Race: AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400
Date: Sunday, July 20th, 2025
Track: Dover Motor Speedway
Time: 2:35 PM ET
Channel: TNT Sports
What Did We Learn From Last Weekend?
Shane van Gisbergen went and did it again! The Kiwi was absolutely untouchable on road courses, capturing his third straight road course victory at Sonoma Raceway. SVG dominated from the pole position, leading 97 of 110 laps in what became a masterclass in road course racing. Chase Briscoe gave him everything he had and then some, finishing a respectable second by 1.128 seconds, but as Briscoe himself said, it felt like “playing basketball against Michael Jordan in his prime.”
The race wasn’t without its drama, though. We saw some heated exchanges on pit road between the RFK Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing crews after Ty Gibbs drove through Brad Keselowski’s pit stall, nearly taking out a crew member in the process. The final 15 laps were absolute chaos with multiple cautions, but van Gisbergen weathered every storm to secure his fourth Cup Series win. Chase Elliott rounded out the podium in third, while Michael McDowell and Christopher Bell completed the top five. For van Gisbergen, this victory ties him with Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, and Christopher Bell for the most wins this season at three apiece.
Where Are We Headed This Weekend?
This weekend, the drivers are headed to one of NASCAR’s most grueling venues – Dover Motor Speedway, better known as “The Monster Mile.” This one-mile concrete oval is an absolute beast that puts both man and machine through the ultimate test. With 24 degrees of banking in the turns and 9 degrees on the straights, Dover has been compared to falling off a four-story building every time you dive into those corners. And the drivers do that 400 times over the course of a race.
The concrete surface and tight confines make passing extremely difficult, so track position is absolutely crucial. When things go wrong at Dover, they go wrong in a hurry, and accidents tend to collect multiple cars. It’s been called NASCAR’s most physically demanding track, and for good reason. This will be the first July Cup Series race at Dover since Richard Petty won the inaugural event by six laps way back in 1969.
Odds and Value Picks
Both Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson come in as co-favorites at +450, and honestly, that makes perfect sense. But let’s dig a little deeper and find some value in this loaded field.
Winner: Denny Hamlin (+450)
Hamlin has to be your top choice this weekend. The guy won at Dover most recently in 2024 where he held off Larson for the win, leading 136 laps that day and showing he knows how to handle this concrete monster. Hamlin’s been consistently fast all season with three wins already, and Dover has always been one of his better tracks. At +450, he’s sharing favoritism with Larson, but I like his chances better.
Mid-Range Pick: Chase Briscoe (+1600)
After that brilliant second-place run at Sonoma, Briscoe has some serious momentum heading into Dover. He’s been quietly consistent all season and has shown he can run with the big boys. At +1600, these odds provide solid value for a driver who’s been knocking on the door all year. Dover rewards consistency and smart driving, two things Briscoe has in spades.
Dark Horse: Brad Keselowski (+3000)
RFK Racing has been hit-or-miss this season, but Dover could be the perfect place for Keselowski to break through. He’s a former Cup Series champion who knows how to handle tough tracks, and at +3000, the value is too good to pass up. If he can keep his nose clean and avoid the chaos that often ensues at Dover, he could sneak into contention.
Top 16 After Last Week’s Race:
- William Byron
- Chase Elliott
- Kyle Larson
- Denny Hamlin
- Tyler Reddick
- Christopher Bell
- Ryan Blaney
- Ross Chastain
- Chase Briscoe
- Alex Bowman
- Chris Buescher
- Joey Logano
- Bubba Wallace
- Ryan Preece
- AJ Allmendinger
- Kyle Busch
Van Gisbergen’s win keeps shaking up the standings, and with playoff implications heating up, this Dover race could be a make-or-break moment for several drivers. The Monster Mile has a way of separating the contenders from the pretenders, so buckle up for what should be an absolutely wild 400 miles of concrete jungle racing!
