Is your Sunday going pretty sluggishly? Fear not, NASCAR is here to save the day with the latest race in the 2016 Sprint Cup Series. The best stock car drivers will rev their powerful engines at the Texas Motor Speedway as they’ll attempt to not only win the race, but also secure a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
It’s going to be a tight race among some of the best drivers in the series. But even they could fall off the leaderboard thanks to some contenders stepping up to make a surprise visit to victory lane. Read on as we break down the best drivers heading into this race.
For more on the Duck Commander 500, check out what the experts have to say with our feature here.
Jimmie Johnson first won the Sprint Cup Series Championship in 2006. He then won five more times. He has a very impressive 76 Sprint Cup Series wins and over 300 top ten finishes. It’s going to be very difficult to ignore Johnson’s resume especially with how he’s raced this season.
Johnson has two wins, three top five and four top 10 finishes in six races this season. If he plays his cards right, he may be up for another win at Texas this weekend. He’s been nothing short of spectacular at this track. He has six wins at Texas and five since 2012. Amazing. It’s going to take a lot of guts to pass on Johnson to win at this track.
Kevin Harvick
Yes, Johnson has done a superb job in Texas. But if there’s one man that can beat him, it’s Kevin Harvick. He’s been superb this season with five-straight top 10 finishes before placing 16th at Martinsville last week. He already owns a win at Phoenix and leads the Sprint Cup Series Standings with 220 points.
Harvick will be hard pressed to keep his competitors at bay. Jimmie Johnson is just four points behind him in the standings, while Kyle Busch is just five points away. Harvick backers may be rest assured that he’ll contend for the title at Texas. He’s finished in the top three in his last three starts at the track.
Kyle Busch
Defending Sprint Cup Champion Kyle Busch has started off the season strong. He made four top five finishes in his first five races, then won his first title at Martinsville last week. Busch knows how to ride momentum. One only needs to look at his stellar 2015 run to know that this man means business each time he’s on the tracks.
Busch missed several races due to a compound fracture to his right leg last season. It didn’t stop him from not only making the Chase but also winning the Sprint Cup. Busch won three straight races at Kentucky, New Hampshire and the Brickyard, last year. It was included in a stretch of four wins in five races from June 28 to July 26. Never count out Busch, especially when he’s on form.
Sleepers
Brad Keselowski
Brad Keselowski is coming off a good two-race stretch. He finished fifth at Martinsville and ninth at California. He’s one of the sleepers to watch heading into the Texas Motor Speedway. He has finished fifth or better in his last three races at the track, including a runner-up finish in last year’s AAA Texas 500.
Keselowski has six top 10 finishes in his last seven races at Texas, leading more than 20 laps in each of his last four starts. He’s one of the high-value picks who could turn some heads on Sunday.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Oh wouldn’t Dale Earnhardt Jr. love to finally win a race in this 2016 season. He’s had some narrow misses with a second place finish at Atlanta in February and a fifth place finish at California in March. Earnhardt may be in luck when the Sprint Cup makes its stop at the Texas Motor Speedway.
Earnhardt has finished sixth or better in each of his last three races in Texas. He also has eight top 10 finishes in his last 10 races at the track. Winning here is familiar for him; he won this race back in 2000.
With his history on this track, expect him to be among the leaders in the race.
Long Shot
Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kahne qualified on the front row at Martinsville, but he eventually sunk toward a 22nd-place finish. His performances are somewhat baffling; he has the resources and a powerful car capable of giving him victories, but he just can’t spit out wins.
Kahne will get another chance to show his worth at Texas, though. He won this race back in 2006, a time when he also won the pole. Considering Kahne starts at an average 12.7, expect him to make a surprise as one of the top 10 drivers at the track.
Writer’s Prediction
Can you deny Johnson a title at Texas? Nope. He wins comfortably to add a sixth victory at the track since 2012.
