2015 Pit Road Week 34: Texas

Weekly NASCAR Review and Power Rankings

AAA Texas 500

By Richard Tix

Just one Chase race remains before the final Chase race, championship race, at Miami. Only one driver has locked himself in for Miami (Jeff Gordon) as Jimmie Johnson spoiled Brad Keselowski's dominate day at Texas.

In general, most of the race was calm and lacking a bit of action. Restarts were a ton of fun all day, though. Late in the race it came down to a late restart (without it BK would have won). BK fought off Truex but then had a hard charging JJ coming for him. 

JJ and his car were dialed in and he could run any and every line he wanted. He sized BK up and let BK decide which like he would pass him with. For a drawn out race, the finish was fantastic. Hard racing at it's best and a non Chase driver spoiling the fun. 

1. Jeff Gordon (LW-1)- He is locked in to Miami and he posted another top 10. Team 24 just need to keep momentum going and focus on one complete race at Homestead. 
2. Kevin Harvick (LW-5)- Riding around the track driving with one hand like a boss. It was fun to see him doing just that, but he should be a bit disappointed because a hard earned 3rd might have been a locked in win if he didn't have troubles. 
3. Kyle Busch (LW-4)- Kyle is just doing enough and the right stuff to advance and get to the finale. Enough driver have had trouble that laying down top 10's will get him into the last race unless someone new in the top 8 wins.
4. Martin Truex Jr (LW-3)- Overlooked, and underrated, Truex is in a spot to make the finale. Tell me, who thought that to start 2015? Not me.
5. Brad Keselowski (LW-6)- BK was dominate, no doubt about that, but the last lap is what matters. JJ sized him up and had the #48 in a spot to run every line making it tough for BK to stop him from eventually passing him. BK is still pretty much in a must win spot at PHX.
6. Carl Edwards (LW-7)- Carl still has a shot at a spot in Miami on points, He is chasing Truex on points and needs a mistake in front of him or a win. 
7. Joey Logano (LW-2)- Well, Joey was in a must win spot anyways, but no he only has one race to do it. Chances are not looking good for one of the best drivers of 2015.
8. Kurt Busch (LW-8)- Things are not looking good for Kurt. He is in a must win spot, but so are three other drivers not in the top 4.
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-10)- It really is too bad Jr didn't get the win at Dega. He now has three straight top 10's including two top 5's.
10. Jimmie Johnson (LW-NR)- Jimmie only needed 6 laps led to win the race in Sunday. The 48 was dialed in after the last stop and BK couldn't hold him off even while trying to run JJ's line's. 
11. Jamie McMurray (LW-NR)- Back to back top 10's for McMurray breaks a streak of back to back rough finishes before that. 
12. Paul Menard (LW-NR)- Menards Chase has been just average, and he gets the last spot on the rankings by being average. Not much more to say but he does have three straight top 15's which includes a top 10.