This week marks an anniversary of sorts for Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Danica Patrick and her Stewart-Haas Racing crew chief Tony Gibson. The pairing finished 24th in its initial outing at Texas Motor Speedway last fall. Patrick holds a slim rookie points lead over Ricky Stenhouse Jr. after a 12th-place finish in Martinsville – the third-best debut at the track by a driver in Sunday’s field. The finish was Patrick’s best Sprint Cup finish on a non-restrictor plate track.
News
Vickers Next In JGR No. 11 After Martin Preserves Top 10 Owner Standing
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Brian Vickers is next up in the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in relief of the injured Denny Hamlin. The team has a solid history at Texas Motor Speedway where Hamlin swept spring and fall races in 2010 – the season in which the Virginia driver nearly won the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship. Vickers will do double duty in Texas also competing in Friday night’s Nationwide Series race. The No. 11 team stands ninth in Sprint Cup owner points following Mark Martin’s 10th-place finish in Martinsville.
Strong Texas Could Mean Post Season Appearance
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Greg Biffle scored an emphatic victory at Texas Motor Speedway last spring adding to Roush Fenway Racing’s domination at the 1.5-mile facility. RFR has won nine of 24 series races run in Fort Worth – five by current drivers Biffle and Carl Edwards. The Lone Star State’s spring race is an early barometer of success with each of its winners qualifying for the post season in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ era.
Points Leader Johnson Won Most Recent Visit To Texas Motor Speedway
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Five-time champion Jimmie Johnson regained the NASCAR Sprint Cup points lead on Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, where he led his 14,000th series lap. Johnson, the season’s first two-time winner, drove his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to victory the last time he visited Texas Motor Speedway in November. Saturday night’s race will mark Johnson’s 500th NASCAR national series start.
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Dover White Chevrolet)
Texas Stats
· Two wins, nine top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 9.3
The Final Lap Weekly #249 NASCAR Podcast – Darrell Wallace Jr. / Texas Motor Speedway Preview
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SHOW #249 – Guest: Darrell Wallace Jr. (@bubbawallace) – We recap the excitement from Martinsville, an actual Lady In Black, Jimmie’s announcement, dismal fantasy NASCAR, plus we preview Texas Motor Speedway, home racetrack to our own Toby Christie, also hosted by Kerry Murphey.
(48:00 mins)
CREDITS:
Hosts: Kerry Murphey & Toby Christie
Executive Producer: Kerry Murphey
Music: Russell Nash Radium Sound
Voice Over: Thomas Moog
