NASCAR Goin’ Big in Texas

Posted on March 28, 2019
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 500
FORT WORTH, TX – APRIL 08: A general view as Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, leads the field on a restart during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 8, 2018 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)

After a week on the short track, NASCAR is goin’ BIG at the Texas Motor Speedway in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 this weekend.

The racing will completely different from last week’s bumper-to-bumper and side-by-side racing in Martinsville this week for Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers. The Texas Motor Speedway has plenty of room to race three, four and maybe even five wide in spots. Speeds will be in the mid 100 MPH. These conditions will present very different situations for the drivers and teams to deal with from start to finish of the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500.

Here’s a look at the track and race specific data for this weekend.

Texas Motor Speedway Data
Track Size: 1.5-mile
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 20 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 24 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 5 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees
Frontstretch Length:  2,250 feet
Backstretch Length:  1,330 feet

O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 Data
Season Race #: 7 of 36 (03-31-19)
Race Length: 334 laps / 501 miles
Stage 1 & 2 Length: 85 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 164 laps

Here are the top ten active drivers in over-all performance at the track.

Top 10 Active Driver Ratings at Texas
Jimmie Johnson…………………… 102.9
Kyle Busch…………………………. 101.3
Kevin Harvick……………………….. 96.3
Chase Elliott…………………………. 95.6
Martin Truex Jr……………………… 94.6
Erik Jones……………………………. 93.1
Kurt Busch…………………………… 89.9
Brad Keselowski……………………. 89.2
Joey Logano…………………………. 88.0
Denny Hamlin……………………….. 88.0
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2018 races (28 total) among active drivers at Texas Motor Speedway.

These are the active NASCAR Cup Series drivers that have won during their careers at Texas.

Active Drivers with Texas Wins
Jimmie Johnson – 7 Wins
Kyle Busch – 3 Wins (Including this race in 2018)
Kevin Harvick – 2 Wins (Including fall 2018 Texas race)
Denny Hamlin – 2 Wins
Joey Logano – 1 Win
Kurt Busch – 1 Win
Ryan Newman – 1 Win

We will find out which drivers add to their stats at the track which one gets the win Sunday, March 31st at 2 PM central time (3 PM eastern time) in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

By: Buck Stevens

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