All Jacked Up

What to expect at Texas

Posted by: Jason Randall

Thursday, April 3, 2008 1:50 PM

The first thing I think about when NASCAR invades Texas Motor Speedway is how fast the track is. Then I think about how dicey things have gotten there in the past.

Texas is a brutally fast circuit much like Atlanta, so we can use results from the Kobalt Tools 500 on March 9 for, if nothing else, a measuring stick on what to expect.

Jeff Burton is the hottest driver in the series these days and he's run very well at Texas. He won the spring race there last season and it seems like the RCR cars have really hit their stride. Frankly, they've been the best Chevys in the field, not the Hendrick machines.

Fellow RCR driver Kevin Harvick also is one to watch on Sunday. Harvick has been good on tracks like this since he took over Dale Earnhardt's ride in 2001. Remember that unbelievable Atlanta finish he had?

The Hendrick program has slowly been improving over the last few weeks and it wouldn't surprise me to see the 24, 48 and 88 run well Sunday. Jimmie Johnson won the fall race at Texas last season, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. has had a decent amount of success there too, including a win in 2000.

That's not to say a Chevy is guaranteed to reach Victory Lane on Sunday. I fully expect the Gibbs Toyotas to be strong. Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch both will be looking to get back into the win column and both certainly are capable.

Then on the Ford side of things, Roush drivers Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle each could have something to say.

And then don't rule out the Dodges of Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahne.

What's good about this season is how evenly-matched things have been through six races. Last season it was a Hendrick car or Stewart that likely was going to win. It makes it fun when so many guys have a genuine shot at winning. I think we're in for a very entertaining season all the way through November.

Sunday's race should be a good one.

Just one more thing. I love Richard Childress' decision to bring on fourth car next year (actually in a few races late this season and then next year), and I really hope it will be Bobby Labonte in that ride, as has been speculated. Labonte is a class act and one of the good guys out there. He's a sentimental favorite of mine each and every week. NASCAR has benefited from Labonte's talent, driving style and personality through the years, and it would be nice to see the former champ be given some good equipment for the first time since he left Gibbs.

That's it for today, until next time, keep hittin' your marks!

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