Congratulations to Joey Logano, who is the first driver to punch his ticket for the championship race with his win at Martinsville this past weekend. Martin Truex Jr. was not happy after the race as he passed Logano with one lap to go and Logano gave him a bump entering turn three on the final lap and made the pass for the win. I will disagree with Martin as I believe this is short track racing and every driver in the field would have done the same thing to get the win.
Now on the other side of the coin, Joey will have to really watch his rear view mirror at Homestead because if Martin can get to him, he will pay him back like Matt Kenseth did a few years ago. Martin really has nothing to lose as he doesn’t have a ride for next season at this point. He needs to do everything he can to win another championship to show other owners that he is worth hiring, which should really be a no-brainer.
AAA TEXAS 500
This week the series heads to the Texas Motor Speedway for the running of the AAA Texas 500. This is the last mile and a half track before the final race of the season, so it is the last chance for teams to see what they have for the final race of the year. With Logano winning we now know that some drivers might still need to win one of the next two races to make it into the championship. Right now the Big Three hold those final three positions, but a lot can happen in the next two races.
Kyle Busch: I think Kyle gets back to victory lane this week at Texas. He won the race here in the spring. He has two wins and six top five finishes in his last eight starts at this track and his pit crew seems to be working well together. Right now he holds a pretty good lead in the points race, but he would still like to get the job done now and show that he might be the person to beat at Homestead.
Kevin Harvick: It has been a while since he has visited victory lane even though he has been close and dominated some races he didn’t win. This team has shown speed all year long and he showed that he wasn’t too worried last week at Martinsville as he seemed to be content just staying out of trouble and finishing in a good points position. He knows how good he is at Phoenix and thinks he can point his way in if need be.
Martin Truex Jr.: Martin has shown that he can compete with the best on all types of tracks, but the intermediate tracks are where he is at his best. He finished second in this race last season and had a string of six straight top ten finishes here in the spring when he was involved in an early race accident that took him out of the race. He wants to make sure he has another good finish this week to take some pressure off going to Phoenix.
Joey Logano: Last week’s winner has been very good at Texas over the past six seasons. He has finished seventh or better in nine of his last eleven starts at this track and has a lot of confidence and no worries right now. This team might use this race to do some testing for Homestead as they know they are already in the championship field.
Chase Elliott: Chase might have to win one of the next two races to make the championship race and he has shown that he can get the job done lately. His worst finish at Texas in his five starts there was eleventh. All of his other races he finished in the top ten. He is going to have to score some points in both of the stages and come away with at least another top ten finish this week to give him a shot to get in on points.
Kurt Busch: Kurt in another driver who might need to win to get in. He sat on the pole for the last two Texas races and has finished in the top ten in five of his last six starts here. Once again stage points will be imperative for all of the playoff drivers in the next two races because we don’t know who is going to win those races. All of these drivers know how hard it is to win a race and that points are going to be at a premium.
Erik Jones: Erik has only run four races at this track and has finished in the top ten in his last two starts. This is the type of track where he has shown some promise in his early career and he is worth having on your roster this week. He led 64-laps here in April, so that shows he can lead this race and if you can lead it, you can win it.
Ryan Blaney: Ryan has shown speed all year and this is the type of track where he is more consistent. he has finished fifth and sixth in his last two starts here and led 148 laps in the race before that. He might be out of the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t going to try and win races the rest of the year.
Brad Keselowski: Brad has finished in the top six in five of his last eight starts at Texas. He won a few races just before and at the beginning of the playoffs and all of the Penske teams have shown speed all year and even more lately. Brad is another driver who isn’t in the playoffs any longer, but we saw him racing his teammate, Joey Logano, last week at Martinsville, so we know he isn’t giving up.
Aric Almirola: Aric currently sits fifty points out of the top four in points and this is probably his best shot at winning one of the next two races and getting himself in the final race of the year. He hasn’t been very good here in his career with only one top ten finish in his fifteen starts at Texas, but he is on a new team this year and everything can change for him this weekend.
