Fast Forward ~ The AAA TEXAS 500 At Texas Fantasy Race Picks And Preview
“The future is like a corridor into which we can see only by the light coming from behind.”
–Edward Weyer, Jr.
“The future is like a corridor into which we can see only by the light coming from behind.”
–Edward Weyer, Jr.
The Track: Texas Motor Speedway
Location: Ft.Worth, Texas
Length: 1.5 Mile Quad Oval
Banking: 24 degrees in turns 1-2
24 degrees in turns 3-4
5 degrees on the backstretch
5 degrees on the front stretch
Pit Road Speed:45 MPH
The Race: The AAA Texas 500
334 Laps/ 501 Miles
Defending Champion: Jimmie Johnson, 151.754 MPH
Most recent winner: Joey Logano, 134.191 MPH
Track Record: Greg Biffle, 160.577 MPH- April, 2012
Race Record: Greg Biffle, 160.577 MPH- April, 2012
Qualifying record: Kevin Harvick, 198.282 MPH, April 2014
TV:ESPN 3:00PM
Radio: PRN (www.goprn.com) Sirius XM Channel 90
The History:
April 11, 1995-Construction begins on the Texas Motor Speedway.
April 5, 1997-Mark Martin wins the first NASCAR sanctioned race at the facility.
April 6, 1997- Jeff Burton wins the first Cup series race at Texas. Qualifying for this event was cancelled due to weather issues.
April 1, 2001 – Dale Jarrett becomes the oldest race winner at 44 years, 4 months, 6 days
April 29, 2001- A 600 mile event for the CART series was to be held. More than 80% of the drivers complained of dizziness during practice for the event. CART cancelled the race two hours before the event was to begin.
March 30, 2003- Ryan Newman becomes the youngest winner at 25 years, 3 months, 22 days.
2005-Texas is given a second annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.
2011-The spring race at Texas was moved to Saturday night, then back to a day race in 2014.
The Contenders:
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Texas:
#20-Matt Kenseth
106.1
#48-Jimmie Johnson
103.6
#16-Greg Biffle 102.2
#18-Kyle
Busch. 102.2
#14-Tony Stewart 99.2
#99-Carl Edwards 96.9
#11-Denny Hamlin 93.8
#15-Clint Bowyer 92.7
#24-Jeff Gordon 92.3
#88-Dale Earnhardt
Jr. 90.4
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2014 races (19 total) among active drivers at Texas Motor Speedway.
The Picks:
Before we get into this week’s picks, let’s look at last week’s results from Martinsville!
Player |
Selection |
Race Pts |
Previous Pts |
Total Pts |
Behind |
Wins |
DNFs |
Darrell |
24 |
44 |
4000 |
4044 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
Vivian |
24 |
44 |
4000 |
4044 |
0 |
5 |
2 |
Kevin Abraham |
22 |
40 |
4000 |
4040 |
-4 |
3 |
4 |
Barbara |
18 |
33 |
4000 |
4033 |
-11 |
1 |
3 |
Mr. Pole |
1 |
29 |
4000 |
4029 |
-15 |
6 |
2 |
Jim Fitzgerald |
4 |
11 |
4000 |
4011 |
-33 |
2 |
2 |
Mr. Winner |
24 |
44 |
2173 |
2217 |
-1827 |
1 |
3 |
Brian Marchetti |
24 |
44 |
2170 |
2214 |
-1830 |
1 |
4 |
Alabama Fitz |
24 |
44 |
2168 |
2212 |
-1832 |
2 |
7 |
PattyKay Lilley |
48 |
12 |
2193 |
2205 |
-1839 |
1 |
1 |
Nate |
4 |
11 |
2140 |
2151 |
-1893 |
1 |
3 |
Mr. Seven |
15 |
38 |
1271 |
1309 |
-2735 |
0 |
0 |
Let’s get on to it for this week’s race at Texas!
