Records and facts
Last year, Jimmie Johnson passed Jamie McMurray with 15 laps to go and held off the pack to take his fifth career victory. Kevin Harvick continued his impressive run to start 2015 with another second-place finish. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was third, followed by Team Penske teammates Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski. McMurray ended up in sixth.
Jimmie Johnson is the winningiest driver in the history of Texas Motor Speedway, winning six times at the 1.5 mile quad-oval. Entering this weekend, he has won the last three Cup races there and four of the last five. Carl Edwards has three wins at TMS, while Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin each have two wins a piece.
Track Facts
Track / Race Length: 1.5 mile quad-oval, 334 laps (501 miles)
Banking: 24 degrees
Frontstretch: 2,250 ft., banked 5 degrees
Backstretch: 1,330 ft., banked 5 degrees
Grandstand Seating: 128,655 (total capacity 181,655)
Pit Road Speed: 45 mph
Pace Car Speed: 55 mph
Opened: 1997
Website: http://www.texasmotorspeedway.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/texasmotorspeedway
Twitter: http://twitter.com/TXMotorSpeedway
Remaining Pre-Race Schedule:
Say What?!
"We’ve had really fast cars at Texas the last few times we’ve been there. I’m looking forward to going back. I’ve said it over and over -- I like this new package. It’s great. Every week has been fun. The cars are fun to drive, slipping and sliding. It’s a good challenge and I’m enjoying it. I think the fans are going to see good racing again this weekend." - Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
"It’s crazy to think that we have won all those races in a row (at Texas. Why? I don’t know, really (laughs). I think part of it is the surface at Texas is seasoned. It's older, so it just fits my driving style and the No. 48 Lowe’s team. Plus, it’s such a long race and we have all that time to make the right adjustments. It’s fun – they always put on a good show at Texas." - Jimmie Johnson
"I think Texas should be a lot like Atlanta because that track is getting slicker every time we go there. I think in qualifying you’re going to see the lines move around more than just sticking to the bottom. And during the race, I think the cars are going to be running all over the racetrack. Should be another great show with a lot of side-by-side racing. The fans are going to like it." - Landon Cassill
"I really love going to Texas. It has been such an important track for my career. We made our first Cup start here and won our first XFINITY race. It really motivates you to do well when you have a history at a track like I have here.
"Getting to race in AdvoCare’s backyard is definitely something I look forward to each year. It really provides an extra incentive knowing that AdvoCare is based so close to here. Hopefully we will make them proud on Saturday night." - Trevor Bayne
Q: You've probably seen the clip of Dale Earnhardt running to meet his son in Victory Lane at Texas in 2000 after Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won his first Winston Cup race. Who did Earnhardt shove out of the way and deposit on his tokhes in order to get to Dale Jr. first?