Race number eight in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup gets underway Sunday, Nov. 3 at 3 p.m. ET at Texas Motor Speedway and things are stewing at the top of the points standings.
Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson left Martinsville Motor Speedway last weekend sharing the top spot after Kenseth finished fourth and Johnson fought back for a fifth place finish. Johnson had entered the race in the top spot in the championship hunt with Kenseth only a few points behind.
What will the 1.5-mile oval have for these drivers vying for the championship?
Kenseth has two wins, 12 top fives and 15 top 10s at TMS while Johnson has two wins, nine top fives and 15 top 10s. Throw Jeff Gordon in the mix, who sits third in the standings and has one win at TMS, and fourth place Kevin Harvick, who is looking for his first win at Texas, and you have a recipe for the makings of a wild west showdown.
The driver who is fifth in the Chase standings is looking to sweep at Texas. The spring winner at Texas Motor Speedway, Kyle Busch, has a chance to win Sunday and gather some points to make a statement before the season comes to a close.
A non-Chase driver can also throw a wrench into the strategy of those in the running for the championship in the AAA Texas 500.
The Nationwide series will be back in action after a two-week hiatus. The last time we saw these drivers was at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Kyle Busch came away with his 11th win in the Nationwide Series this year for Joe Gibbs Racing. Austin Dillon currently leads Sam Hornish, Jr. in the points and the two finished second and third in the last race. It will be a heck of a rodeo to watch this pair battle for the top spot in the 200-lap O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Can Sprint Cup regular and truck team owner Brad Keselowski get his first win the Camping World Truck Series this weekend? Keselowski looked solid in practice Thursday night with the top speed of 181.446 mph. Jeb Burton has shown his ability to race in his rookie season. Burton was second in practice with a speed of 181.299 mph and the points leader was in third in final practice at 180.959 mph. Matt Crafton has a firm hold in the standings, but last season’s champion James Buescher is looking to close that 51-point gap before it comes down to the final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in two weeks. The 147-lap Winstar World Casino 350 will get underway Friday night at 8:30 p.m. ET
The winners will be shooting pistols and donning cowboy hats at Texas Motor Speedway. If you happen to have tickets to this weekend’s race and you try one of the unique treats at the track, especially this weekend’s special, “Shake and Bacon Brew” (a beer-flavored milkshake with candied bacon), please send in a full report.