ALABAMA FITZ: Ok folks, thoroughly enjoyable race at Martinsville, which included TWO red flag stoppages. Feel bad for Casey Mears...didn't see a thing, couldn't move out of the way in time. Excellent, exciting moves made by Earnhardt and Gordon on the last restart w/ 6 to go. I really didn't care which of them won, although I had picked Gordon. Texas....whee-e-e-e doggie! Where does one start? I was torn between Logano, three consecutive Top 5s, including the spring win and a chance for a Texas sweep, or Kenseth, who won in 2011 and since then has finished out of the Top 5 only twice (6 / 8). JJ has 3/5 Top 5s and he could pull it off. Brad doesn't really do well here so that eliminated him for me. Newman hasn't run well here either, but he is looking pretty good recently. So, back to Logano and Kenseth I go. Matt still doesn't fill me with warm fuzzies but this is where he could pull it off. It doesn't matter if he drives a Ford or a Toyota, he seems to like this track and my heart says pick him, but because of his lackluster year, I am hesitant to do so. That leaves Logano. I hope he brought his broom because I am going with the 22 car this week. Alright, head 'em up n' move 'em out! Git along little doggies!
PATTYKAY LILLEY: Here she is again... Ms Irrelevant. I seriously hope that my driver gets in everyone's way at Texas. Just sayin'...Anyway, ever since they built this track... Bruton, exactly why DID you build this track?... it's been thought of as a Roush track. I'd pick Jeff Burton, but I've lost track of him. Heard he's got a new gig in the works... something about talking. Oh well, better Jeff than Ward, I guess. So... I looked over what Roush is serving up these days. There's Carl, who's on his way out the door. Then, there's Ricky and Trevor, neither of which has actually gotten in the door, so to speak, and who's left? Why, the Biff of course. I looked at Greg's last dozen races. All top tens but one, and that one was 12th. Yeah, good odds. I hope I don't jinx him, but upsetting the Chase applecart seems to be in fashion, so go get 'em Greg. Mama's riding shotgun with Da Biff come Sunday in Texas.
KEVIN ABRAHAM: Short and sweet, I’m sticking with Logano at Texas.
BRIAN MARCHETTI: So I made a good choice last week, sticking with Gordon, my Go To Guy!!!! When I think about how I came to that decision, I come up with this week's pick too. Sticking strictly with Grid drivers whose finish really matters, it leaves me Gordon, Newman, Logano, Kenseth, Hamlin, Edwards, Keselowski, and Harvick to choose from. So you know me, I run the data, scour the stats, and decide who should run up front. I can't see a better driver today at Texas than Matt Kenseth. 1st in Driving Rating, and a 6.2 Average Finish over the last 10 races. He's fast early in the run, he's fast late in the run, and he's fast on restarts. Eliminating the chance for an accident, I'd say he guarantees me a Top 5 finish this week.
JIM FITZGERALD: Well, kids...there was no strategy of
waiting for others to make picks, and there was no ultra-calculation that was
waiting on some unknown number to make itself known on this day. The reason I have not made my pick yet is
because...well, it's because I just don't know, nor do I have any idea. This
Chase and it's eliminations are really throwing me for
a loop right now. I really want to pick
a driver who doesn't have a chance to win, but I also feel like the emphasis to
win is so very high, especially for a few drivers who would be on the outside
looking in come the end of the race at Phoenix.
I thought about Kevin and I thought about Brad.
Then I had the best idea I think I've ever had.
Jr. was a Chase Buster last week and took the win,
Another this week, a I'm taking Johnson, he's out, but I'm in!
Now…let’s see about our fan crew. What do they say about this week’s race?
Nate: I'm picking Jeff Gordon for Texas.
Darrell: Gonna go with Matt Kenseth this week and hope he never gets near Kevin Harvick.
Barbara: I’m keeping my pick from last week, Kyle Busch.
Vivian: Brad and Kevin will come back with a vengeance this weekend. I am still holding Kevin for the Phoenix win so I will go with Brad to win at Texas this Sunday. I am now working on the "checkers or wreckers" predictions.
There you have it! This week we have two picks for Joey Logano, one for Greg Biffle, two for Matt Kenseth, one for Kyle Busch, one for Jimmie Johnson, one for Jeff Gordon and one for Brad Keselowski With a spectrum of drivers that broad, I’m thinking someone here is definitely punching a ticket to the final race and a shot at the title. So, we’ll see how that all works out this weekend! We’ll be back next week to recap as always, but until then, best wishes, and keep the shiny side up!
Our Picks For This Week!
Kevin Abraham |
Alabama Fitz |
Jim Fitzgerald |
PattyKay Lilley |
Brian Marchetti |
Darrell |
Nate |
Who is YOUR pick to win this week?
Correctly choose the winner before the green flag drops on Sunday, and you'll be entered into a drawing to win some racing stuff!