Beccas Pace Lap - Texas

Texas Motor Speedway -- 04/5/2009

Author: Becca Gladden

Published: Friday Apr 3 2009 7:01pm

Becca's Pace Lap: Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway

• Front Row: David Reutimann (P1), Jeff Gordon (P2)

• Pole Qualifying Speed: 190.517 miles per hour

• Highest Starting Rookie: Joey Logano - starts 10th

• To the Rear: None at present

• Fastest Qualifier by Manufacturer: (field set by points)
Chevy: Jeff Gordon (2nd)
Dodge: Kasey Kahne (6th)
Ford: Matt Kenseth (3rd)
Toyota: David Reutimann (1st)

• Outside the Top 35 Who Made the Field:
Aric Almirola
Dave Blaney
Mike Bliss
Bill Elliott
David Gilliland
Brad Keselowski
Max Papis
Regan Smith

• Outside the Top 35 Who Missed the Cut:
Todd Bodine
Jeremy Mayfield
Joe Nemechek
Scott Riggs
Scott Speed

• Weather Forecast: Partly cloudy, 59°F, north winds at 15-20 mph with higher gusts

• Race Notes:

Last year's race winner: Carl Edwards (March race)

Most recent winner here: Carl Edwards (October race)

Toyota is on the pole for both the Cup and Nationwide races this weekend with David Reutimann P1 in Cup and Kyle Busch P1 in the NWS. Toyota has never been to Victory Lane at Texas in Cup, but Busch swept the track last year for Toyota in the Nationwide Series.

Ford leads all manufacturers in Cup wins at Texas with 9; Chevy has 4 wins and Dodge has 2. 7 of the 9 Ford winners have been Roush Fords with Roush’s Carl Edwards posting the last three Ford victories.

Friday’s practice was paced by Mark Martin at 189.693 miles per hour and polesitter Reutimann was 2nd. There will be two additional practices on Saturday.

Weather will continue to be a factor this weekend. Severe winds plagued drivers on Thursday, and crew chiefs will be challenged to keep up with varying ambient temperatures throughout the weekend, with highs forecast to be moderate on Friday, warmer on Saturday and cooler on Sunday.

While no two 1.5-mile tracks are exactly alike, the driver with the best average finish in the last 10 races on 1.5 mile ovals is Kyle Busch, followed by Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards and Jeff Burton.

Jeff Gordon, who’s never won at Texas Motor Speedway, said Friday that his team’s intermediate program has improved greatly this year. Gordon currently leads the Cup series point standings.

Mark Martin has competed in all 16 Cup races at Texas and leads all drivers in lead-lap finishes here with 11. Jeff Burton has also run all 16 races, but has led just one lap since 2001 – that was in the race he won in 2007.

• Quotes of the Week:

“Vegas is a fun town and it’s hard not to have a good time there. Hopefully nothing starts before lunch.” – Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports No. 88, regarding the NASCAR Awards Banquet moving from New York to Las Vegas this year.

“I never called him dude - just boss. ‘Yes sir, boss.’ ‘Whatever you say, boss.’ ‘10-4, boss.’” – Jeff Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports No. 24, on the way he addresses team owner Rick Hendrick.

• Current oddsmakers' favorite:

Carl Edwards +500 (starts 13th)
Kyle Busch +500 (starts 8th)

• Long shots to watch:

David Reutimann +2000 (starts 1st)
Jeff Burton +3000 (starts 15th)

* All information current at press time

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