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Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

Next Race: AAA Texas 500

The Place: Texas Motor Speedway

The Date: Sunday, Nov. 5

The Time: 2 p.m. ET

TV: NBCSN, 1:30 p.m. ET

Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio                   

Distance: 501 miles (334 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 85),

Stage 2 (Ends on lap 170), Final Stage (Ends on lap 334)

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 3, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Turbos Into Texas

One week after the dramatic Round of 8 opener at Martinsville, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads to Texas Motor Speedway for Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 (2 p.m. ET on NBCSN). Kyle Busch has locked up a berth in the Championship 4 with his win at “The Paperclip.”

Of the contenders, only Johnson (six wins), Busch (2) and Hamlin (2) have won at Texas. Retired Carl Edwards is the defending race winner, while Johnson took the checkered flag at the spring race earlier this year in Fort Worth.

The top-10 finishers in this year’s Texas spring race: 1. Johnson 2. Kyle Larson 3. Joey Logano 4. Kevin Harvick 5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 6. Brad Keselowski 7. Jamie McMurray 8. Martin Truex Jr. 9. Chase Elliott 10. Kurt Busch

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 4, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

Johnson Texas Ranger: Seven-Time Champ Goes For Record Seventh Texas Win, Championship 4 Berth

Superman wears Jimmie Johnson pajamas.

While we don’t have proof of that, we do know Johnson is Superman at Texas Motor Speedway – the site of Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 NASCAR Playoffs race. He holds the all-time track records for wins (7), top fives (15) and top 10s (21). Among active drivers, Johnson boasts the top driver rating (107.3), the second-best average finish (8.2) and the third-best average running position (10.3).

Johnson, who won the spring race at Texas, sits three points below Kevin Harvick for advancement to the Championship 4 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He’s won four of the last six races in the Lone Star State.

Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 Hooters Chevrolet, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 4, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

Elliott Attempts To Rebound From Disappointment With Texas Win

In the closing laps of Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs race, Chase Elliott looked like he was going to get his first career win and a berth in the Championship 4. Instead, he wrecked in the closing laps and is now 26 points below the cutoff line for advancement to the title race.

The No. 24 Chevrolet driver essentially needs to win one of the next two races (Texas or Phoenix) to join the Championship 4. He’ll get his first shot at Texas where he’s run strong in his first three races at the 1.5-mile track. In the three starts, he’s placed fifth (spring 2016), fourth (fall 2016) and ninth (spring 2017). Among active Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers at Texas, Elliott ranks first in average finish (6.0), second average running position (9.6) and fourth in driver rating (98.3).

Ryan Blaney, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 3, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

Blaney Tries To Pull Off Another Strong Texas Performance

In this year’s spring Texas race Ryan Blaney led an event-high 148 laps and won the first two stages, but couldn’t close the contest out with a victory. He finished 12th.

He’ll try to close the deal in Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Blaney enters the race six points behind Kevin Harvick on the cutoff line to advance to the Championship 4. He’s coming off a third-place finish at Kansas and an eighth-place showing at Martinsville.

In five starts at Texas, Blaney has never finished better than 12th (twice). He did not finish his first two races at the 1.5-mile track.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Nationwide/Justice League Chevrolet, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 3, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

Plenty Can Play Spoiler At Texas

Again, just because a driver is not in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs doesn’t mean he/she can’t win a postseason race.

Six non-Playoff drivers have won at Texas Motor Speedway previously: Matt Kenseth (twice), Kurt Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kasey Kahne, Joey Logano and Ryan Newman.

The highest finishing non-Playoff drivers in this year’s Texas spring race were Kyle Larson (second), Logano (third), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (five), Jamie McMurray (seven) and Kurt Busch (10th).

Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Office Toyota, drives during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 4, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

Kyle Busch Can Become Second Driver This Season To Lead 2,000 Laps

Kyle Busch is only 27 laps led away from pacing the field for 2,000 laps this season. If he were to accomplish the feat – joining Martin Truex Jr. (2,068 laps led this season) – It will be the first time since 1989 (28 years ago; Dale Earnhardt led 2,735 laps and Rusty Wallace led 2,020) the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series has seen more than one driver lead 2,000 or more laps in a single season.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series has had more than one driver lead 2,000 or more laps in a single season 16 times (list is below). The record for the most drivers leading more than 2,000 laps in a single season is four in 1964. Three or more Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers leading 2,000 laps in a single season has happened four times – 1963 (three), 1964 (four), 1965 (three) and 1969 (three).

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Mobil 1 Ford, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 3, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Etc.

Matt Kenseth Set To Run XFINITY Team USA Paint Scheme

Matt Kenseth will drive the No. 20 XFINITY Team USA Toyota Camry during Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.  The car celebrates Comcast’s official partnership with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

The No. 20 will feature Comcast’s Xfinity brand and USOC logo lock-up on the hood of Kenseth’s Toyota Camry to commemorate the 100-day milestone from the start of the Olympic Winter Games 2018.

“Being able to feature XFINITY and Team USA aboard our No. 20 Camry this weekend is really exciting,” Kenseth said. “The Games give our country and the world a way to unite in competitions through sport and I always enjoy getting to watch these athletes do what they do best.”

Media Center Interviews:

Erik Jones – 

Chase Elliott – 

Ryan Blaney – 

Martin Truex Jr. – 

Pole winner Kurt Busch – 

Jimmie Johnson –

Dale Earnhardt Jr. –