For the third time in eight days the Cup Series drivers and teams will compete. Sunday NASCAR is racing at Texas Motor Speedway in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500.
Last Sunday rookie Cole Custer became the ninth different winner in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season by winning the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway.
Wednesday night Chase Elliott won one million dollars by winning the 2020 NASCAR All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. That win gave him a big payday and bragging rights, but not a spot in the post-season. Luckily for Chase he already won the ALSCO Uniforms 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway back in May to earn his spot in the Playoffs.
The other seven drivers that have clinched their spot in the post-season by winning are: Kevin Harvick (4 wins), Denny Hamlin (4 wins), Brad Keselowski (2 wins), Joey Logano (2 wins), Ryan Blaney (1 win), Martin Truex Jr. (1 win) and Alex Bowman (1 win).
That leaves seven spots open in the 16 driver post-season field to be filled. Those spots can be filled by drivers scoring their first win of the season. If there are not seven new winners in the remaining nine races of the regular season, the open spots will be filled by the drivers with the most points.
That makes each of the remaining nine races before the Playoffs more and more important. The pressure starts building this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. With plenty of room and high speeds, the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 could be an action packed race.
While every driver has their preferred handling in their cars, the teams will all be dealing with identical track and race statistics.
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 #: 18 of 36 (07-19-20)
Race Length: 334 laps / 500.5 miles
Stage 1 & 2 Length: 85 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 164 laps
With each driver having unique driving styles and preferences, some have found the ability to consistently perform well at Texas Motor Speedway during their Cup Series careers.
Top 10 Active Driver Ratings at Texas
Matt Kenseth ………………………… 103.8
Jimmie Johnson …………………….. 102.6
Kyle Busch ……………………………. 102.1
Kevin Harvick ………………………….. 97.2
Martin Truex Jr ……………………….. 93.9
Erik Jones. ……………………………… 93.9
Kurt Busch ……………………………… 90.3
Chase Elliott …………………………… 89.2
Joey Logano …………………………… 89.1
Denny Hamlin …………………………. 88.6
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2019 races (30 total) among active drivers at Texas Motor Speedway.
There are also some active drivers that have been able to find the way to win at Texas Motor Speedway.
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
What will it be, another win for a driver who has already won in 2020? Will a new winner clinch a spot in the post-season?
The one thing I have noticed since NASCAR has gotten back to racing since the break for quarantine, you had better expect the unexpected.
We will find out what happens Sunday, July 19th starting at 1 P.M. central time (2 P.M. eastern time) in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 from Texas Motor Speedway.
By: Buck Stevens
