Fast Five: Texas Motor Speedway
FORT WORTH, TX – APRIL 09: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #17 Crown Royal Black Ford, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 9, 2011 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Three to go. White flag next time by. As sad as it is, the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is almost over. Are you ready to crown a new champion? Texas Motor Speedway measures at 1.5 miles and has 24 degrees of banking in the turns. Similar tracks to TMS include Atlanta Motor Speedway and Lowe's Motor Speedway(now known as Charlotte Motor Speedway).Texas Motor Speedway opened in 1996 under legendary racing promoter, Eddie Gossage. Gossage is known for his for his off the wall promotions and the tight battle for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup is no different. Can Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards give the fans of TMS what Gossage wants them to have? The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will have the AAA Texas 500 on Sunday, November 6th. Here is a look at five significant facts and records that could have an impact on the results of the race finish.
Best Average Finish and Most Wins
2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion, Matt Kenseth, has the best average finish at Texas Motor Speedway at 9.0. While his Roush-Fenway Racing teammate, Carl Edwards, has the most wins at the track with three. A win for Edwards on Sunday would definitely make for a fun ending for the championship.
Most Top-Fives and Most Top-Tens
Matt Kenseth also holds the record for the most top-fives and shares the record for the most top-tens at Texas. Kenseth has nine top-fives and 12 top-tens at the track. Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin also have 12-top tens at TMS. Kenseth says racing at Texas Motor Speedway is historically. Kenseth says that "the goal for the weekend is to unload the car off the truck and have a good base set-up in order to get on the track fast without having too many changes right at the start." Kenseth and the No. 17 team have been able to do it at the track lately.
Fastest Qualifying Speed
2003 NASCAR Busch Series champion, Brian Vickers holds the record for the fastest qualifying speedway at 196.235 mph. This record was set back in 2006. Brian Vickers has never won at Texas Motor Speedway.
Last Win at Texas Motor Speedway
The last win at Texas Motor Speedway goes to Matt Kenseth. The win snapped a 76-race absence from Victory Lane. Kenseth led 169 of 334 laps to win the Samsung 500. Eddie Gossage has picked Kenseth to sweep the weekend? Will Gossage be correct?
Most Laps Led
Matt Kenseth is the driver that has led the most laps at Texas Motor Speedway with 669 laps. All the stats are pointing to the No. 17 to end up in Victory Lane this weekend? His last victory was May 5th at Dover International Speedway.
Qualifying for the AAA Texas 500 from Texas Motor Speedway is Friday at 4:30pm EST on SPEED, while the race is on Sunday afternoon with the NASCAR Countdown on ESPN at 2pm EST.
Who do you think will be in Gatorade Victory Lane after the race? As for my pick, I am going with Carl Edwards. Can't wait to see yours.
See More:
