylines at BetMGM entering the weekend comprising Denny Hamlin (+600), Christopher Bell (+650), Larson (+700) and Elliott (+800). Kyle Busch, who has seen marked success in the Cup and Xfinity Series at Texas, has the best odds among non-playoff drivers remaining at +1000 along with Martin Truex Jr., who missed the playoffs by a quarter-panel.

Yahoo Sports’ Nick Bromberg is still fading Chastain in the playoffs but suggests finding value in Tyler Reddick at +1400 or Elliott’s and Larson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman at +2000.

Weather forecast for the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500

It will be blisteringly hot for both Saturday’s practice and qualifying as well as Sunday’s race. Temperatures are forecast for the mid-90s both days the Cup Series is on track, so count on tire degradation being as much a concern as fuel economy for Sunday’s race.

NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings

1. Chase Elliott – 3,040

2. Joey Logano – 3,025

3. Ross Chastain – 3,020

4. Kyle Larson – 3,019

5. William Byron – 3,015

6. Denny Hamlin – 3,013

7. Christopher Bell – 3,013

8. Ryan Blaney – 3,013

9. Chase Briscoe – 3,009

10. Alex Bowman – 3,007

11. Daniel Suarez – 3,007

12. Austin Cindric – 3,006