2009 Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway

NASCAR's Fastest Track:

The 2009 Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway brings the NASCAR Sprint Cup stars to NASCAR's fastest race track. Carl Edwards swept both races here in 2008 but comes into Texas with only one top five finish so far in 2009. Is this the week that Carl Edwards returns to the Winner's Circle?

Tickets:

Speedway ticket office (817)215-8500

Buy online from TicketsNow (direct link)

The Track:

Texas Motor Speedway is a 1.5 mile quad-oval. With 24 degrees of banking in the corners the Sprint Cup drivers can really haul the mail off into the corners. In order to be fast a driver needs a car that is handling well so they can carry that speed through the turns.

Race Distance:

334 Laps = 501 Miles

The Big Picture:

Jeff Gordon laid down yet another top five last week in Martinsville and extended his point lead again. Clint Bowyer moved back up to second ahead of Kurt Busch.

The top twelve:

1. Jeff Gordon
2. Clint Bowyer -89
3. Kurt Busch -132
4. Jimmie Johnson -142
5. Denny Hamlin -148
6. Kyle Busch -159
7. Tony Stewart -161
8. Carl Edwards -209
9. Kasey Kahne -214
10. Kevin Harvick -245
11. David Reutimann -249
12. Matt Kenseth -255

Storylines:

Last week tenth place Jamie McMurray was the only Ford driver in the top fifteen. This week the series visits Texas Motor Speedway where Carl Edwards and his Ford dominated competition in 2008.

Will Carl Edwards break through this weekend and extend his Texas winning streak? Can another Ford driver break through? Is there true parity in NASCAR?

Media Coverage:

TV: FOX Sunday, April 5th, 1:30PM Eastern.

Radio: PRN and SIRIUS Satellite

Actual Race: 2:20 p.m. Eastern

Recent Events:

2008 Polesitter: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

2008 Winner: Carl Edwards

Last Year:

Texas Motor Speedway saw long green flag runs during the 2008 Samsung 500. Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch ran in the top three for most of the day and settled the race among themselves while the rest of the field was struggling to find the handle on their cars.

Drivers battled the track more than each other and this did not make for exciting racing. Carl Edwards made to the checkered flag first for his third victory of 2008.

Predictions:

Carl Edwards swept both races here in 2008 but I am going with his teammate Matt Kenseth as my top pick for this week. Kenseth won here in 2002 and has two wins already under his belt in 2009. Matt Kenseth is a strong choice for this Sunday.

For my backup I am going with Carl Edwards. His Texas statistics are very impressive. Winning three in a row at one track is extremely difficult but Edwards has a solid setup for the COT in Texas and has to be considered a favorite this weekend.