O'Reilly Auto Parts 500
The first race, after the holiday break: Texas Motor Speedway. The track is located in Fort Worth, Texas. It was opened February,29th 1996 and the first race was a little over a year later on April 6th, 1997. The "Lonestar" track has historically been dominated by one manufacturer, much like Martinsville; Chevrolet. There teams have been struggling thus far this season to show up any where but qualifying or practice. Mr. Seven time himself Jimmie started off his season last year with a win at this very track. Unfortunately, for all the other drivers Kevin Harvick, and Ford are on a roll and looking to continue it at a track they are pretty familiar with. Unless JGR, and FRR with there Camry's can show up to the scene to start stealing some wins. Also, since I've come to the realization that a lot more people are playing NASCAR fantasy in some way shape or form. So, Ill give you all my opinion on the fantasy outlook for one of the funnest tracks to watch on the circuit arguably.
This weeks race could very well be the turning of the tides for the dominant manufacturer
at this track. My previous race reviews, I have been very critical of the new body that Chevy is running, but in all reality that's not what I think might be holding them back completely the race speed just doesn't develop early enough in the race. Which isn't good because your competitors are showing speed from start to finish. I mean come on Harvick won three in a row, and once Bowyer got out front he didn't look back. Given the circumstances, they adjust, and work on there cars and gain some small speeds. This week the highest qualifying Chevrolet is Jimmie Johnson at ninth. Qualifying was cancelled after round one due to lighting at the track. Jimmie does have a pretty good pedigree at this track. After all he does hold four track records here with wins(7), top fives(15), top tens(21), and laps led(1041). Jimmie scored his first win last season at this very track, and silenced some of his critics. With that being said there is another very hungry driver right behind him in tenth, Kyle Larson. This is the exact track he has a shot to get his season going in the right direction. Larson led 74 laps in the fall race and looked like he was gonna win, but was took outta the race due to a wreck. That could just be more motivation for him this spring to go ahead and cement his playoff position. The spring race last year had five Chevy drivers in the top ten after the checkered flag dropped last year. They know what it takes to win here but after those two you have to go back to 15th to even start to consistently see anymore Chevrolet drivers. That has to be a bothersome thing for a lot of fans and even the drivers because no madder what they do, something with these new cars and speed just hasn't came together. Hendrick's, Richard Childress, and all of the other owners and drivers have a lot to prove at this track. The season is still very young don't get me wrong, but I think something has got to give for the Camaro. Otherwise Ford might run away from them and not look back until they take home another championship.
This week qualifying was called after the first round due some weather in the area. That didn't put a damper on Kurt Busch though. Who claimed his second straight pole at the track. The guy holds the track qualifying record from his fall pole award. What is arguably a little less surprising is that his teammates Harvick and Bowyer claimed second and third. Honestly, Almirola didn't to bad either with a twelve place starting spot. Half of the top ten spots were claimed by that pesky blue oval. With Blaney who lead the most laps last Spring, and Logano being the other two in the top ten. These fusions are coming into each and every race and proving it that they have a chance to win. While I was coming up with my notes for this race, my headline for the Ford group was "Can they keep it up?" I guess after qualifying we don't really need to ask that question. Now could things have ended up differently if qualifying wouldn't have gotten cancelled? Yes, but you can alway argue the "what if's" This track last year was Blaney's for the taking in the spring and Mr. Harvick did take it in the fall. Ford teams led a total of 267 laps last spring, even though they didnt lead quite as many in the fall they led 39 and one of those was the one that madders. After "Happy Harvick" there were four more Ford drivers who finished in the top ten. They apparently figured something out after watching the Chevy's take the victory in the spring. To this point Penske has showed some speed, but just hasn't been able to close it out against Stewart Haas, and no offense but the Roush drivers haven't been anywhere to be seen since Stenthouse won last year. Stewart Haas received alot of slack for leaving the Chevrolet group a few years ago after winning a championship with Harvick, but now they are starting to look like a bunch of genius's. Ford fell off for a few year's the early 2000's was dominated by Roush driver's something happen and they lost a step but they seemed to have gained it back. This group of teams and drivers have been solid this year over all and there is no reason to think that they can't be again at Texas. Unless, the Camry's show up? Or maybe does that Camaro wind up in victory lane?
