The 12th Annual AAA Texas 500 is set to go off on Sunday, November 6th at 2:00 p.m. ET and will be televised on the NBC Network. There are just two races left until the final race at Miami-Homestead Speedway. In that event, the 2016 NASCAR sprint Cup champion will be crowned. As of now, Hendrick Motorsport’s Jimmie Johnson is the only Chase driver that has claimed a spot in the final showdown.
In the spring race at Texas Motor Speedway, Kyle Busch took the checkered flag for his second career win on the high-banked track. However, it was sixth-place finisher Martin Truex Jr. who led the most laps (141), around the 1.5 mile oval. Truex Jr. was eliminated from the Chase when his #78 Furniture Row Toyota suffered an engine failure at Talladega Super Speedway.
The Chase Contenders:
Jimmie Johnson: Johnson has reeled in six wins in 2016 and remains as the top speedster with a driver rating of 107.8. The six-time Sprint Cup champion also has an average finish of 8.3 on the season. Even though he is the only Chaser guaranteed a spot in the Championship event, don’t expect the wily veteran him to go easy on his fellow competitors. Las Vegas has Johnson slotted in at 5/1 to win the AAA Texas 500.
Kyle Busch: Busch is going for a season sweep in the AAA Texas 500 on Sunday.The defending Sprint Cup champion has a 5.0 average finish over the last ten races. That is the best of any NASCAR driver that will be laying rubber on Sunday. Busch also ranks in the top three in both laps led and fastest laps run at the track. Odds gurus have him at 5/1 to drive his way into the finale’ in Miami.
Kevin Harvick: After his disappointing 20th place finish at Martinsville Speedway, Kevin Harvick has his work cut out for him entering the AAA Texas 500. Judging from the past, he should be capable of putting together another strong race at Texas.
Although he has yet to win in at the 1.5 mile oval, he has finished in the top three in three of his last four races here. The determined racer was the fastest in the first practice on Friday and it showed in the qualifying rounds. Harvick’s #4 Busch Beer Chevrolet will be starting in the 3rd spot for the AAA Texas 500.
Kurt Busch: Busch finished 22nd last week in Martinsville, and needs a strong showing in Texas to stay alive. Don’t count the older brother out just yet, because he has finished inside the top 10 in three of his last four races here.
Kurt Busch was the 7th fastest racer in the first practice session and qualified his #41 Chevrolet in the 10th spot for the start of the AAA Texas 500. Prognosticators have Busch at 30/1 to win and place himself in position for his second NASCAR title.
Joey Logano: Currently, Logano sits in fifth place and is only four points out of the fourth spot. The aggressive driver has run very well at Texas the past few years. As a result, he has posted one win and five top five finishes in his last seven starts.
This team always seems to have a good car and qualifies well every week. Friday’s qualifying session was no different as Logano will be starting next to the Pole sitter Austin Dillon in second. Line-setters have Logano at a very playable 10/1 to win again at Texas Motor Speedway.
Carl Edwards: Edwards is another Chase competitor who really needs to win one of the next two races. Fortunately for his fans, Edwards has drove on to victory at Texas on three different occasions.
Furthermore, Edwards has also finished in the top ten in his last four races here. The Joe Gibbs Racing team member was the second fastest car around the speedway in the first practice round and qualified his #19 Sports Clip Toyota in 9th. Las Vegas experts have him slotted at 12/1 to win his fourth race at Texas.
Matt Kenseth: Kenseth always seems to get around this speedway well. In fact, he has two wins and thirteen top five finishes in twenty-seven starts here. Those numbers are all I have to give you, if you think that Matty K might be worth laying a few greenbacks on.
Kenseth was the third fastest racer in the first practice session and will begin the AAA Texas 500 out of the 7th spot. Betting advisers like the savvy veteran’s chances. They have him notched in at 10/1 to drive his #20 Dewalt Toyota into the Winner’s Circle.
Denny Hamlin: Hamlin is no stranger to Victory Lane at Texas Motor Speedway. The Joe Gibbs Racing’s phenom one back-to-back here in 2010. Unfortunately, since that time he has only finished in the top ten twice in ten races.
Pit road penalties and some inconsistent performances have plagued him throughout the 2016 Chase. Las Vegas has Denny Hamlin placed in at 15/1 to win the AAA Texas 500 on Sunday.
The Hun’s Prediction:
A: Joey Logano
B: Brad Keselowski Austin Dillon Kyle Larson
C: Alex Bowman
