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HAMLIN WINS CRAZY DAY IN TEXAS

Entering the day with the top three in the Chase standings separated by only 38 points, Sunday’s 500-mile... MORE


Posted: 1 year 15 weeks ago | (0) Comments | Email This

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Basic Info

AAA Texas 500
Track:
Texas Motor Speedway
Race Sponsor:
AAA
Distance:
501 Laps
Laps:
334 Laps


Texas Motor Speedway is a 1.5 mile tri-oval. Like a classic Western, this race is bound to have several twists and turns.

It took 11 years for a driver to win twice at Texas. Only two drivers have won at Texas multiple times, and their names aren’t Johnson or Gordon.

Texas is known for liking things big. Fitting this track is most analogous to Atlanta and Charlotte. That means speed. Lots of speed.  Plus, Texas has enough grooves where cars can actually pass other cars in multiple locations. The asphalt holds cars well, which allows them to reach speeds approaching 200 mph. This is a recipe that yields long runs under green. It also yields long hours for the engine shops who have to make sure their cars can hold up for long runs at full throttle in Texas heat.

The pit crews will be busy. Most will swap out four tires every chance they can get, and the cars will need to pit at least five times for fuel.

Here are some other facts you can impress your friends with Sunday afternoon while watching ESPN’s broadcast coverage at 3 EST, courtesy of the track’s website.
  • The banking is 24 degrees in the corners, and five degrees in the straightaways.
  • The frontstretch is 2,250 feet, and the backstretch is 1,330 feet
  • Denny Hamlin is the defending race champion and swept the 2010 races.
  • Something tells me Hamlin won't win here Sunday
  • Matt Kenseth won the Samsung Mobile 500 back in April.
  • Hamlin has the highest average finish at Texas.  Kenseth is second. Jimmie Johnson, Trevor Bayne and Mark Martin round out the top five average finishers.
  • Carl Edwards is the only other driver to sweep both races at Texas. Edwards also has the most career wins at the track, flipping for fun three times.
  • Jeff Burton, Hamlin and Kenseth are the only other drivers to win here more than once.  
  • Race winners get a cowboy hat. Yee Haw…
  • The track’s address is Lone Star Circle.
  • This doesn’t surprise me either.
  • The speedway thinks it can cram 191,000 people at the facility for a race.
  • 122,000 people can fit in the grandstand.
  • Tickets are still available for the race.
  • There are 600 acres to park cars, trucks and aircraft carriers.
  • There are 1,656 restrooms for women.
  • There are 843 restrooms for men.
  • Talk about trying to appeal to the female demographic.
  • Texas Motor Speedway is the first speedway ever to display the laps in the race counting down and counting up, because math is hard.
  • Texas also has enough lighting for 11 NFL stadiums.
  • Texas doesn’t run a race at night, but everything in bigger in Texas.
  • Trace Adkins and Foreigner will place race weekend.