Last year's fall race, well lets be honest most of the year was dominated by Toyota and Truex. Truex and his team led 107 laps in the fall only to see Harvick take the win. A race that has twenty seven lead changes, saw 208 laps total led by those Camries. They know how to get around this track, and they showed that again with Hamlin, Truex, and Kyle Busch qualifying in the top ten. They went from only one driver in the top ten in the spring to four in the fall race. Truex won his first race earlier this season in California, and has been the only driver besides Austin Dillon to win a race that don't drive a ford. Toyota has been solid this year, they do have one win, and they have led some laps. The problem is this year as a fan I've noticed that those guys haven't exactly "come" together in there alliance. Last year with Truex being the new guy on the Toyota block they shared a ton of information which in return showed the dominance that really all the drivers had early on. Toyota as a whole won almost half of the total races last year with sixteen wins. If they can come together, not necessarily share everything but share more than they have. The chance to de-throne the Ford's as the dominant team. Is the issue maybe an egotistical thing amongst the driver's? I mean they did loose a pretty humble veteran with Kenseth being replaced by Jones. We all know how Denny and Busch can be as racers. Eric Jones may not be as egotistical as the other two, but much like Suarez he's young and hungry. I'm not saying go to each other about every single thing you find out that make your cars fast but they want a chance to win another championship they need to start sharing the information like last year.
So, I have come to the realization that a lot more people are playing fantasy NASCAR to some extent. Even myself has decided to get in on the new thing to do. I attempted to play fantasy football, but something about the way nascar.com has there fanstasy set up makes it funner for me. My predictions this week for Texas. I think after how the Fords have been dominant this year you would be about stupid to pick against them. Because unless a massive wreck happens and takes out all four Stewart Haas, and the three Penske drivers at least half of those guys have a chance to be in the top ten. You only get ten uses outta each driver so the solid picks if you haven't almost used up all there uses. I've got Harvick, Kyle Busch, Truex, Johnson and Larson. Any of those guys I believe are solid starts for this week.. You guys may wonder why no Kurt Busch, or the other two Penske cars. Well, Kurt hasn't won here since he drove a Dodge and the last time Penske won here was four years ago. It's really hard to pick against "JJ" I know his season has been sub par, but he is the record holder here. This could be the track he turns it around, Larson needs a good race to turn some things around here and this track fits his driving style. You guys don't really need an explanation for the other guys do you? I mean come on Harvick is Harvick, Truex is your reigning champion, and Kyle Busch can win at any track he races. Now for some really solid sleeper picks. I like Bowyer, Keselowski, Austin Dillon, and Bowman or Elliott. Bowyer is coming off his first win in 190 races, and qualified third he could ride that win back into another one. Brad Keselowski and the 2 team ran solid at speed weeks but we haven't really seen them to much since. Could Texas be the breaking out party for them. Your Daytona 500 champion Austin Dillon, has a knack for showing up when you least expect it and this week he could do it again. Now these last two drivers are guys I'm fans of Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman. Chase Elliott's best finish is fourth at Texas in 2016 but his first even Xfinity win came at this very track and he's still looking for the hardest win of them all the first win. Alex Bowman yes only has one top twenty finish here, but lets face it he was racing in sub par equipment before that one 16th place finish in 2016. Any of these guys I think are solid starts for this week barring any wrecks they could all score you some solid points.
I don't know about you guys but one week off was one to many for me I'm ready to see some racing again, madder of fact as I typed this I was watching cup practice and now the Xfinity race is about to start. What do you guys think, can history repeat itself and Chevrolet get there second win this year? Will the Toyota camp come together and show that dominance from last season. Will the Ford's just continue on like nothing is new this season for them? Either way as a fan no madder what I wanna see some good competitive racing and Texas hardly ever disappoints on that side. Stay tuned for the post race review hopefully Monday evening, and always tighten those belts, turn it up loud and LETS GO LONE STAR RACING!
This week qualifying was called after the first round due some weather in the area. That didn't put a damper on Kurt Busch though. Who claimed his second straight pole at the track. The guy holds the track qualifying record from his fall pole award. What is arguably a little less surprising is that his teammates Harvick and Bowyer claimed second and third. Honestly, Almirola didn't to bad either with a twelve place starting spot. Half of the top ten spots were claimed by that pesky blue oval. With Blaney who lead the most laps last Spring, and Logano being the other two in the top ten. These fusions are coming into each and every race and proving it that they have a chance to win. While I was coming up with my notes for this race, my headline for the Ford group was "Can they keep it up?" I guess after qualifying we don't really need to ask that question. Now could things have ended up differently if qualifying wouldn't have gotten cancelled? Yes, but you can alway argue the "what if's" This track last year was Blaney's for the taking in the spring and Mr. Harvick did take it in the fall. Ford teams led a total of 267 laps last spring, even though they didnt lead quite as many in the fall they led 39 and one of those was the one that madders. After "Happy Harvick" there were four more Ford drivers who finished in the top ten. They apparently figured something out after watching the Chevy's take the victory in the spring. To this point Penske has showed some speed, but just hasn't been able to close it out against Stewart Haas, and no offense but the Roush drivers haven't been anywhere to be seen since Stenthouse won last year. Stewart Haas received alot of slack for leaving the Chevrolet group a few years ago after winning a championship with Harvick, but now they are starting to look like a bunch of genius's. Ford fell off for a few year's the early 2000's was dominated by Roush driver's something happen and they lost a step but they seemed to have gained it back. This group of teams and drivers have been solid this year over all and there is no reason to think that they can't be again at Texas. Unless, the Camry's show up? Or maybe does that Camaro wind up in victory lane?
