One more week until the "game changer" in Talladega, but this weekend it goes for Cup and Nationwide Series in Texas to the point. This route is known for the series winners are not the rule but the exception. Best guarantee for power then?
Before we start with the analysis of the existing distribution 2010, as I have always prepared a short overview of the history of the route, which originates from the November preview 2009th In addition, there is a supplement that very briefly explains how and when the second Texas Motor Speedway race season has come to his. At the end of the article I will jump on the train already raging, and sometimes a little speculation about the change of Kasey Kahne to Hendrick Motorsports. Not too much detail, but enough to show, what is it now just concrete and what not. Here is the first but promised survey:
The Texas Motor Speedway is a 1.5-mile oval in the same form as Atlanta or Charlotte, and is therefore also known as its sister course. All three ovals have a banking of 24 ° and the characteristic double kinked start / finish straight, but Texas is about 35 years younger than his sisters. Other features of the Speedway on the one hand are the very high prize money, [...]. Since the pot is well filled, of course, also get the "start & park" Entries a bigger slice of the pie than usual, making a start is very attractive. The race in Texas offering the winner a half million dollars and this is the third largest prize money for the Daytona 500 ($ 1.5 million) and the All-Star race ($ 1 million), ahead of such classics as Indy or the Coca Cola 600, the only slightly less than half a million U.S. dollars have to offer. Secondly, the admission capacity of 191 122 seats for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (at least 257 325), the second largest in NASCAR, currently the two super speedway (Talladega: 175,000 Daytona: 167 785) and Lowe's Motor Speedway (167,000).
Since 1997, a guest of the Cup at the Texas Motor Speedway since 2005 and is also a second round of the season. At that time, Texas and Phoenix each received an appointment from Rockingham and Darlington awarded one of the most controversial changes to the calendar NASCAR history. Rockingham was then no longer represented on the racing scene and the "Lady in Black" lost its traditional Labor Day race, the 500th Southern It is true that since last year, the only remaining Darlington race again, the legendary name, but will now take place on Mother's Day. The Texas Motor Speedway since 2005 has been so well represented in the Chase, where Kurt Busch won the race in 2009. Because of this victory was his first success in Texas, he signed his name on the new list of previous winners still active, which is headed by Carl Edwards still:
First Carl Edwards (3)
Second Jeff Burton (2)
Third Mark Martin, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman, Elliott Sadler, Greg Biffle, Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch (1 each)
All manufacturers besides Toyota were at the Texas Motor Speedway and already successful in the recent past, even highly compensated. Ford looks back at 9, Chevrolet and Dodge to 6 to 3 victory. The small surplus in favor of Ford and Chevy is from the years before 2001. Dodge started in the first year with Ray Evernham, Chip Ganassi, Richard Petty and Bill Davis made a comeback after leaving the car brand from the Cup in 1985. Two years later, Ryan Newman managed at that time in a Penske Dodge, the first success in Texas since the comeback. In general, it is striking that the races rarely seen on the TMS is usually a repeat offender in relation to driving in the Victory Lane. Jeff Burton was the first who made it to 10 (!) Years, to repeat his victory in the spring race and Carl Edwards is the only driver who won both Texas races a year for himself.
Hendrick Motorsports ranks before 2010 so far Roush Fenway Racing and RCR
This naturally raises the question of who is to be expected for the weekend near the front. Surely again the usual suspects, the day I'd like to review team for team:
- Hendrick Motorsports, Jimmie Johnson, it has not, with the exception of Daytona, where he has rarely enough, once caught the defect devil, only made it into the Top 10 in Atlanta. When a race at the championship leader is sometimes not optimal, then he is just ninth in Martinsville. In the last year cost Johnson an early casualty in the Texas race Chase for the Championship, and nearly three years he has also always had a bad race per season. Nevertheless, he is one of the great candidates for a win. Jeff Gordon also has a decent Texas-statistic (a top 5 results per year) and the last two races at Martinsville and Phoenix, which he had won almost expected him perhaps the last bite missing have returned. Mark Martin succeeded after three races again rather poor connection to Chase the courts, to which he now makes after his fourth championship in Phoenix as the Thirteenth hunting. Last year, the GrandDaddy.com already showed what he can tear at HMS in Texas: No. 4 and 6 are from 2009 to book for him. He has a good chance for the top 5, the top 10 but are more realistic. That leaves Dale Earnhardt Jr, who has been in Texas in 2006 no longer run in the top 10, has more in his early years, but still the same in 2000 won his first race on the track. A Top 10 result should be the ultimate expression of feelings, the more it has not yet been shown in 2010, too, although he is currently ranked 10th in the championship.
These are fast, the customer team of Stewart-Haas Racing: Tony Stewart currently manages a little spongy through the season, a Top 10 result should be possible. When Ryan Newman you will also see what is really behind the victory in Phoenix. The trend over the 2010 season is already seen at least once since: 34/36/18/17/16/4/1, including a possible Top 10 material here.
- Roush-Fenway Racing: The former kings of the intermediate ovals have this type of circuit but badly weakened, at least in terms of victories. For top results are the three Fords of Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards to continue to have, and they are currently placed in the Chase also pretty solid. After David Ragan then you have to dig even more intense and about looking for more than 28th place in the championship is not currently there. Jack Roush probably still grumbles that he has at the end of 2009 Ragans place Jamie McMurray can go. Carl Edwards has three wins in Texas, but already in the account, if he does not win, but then he goes even in the top 10, a bit strange. I guess there been a better Matt Kenseth, who had since 2007, only to find not twice in the top 5 and are then two ninth places in 2008 was. A similar result, he runs well also in this race, considering that in 2010 only got Kenseth Martinsville not in the top ten. That leaves Greg Biffle, the I value a little bit worse than Matt Kenseth: Just do not moved into the Top 10 in Phoenix, but just with a little bit worse results than his team mate this year.