DRIVER GROUP GAME FANTASY NASCAR PICKS FOR TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Driver Group Game Group A
- Kyle Busch
- Joey Logano
Driver Group Game Group B
- Chase Elliott
- Kurt Busch
- Ryan Blaney
- Erik Jones
Driver Group Game Group C
- William Byron
- Chris Buescher
MY TOP-5 OVERALL AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
- Kyle Busch
- Joey Logano
- Kevin Harvick
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Chase Elliott
Dark Horse: Aric Almirola
Stay Away From: Kyle Larson
Big 18: Erik Jones
44 replies on “2018 Texas Motor Speedway, AAA Texas 500”
Hello Jeff
Long time subscriber – and thanks for the great website. In our pool, we can pick a driver just 1 time per segment – so in the Chase I have 3 drivers left. Logano, Kyle Busch, and Harvick. What order would you use them – based on how they run at these last 3 tracks. My initial plan was Logano, Busch, and then Harvick at Miami. By the way – I am in first – and have won the past 2 segments – of course with a lot of help from this site.
Thanks
Ed
I go with Logano this week, Harvick at Phoenix where he is almost unstoppable and then Busch at Homestead.
78-18-4-22 1 point behind the leader need this pick with stage points too
78-18-4-22 are gone my pick
9
2 or 12
I have the following drivers left and must pick 1 each for last 3 races.
12, 22, 48, 4, 42, 88 and 14.
I am thinking 4 at Phoenix like you said. I was going to use 22 at homestead. Who do you recommend this week. Or do I go 22 thus week and whom at homestead.
I would use either the 12 or 42 this week. Leaning towards the 12 because of the way the 42 ran at the end of last season.
I would use either the 12 or 42 this week. Leaning towards the 12 because of the way the 42 ran at the end of last season.
22-18-4-78 are gone my pick ?
9
2 or 12 would be my pick, but the #12 seems to practice and qualify great but never seems to be there at the end when it counts, but maybe it’s his week to capitalize!!,#goodluck
I have Truex, Harvick and Busch left in my fantasy league. What order would you use them in? I personally feel Truex at Texas, Harvick an Phoenix and Busch at Homestead.
Agreed.
Zero starts w harvick and busch,
Thinking Truex and Logano.
2 left with Elliott, 1 with blaney,almirola, bowyer and jones
Where do you use those guys
Think Mcmurray is worth a spot?
Elliott anywhere, Blaney one of the mile and a half tracks, same with Almirola and Jones, Bowyer at Phoenix. McMurray at Phoenix if you use him.
I’ve got slim pickings except for Harvick (1x) in my office Big 18 pool. Other than that I have Suarez (1x), Newman (1x), McMurray (2x), Bowman (1x), Almendinger (2x), Menard (2x).
Who would you use and where?
Use Harvick at Phoenix. Other than that I would probably use Bowman at the other 2 tracks.
4 or 22? Have 2 Harvicks left
4
78 or 22
I would wait until after the final practice to decide.
The #78 never qualifies good here at Texas but always seems to race better, so waiting after practice is a must 4 sure..🤣🤣🤣, .hopefully you go with the better play,hard choice but hey no one knows
I like the 78 after practice.
Do u still like the #78 from the rear of the field,even tho its a long race here at Texas???
Yes, I think he even gets some stage points in the first stage.
Truex 5 , Blaney 1, Elliott 2, Byron 2
Logano 5, Jones 1, McMurray 5, Buescher 2
Unsure about my picks. Elliott and Blaney just dont look good .
Byron maybe a bit better than Buescher but both running Hendrick power.
Just unsure.
Your thoughts Jeff.?
I like Jones instead of Elliott.
Hi, Jeff; Back up in first after last weekend. Right now I got 2 and 18 in A. Keep or trade either one or both for Harvick, Truex, Bowyer Logano or Kurt Busch. Also right now in B Group, I have Blaney and Hamlin. Same thing, Do I keep them or trade one or both for Elliott, Jones or Almirola. Thanks for all your help.
I like Harvick over Keselowski and Jones over Hamlin.
Who do you like the least today of these four drivers? 2, 12, 20, or 42. Thanks in advance.
I don’t like the 42 because of the way he ran at the end of last season and he hasn’t really shown much lately.
Thank you!
Truex is starting from the rear. Who would you take out of the 78, 9, or any of the Hendricks cars for Texas?
I stick with the 78. He started at the back last weekend and almost won that race. I think he moves up quickly and even gets some stage points today.
Thanks Jeff!
With Truex going to the rear, do you still like him over Logano?
Yes, I think he drives back to the front just like he did last week and runs in the top ten or close to it in the first stage.
Thanks, missed your previous post
9, 10, 12, 20……..which 2 do you start today? Thanks!!
I like the 12 and the 20.
One start with Bowman left. Two for the 37 (and 24 who is not in the lineup today) What starts would ya make?
24 and 37 are both starting at the back today. This might be the week to start Bowman.
And it was. Thanks!!!