“I am pumped about this race”.
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Johnson now has six wins at TMS. As I sit right now, I don’t know what I could have done differently.
I like a certified race course as much as the next overly-serious distance runner, but this race’s atmosphere still has me jacked up. “I think that shows a lot about what our race auto is going to be like in race trim and just how consistent it was throughout the speed on each round…”
Before Sunday’s race, NASCAR inspectors discovered irregularities with the splitters on three of the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas-those of Chase drivers Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch and non-Chaser Denny Hamlin. Not knowing what that might be at this moment makes a little bit easier to digest.
Johnson played the same spoiler role a year ago at Texas, winning when he was out of the Chase. “I gave it my all and I feel good about that”.
Until Texas fall favorite Jimmie Johnson came charging after the final restart. “If not, a solid top-five finish is exactly what we need”.
“It just blew apart on Turn 2”, Logano said. “I hate to see him retire”. I can go out there and race like I did tonight, lay it on the line, not worry about spinning out.
That’s where he remained after Sunday’s race.
Edwards has two wins this season, including his win at Darlington right before The Chase started.
“Happy I beat the dominant auto”, Johnson said.
“The good news is we have that opportunity”.
“Sometimes you just have to roll with the punches”, he said. Jones won the Camping World Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway on Friday night and finished fourth in the Xfinity Series race at Texas Saturday…. If Jimmy the team did a great job we’ve made huge huge changes on the race card today. But he didn’t use it saying, “I never found anything to hook it to”. – Truex lost his power steering while battling for the lead late in the race, and managed to hold on for an eighth-place finish. The other three will have to hope for the best.
Popular Team Chevy drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished the race sixth and Danica Patrick came in 16 position. (Hendrick), Danica Patrick (SHR) and Greg Biffle (Roush Fenway Racing). “So we didn’t get quite as good of a lap as we wanted to”.
“That was decent”, said Biffle. We have to look forward and keep pushing.
The Team Penske driver led 312 of the 334 laps but could only watch as Johnson passed him with four laps remaining. A tightened and certified course and this race could add fast times, prize money, bring in elites and still focus on the unique community strong points: an uber-popular NASCAR track and subsequent light event. “Once I did, I knew I was home free”. If the No. 2 had reached Victory Lane, that would put Martin Truex Jr. on the outside looking in while Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch would be facing an nearly non-existent buffer. “We have to run well here this weekend”.
With the already-eliminated Johnson getting his 75th career victory, three spots are still up for grabs at Phoenix, the last race before the November 22 finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
As I sifted through the radio chatter, social media ranting, and general white noise over the Logano vs. Kenseth incident, two very large thoughts popped into my head. “I’m pretty optimistic, but that was about all we had and obviously want more”.
“That was the first I had seen him that vulnerable all day”.
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” We are still in it”, Truex said.
