By: Toby Christie – Follow on Twitter @Tobalical

The first practice session of the weekend at Texas Motor Speedway is in the books, and round one of the weekend goes to Martin Truex Jr. and Michael Waltrip Racing. Truex ripped off a lap of 190.745 mph, which was quick enough to top his teammate Mark Martin who ran a laptime of 190.449 mph. Truex has be oh-so-close to visiting victory lane all season long, and it appears he has a car that may be fast enough to contend for the win yet again.

Clint Bowyer, the third Michael Waltrip Racing car, clicked off the fourth fastest lap of the session. Bowyer who sits third in the championship standings, 26 points behind the point leader had a lap of 189.857 mph. The other guy who has slipped into the championship picture is Kasey Kahne, who is now just 29 points out of the championship lead. Kahne was eighth-fastest in the first tune-up of the weekend.

Even though Bowyer and Kahne are drawing closer in the championship chase, the focus in Texas is definitely on Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski who are atop the point standings, and only separated by two points with three races remaining on the slate. Keselowski has earned an early mental advantage this weekend, as he was third-fastest in the first practice session. Jimmie Johnson in contrast only turned the 27th-fastest speed in the first practice.

Aric Almirola also continued his incredible stretch he’s had of late, as he was sixth fastest in this session. Almirola finished 12th in Charlotte three races ago, led a career-high 69 laps in Kansas two races ago, and then finished fourth last week in Martinsville. He’s fast again in that infamous No. 43 car.

– Toby Christie is the lead Motorsports writer for Sicknissified.com, and he can be reached via twitter or email. Tweet him @Tobalical or email him at tobalical@sicknissified.com. You can also find his work at TheFinalLap.com this weekend.