Last year's fall race, well lets be honest most of the year was dominated by Toyota and Truex. Truex and his team led 107 laps in the fall only to see Harvick take the win. A race that has twenty seven lead changes, saw 208 laps total led by those Camries. They know how to get around this track, and they showed that again with Hamlin, Truex, and Kyle Busch qualifying in the top ten. They went from only one driver in the top ten in the spring to four in the fall race. Truex won his first race earlier this season in California, and has been the only driver besides Austin Dillon to win a race that don't drive a ford. Toyota has been solid this year, they do have one win, and they have led some laps. The problem is this year as a fan I've noticed that those guys haven't exactly "come" together in there alliance. Last year with Truex being the new guy on the Toyota block they shared a ton of information which in return showed the dominance that really all the drivers had early on. Toyota as a whole won almost half of the total races last year with sixteen wins. If they can come together, not necessarily share everything but share more than they have. The chance to de-throne the Ford's as the dominant team. Is the issue maybe an egotistical thing amongst the driver's? I mean they did loose a pretty humble veteran with Kenseth being replaced by Jones. We all know how Denny and Busch can be as racers. Eric Jones may not be as egotistical as the other two, but much like Suarez he's young and hungry. I'm not saying go to each other about every single thing you find out that make your cars fast but they want a chance to win another championship they need to start sharing the information like last year.
So, I have come to the realization that a lot more people are playing fantasy NASCAR to some extent. Even myself has decided to get in on the new thing to do. I attempted to play fantasy football, but something about the way nascar.com has there fanstasy set up makes it funner for me. My predictions this week for Texas. I think after how the Fords have been dominant this year you would be about stupid to pick against them. Because unless a massive wreck happens and takes out all four Stewart Haas, and the three Penske drivers at least half of those guys have a chance to be in the top ten. You only get ten uses outta each driver so the solid picks if you haven't almost used up all there uses. I've got Harvick, Kyle Busch, Truex, Johnson and Larson. Any of those guys I believe are solid starts for this week.. You guys may wonder why no Kurt Busch, or the other two Penske cars. Well, Kurt hasn't won here since he drove a Dodge and the last time Penske won here was four years ago. It's really hard to pick against "JJ" I know his season has been sub par, but he is the record holder here. This could be the track he turns it around, Larson needs a good race to turn some things around here and this track fits his driving style. You guys don't really need an explanation for the other guys do you? I mean come on Harvick is Harvick, Truex is your reigning champion, and Kyle Busch can win at any track he races. Now for some really solid sleeper picks. I like Bowyer, Keselowski, Austin Dillon, and Bowman or Elliott. Bowyer is coming off his first win in 190 races, and qualified third he could ride that win back into another one. Brad Keselowski and the 2 team ran solid at speed weeks but we haven't really seen them to much since. Could Texas be the breaking out party for them. Your Daytona 500 champion Austin Dillon, has a knack for showing up when you least expect it and this week he could do it again. Now these last two drivers are guys I'm fans of Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman. Chase Elliott's best finish is fourth at Texas in 2016 but his first even Xfinity win came at this very track and he's still looking for the hardest win of them all the first win. Alex Bowman yes only has one top twenty finish here, but lets face it he was racing in sub par equipment before that one 16th place finish in 2016. Any of these guys I think are solid starts for this week barring any wrecks they could all score you some solid points.
I don't know about you guys but one week off was one to many for me I'm ready to see some racing again, madder of fact as I typed this I was watching cup practice and now the Xfinity race is about to start. What do you guys think, can history repeat itself and Chevrolet get there second win this year? Will the Toyota camp come together and show that dominance from last season. Will the Ford's just continue on like nothing is new this season for them? Either way as a fan no madder what I wanna see some good competitive racing and Texas hardly ever disappoints on that side. Stay tuned for the post race review hopefully Monday evening, and always tighten those belts, turn it up loud and LETS GO LONE STAR RACING!
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