NASCAR Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 preview: Favorite, underdog, top storylines

On Sunday, the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series will take on the "Monster Mile" of Dover Motor Speedway. Here's what you need to know ahead of the 21st race of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. 

Favorite: Denny Hamlin (+500, per DraftKings)

Hamlin enters Sunday's race as the defending Dover winner. He already has three victories — Martinsville, Darlington and Michigan — to his credit in 2025, and another win on Sunday would make him the winningest driver of the season so far. Hamlin led 136 laps at Dover a year ago, and is hoping to run that performance back on Sunday. 

Underdog: Kyle Busch (+5000, per DraftKings)

Busch isn't having a great season, and he's not the driver he once was, but it's still surprising to see him this far down the odds list. Busch won the pole at Dover in 2023 and 2024 and will start 10th on Sunday. The two-time champion has worked his way back into playoff consideration, but a win on Sunday would lock up a playoff berth for the future Hall of Famer.

Practice, qualifying rained out 

Rain canceled Cup Series practice and qualifying on Saturday afternoon, meaning the first lap drivers will see on-track this weekend will be Lap 1 of Sunday's race. That's not exactly comforting for crew chiefs and will force teams to adjust on the fly during the race in order to dial their cars in. 

Can Kyle Larson get back on track? 

Since a disappointing Indy-Charlotte "Double" attempt on May 25, Larson has just been an average Cup Series driver. He only has three top-10 finishes over the last seven races, and he's drifted back to third in the regular season standings. However, he finished runner-up to Hamlin at Dover in 2024, and Dover has always been one of his best tracks. A win on Sunday would quell any doubts he and the No. 5 team are having as the playoffs draw near.