The next stop in the Playoffs is Texas Motor Speedway for the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500. Can another Playoff driver win the NASCAR “Golden Ticket” to the Championship Four?
Joey Logano claimed his “Golden Ticket” last weekend in Kansas. There are two more chances for the other seven remaining championship contenders to join him with an automatic advance to the Championship Round. The second race in the Round of Eight is in a state where they say “everything is bigger.”
Below is a look at the NASCAR Playoff Standings heading top this weekend’s race in Texas.
Racing at Texas Motor Speedway is anything but easy. There is plenty of room for racing. However, the high speeds can ruin the day if a mistake is made. The fact that there is not practice or qualifying this year makes the possibility of that mistake even more prevalent.
Let’s look at the data for the track and race that all drivers (playoff and non-playoff) will be dealing with equally.
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
Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 Data
Season Race #: 34 of 36 (10-25-20)
Playoff Race #: 8 of 10
Race Length: 334 laps / 501 miles
Stage 1 & 2 Length: 105 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 124 laps
Here are the top active overall drivers at Texas Motor Speedway.
Top 10 Active Texas Driver Ratings
Kyle Busch …………………………….102.4
Matt Kenseth ………………………….102.3
Jimmie Johnson ……………………..101.3
Kevin Harvick ………………………… 97.8
Erik Jones ………………………………. 94.3
Martin Truex Jr. ……………………… 93.4
Ryan Blaney ……………………………. 91.4
Kurt Busch …………………………….. 90.5
Joey Logano ………………………….. 90.0
Chase Elliott ………………………….. 88.6
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2020 races (30 total) among active drivers at Texas Motor Speedway.
Note: Drivers names in red are currently in championship contention in Playoffs.
Active Drivers with Texas Win(s)
Jimmie Johnson – 7 Wins
Denny Hamlin – 3 Wins
Kevin Harvick – 3 Wins
Kyle Busch – 3 Wins
Matt Kenseth – 2 Wins
Joey Logano – 1 Win
Kurt Busch – 1 Win
Ryan Newman – 1 Win
Austin Dillon – 1 Win
Note: Drivers names in red are currently in championship contention in Playoffs.
With last week’s disastrous race for Kurt Busch, he is in a must win situation to advance in the Playoffs. He got his first ever win at Las Vegas to advance to this round. Will he get his second career win in Texas to make the Championship Four?
Will Joey Logano put maximum pressure on the other seven drivers in the Round of Eight by scoring back-to-back wins in the Playoffs?
Will any of the other remaining championship contenders earn their spot in the Championship Four by winning at Texas?
Jimmie Johnson is retiring in just three more races. It has been years since he has been to Victory Lane. Will he get his eight win at Texas to end his Hall of Fame career?
Kyle Busch is the defending NASCAR Cup Series Champion. He was eliminated from championship contention after the Round of 12. He has not won yet this season. He needs a win to extend his streak of 15 consecutive years with at least one win in the NASCAR Cup Series. Can he keep that streak alive with a fourth win at Texas this weekend?
There are plenty of questions when NASCAR races at Texas Motor Speedway. The answers will come lap-by-lap in the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 Sunday, October 25th starting at 2:30 PM central time (3:30 PM eastern time).
By: Buck Stevens