- Richard Childress Racing RCR I am looking at the great start to the season now just behind Roush Fenway Racing. Jeff Burton had been seen over the years at the most consistent way in Texas and won the debut race of the Speedway in 1997, and another 2007 edition. A Top 10 result is almost certain that there must be enough for the top 5 to decide in accordance with the practices. When Bowyer and Harvick, I see the very similar and although RCR has declined compared to the first four races of the season a little, chances are the current Chase finishes with a good result this weekend to solidify.
- Joe Gibbs Racing, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch have made it to Phoenix with Top 10 results, be among the twelve best drivers in the championship. Denny Hamlin lost in the last week, unfortunately, early on the port for a little bumping due to a racing start, partly because of his recently operated knee. As a result, he fell in the championship from 15th to the 18th I guess all three drivers currently in approximately the same strength: Top 10 results are entirely feasible, especially Joey Logano I am very happy how well he has developed 2010th For Denny Hamlin would be safe with a 100%-fit knee and the top 5 feasible.
Several other drivers currently stand as the favorites out of their teams
Occupy the four current top teams, which also closed at the Chase-positions are, then a few individual fighters that stand out clearly in their teams: Kurt Busch won the most recent Texas race in the fall 2009 and spring he went to 8th place Since he has been run in the 2010 season until now only very fluctuating results, I see the top 10 at the highest position of the emotions. Paul Menard, the high technology this year has taken the lead in Richard Petty Motorsports, fell to 29th place in Phoenix in the top 12 of the championship. His results so far in Texas are similar to his 2010 season statistics, ergo, we can say that again this weekend for a good result there should be Menard.
That leaves Juan Pablo Montoya, who mimicked Phoenix with a fifth place again to familiar services. It just needs to run only once for the Colombians. In last year's spring race he managed to place 7 in the fall he had to strike sail and lost after a failure with any remaining chances in the championship. Perhaps this topic has been crossed this year, even at this early time: I saw a statistic on Jayski that deals with historical residues on the Chase placings in the beginning of the season. It was after a Phoenix race the biggest difference that has ever caught up to the cut, only 104 points. Montoya has yet to Phoenix 132 points behind 12th place and the guaranteed power when the car stops for. I like to provide any link, if I'm looking for, but right now he is hiding from me.
The championship races at Texas Motor Speedway are among the West Coast races and therefore begin this year by 21 clock. The race start is always a bit later, and should such against 21:15 clock. FOX transfers but even at 20 clock. Qualifying will be held as usual on Friday evening at 22:30 and SPEED will broadcast on this clock. The Nationwide Series on Saturday evening from 21 clock (race start an hour later) on ESPN2 to see. The trucks pause until well into May.
Kasey Kahne will change from 2012 to Hendrick Motorsports
What is it fixed yet? Mark Martin hears the end of 2011, at least with his full time career. Individual race or even a part-time season, he has not been ruled out. This Kasey Kahne for the car with the # 5 is released in 2012. Rick Hendrick has promised him just like the fact that Hendrick will take care of himself to a cockpit for Kahne for next year, where it currently has no spare capacity. A decision in this regard is to fall within the next three months, it is clear only that he be traveling in a 2011 Chevrolet is. You can read about this here .
Everything else is purely speculative at present: that Kasey Kahne has long been contemplating a change is known. The dramatic restructuring of ownership in its existing team of Ray Evernham to a combination of George Gillett Jr, Richard Petty and Doug Yates, and the switch from Dodge to Ford, are pushed to the 30-year-old probably pretty upset. The unstable work environment led now to a massive underperformance of almost all the RPM team in 2010, whereby a barge's departure was a done deal.
What are the opportunities he has now in 2011? The most obvious solution for this transitional year should be a third team at Stewart-Haas Racing, Tony has already so often flirts expand. Rick Hendrick would certainly have a generous supply of smoke in the hindquarters have to convince his customer team of this plan. As a sponsor, Budweiser comes back into question, which accompany Kasey Kahne now for three years and are quite satisfied with their advertising. In addition, Hendrick has been a past with the Brewers, who starred in the 90s on the # 25. But what happens with this third Stewart-Haas team then 2012? There are already theorized that Danica Patrick could then be lifted after two years part-time in the Nationwide Series in the Cup. And as Mark Martin, yes quite so unwilling to stop, he could share the cockpit with Danica in SHR to the car, at least to keep them in the Top35, it should Patrick not do it alone. Thus, in principle, would have all the things they want.
An alternative would be to have run JR Motorsports in Cup starting next year. While this is generally not provided until now, but Rick Hendrick has interests in the Nationwide team of Dale Earnhardt Jr and there could certainly carry a lot of influence. This could also represent a way that the quasi Hendrick (annual) Cup-operation of JR Motorsports fully takes under his wing. The resources for an unofficial fifth team under a different banner would at least present, as in previous two years ago, Hendrick Motorsports, a fifth car for Brad Keselowski in seven races available. So we wait a maximum of 90 days from the first ...
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The variant at Stewart / Haas I find quite plausible, since Stewart and Kahne degrees also are good friends. 'd Be happy if the bullshit.
Actually, that empire has been unbelievable Rick Hendrick now and where he has his fingers in the game:
Hendrick Motorsports 4 Cars
Stewart-Hass 2-3 Cars
Jr. Motorsports + 1 Cars Nationwide and ARCA.