Duck Commander 500
Texas Motor Speedway
By Richard Tix
NASCAR finishes up in Martinsville after Denny Hamlin's first win of 2015 and took a week off from racing. Instead, drivers, teams, and owners will take a week off to relax and spend some time with family (oh, and get ready for Texas). The work never ends for NASCAR teams during the season, but it is nice to have a bit of extra time for family and friend.
So, NASCAR will get back to the track at Texas and NASCAR Behind the Wall will get back into the swing of things as well. So, lets get into this next weeks preview for Texas.
So, NASCAR will get back to the track at Texas and NASCAR Behind the Wall will get back into the swing of things as well. So, lets get into this next weeks preview for Texas.
The Good
- Jimmie Johnson- 17 top 10's in 23 starts says most of it. JJ is tied with Matt Kenseth for the most top 10's at Texas with those 17. JJ has won the last 3 Fall races here, so he is good, but maybe not good enough in the Spring? Who know's, but it is a weird trend.
- Kyle Larson- LarSON has three starts here in his young career, but both of them last year were top 10's. Texas seems to be right in his wheel house so he should run well again in 2015.
- Kevin Harvick- For the first part of Harvick's career Texas wasn't one of his better tracks (just 5 top 10's in 13 races). Since then he has 7 top 10's in 11 races. Add to it that the last time we were he he finishes runner up.
The Middle
- Denny Hamlin- In his last 7 starts Hamlin only has two top 10's. However, 5 of the 7 are top 15's and the other two are 20th place finishes. So, its not like he is bad here, but he hasn't had much luck lately.
The Bad
- Danica Patrick- Texas hasn't been Danica's best track over her career. In five starts she only has two top 25's. However, she only finished outside the top 30 once in those five tries (36th).
- Michael McDowell- 11 starts at Texas and two top 30's (both 30th's, both his last two starts). So, things have been trending up but I would still like to see him push to get a top 25 here and there.
- Josh Wise- I really do hate picking on these guys, because they are already at a disadvantage by being with small teams, but one top 35 in 7 starts will put you here. I am not looking for top 10's or top 15's out of these guys, but some appearances in the top 25 and top 30 here and there is a must to stay out of the "bad."
Track Facts
- A Manufacturer has not one back to back races at Texas since 2010 (Toyota both races)
- Jimmie Johnson has won the last three Fall races, but none of those Spring races.
- Only two drivers have won back to back times here (Hamlin-Both 2010 and Edwards- Both 2008).
- Manufacturer wins- Ford: 12, Chevy: 10, Toyota: 3, and Dodge: 3. 28 total races.
- Race has been won from the pole 3 times in 28 races. Twice in the last five races.
- Jeff Burton won the first Texas Motor Speedway race in 1997. He led 60 of 334 laps.
- Dale Jarrett won the first Texas Motor Speedway pole in 1997. He led 42 laps.
- Jeff Gordon is the only driver to run all 28 races at Texas.
- Of current drivers: Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson have the most top 10's (17).
- Of current drivers: Matt Kenseth has the most top 5's (13). JJ is second (11)
- Of current drivers: Jimmie Johnson has the most wins (4). Carl Edwards has the second most (3).
Texas
Motor Speedway
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Race
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Date
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Cars
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Winner(s)
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St
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Car
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1997-06
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4/6/1997
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43
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Jeff Burton
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5
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Ford
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1998-07
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4/5/1998
|
43
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Mark Martin
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7
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Ford
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1999-06
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3/28/1999
|
43
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Terry Labonte
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4
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Chevrolet
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2000-07
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4/2/2000
|
43
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Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
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4
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Chevrolet
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2001-07
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4/1/2001
|
43
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Dale Jarrett
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3
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Ford
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2002-07
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4/8/2002
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43
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Matt Kenseth
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31
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Ford
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2003-07
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3/30/2003
|
43
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Ryan Newman
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3
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Dodge
|
2004-07
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4/4/2004
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43
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Elliott Sadler
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19
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Ford
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2005-07
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4/17/2005
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43
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Greg Biffle
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5
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Ford
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2005-34
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11/6/2005
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43
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Carl Edwards
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30
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Ford
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2006-07
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4/9/2006
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43
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Kasey Kahne
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1
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Dodge
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2006-34
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11/5/2006
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43
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Tony Stewart
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8
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Chevrolet
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2007-07
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4/15/2007
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43
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Jeff Burton
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2
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Chevrolet
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2007-34
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11/4/2007
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43
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Jimmie Johnson
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8
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Chevrolet
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2008-07
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4/6/2008
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43
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Carl Edwards
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2
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Ford
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2008-34
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11/2/2008
|
43
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Carl Edwards
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16
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Ford
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2009-07
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4/5/2009
|
43
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Jeff Gordon
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2
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Chevrolet
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2009-34
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11/8/2009
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43
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Kurt Busch
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3
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Dodge
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2010-08
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4/19/2010
|
43
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Denny Hamlin
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29
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Toyota
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2010-34
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11/7/2010
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43
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Denny Hamlin
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30
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Toyota
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2011-07
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4/9/2011
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43
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Matt Kenseth
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4
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Ford
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2011-34
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11/6/2011
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43
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Tony Stewart
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5
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Chevrolet
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2012-07
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4/14/2012
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43
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Greg Biffle
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3
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Ford
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2012-34
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11/4/2012
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43
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Jimmie Johnson
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1
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Chevrolet
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2013-07
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4/13/2013
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43
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Kyle Busch
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1
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Toyota
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2013-34
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11/3/2013
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43
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Jimmie Johnson
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3
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Chevrolet
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2014-07
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4/7/2014
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43
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Joey Logano
|
10
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Ford
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2014-34
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11/2/2014
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43
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Jimmie Johnson
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3
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Chevrolet
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Texas Articles:
- Entry List (Coming Soon)
- TV/Race Schedule
- Power Rankings
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