The old saying is “Everything is bigger in Texas,” and that slogan holds true when speaking of NASCAR. Since 1997, the Texas Motor Speedway has been a premier venue for NASCAR’s finest to race at. Fans from all over the United States turned out this weekend, selling out all 150,000 seats around the 1.5-mile quad oval to see the Sprint Cup Series make their first of two trips to the track. The fans were treated to bright, sunny skies but gusty winds as NASCAR’s finest did battle in the Samsung 500.
David Reutimann, driver of the Aaron’s Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing, won the pole on Friday, but was unable to lead the first lap as Jeff Gordon, driving his black and silver National Guard Chevrolet Impala, immediately grabbed the front spot. Gordon stretched out the lead for the first few laps, but Reutimann began to run him down and eventually took the lead on lap 8.
The “Aaron’s Dream Machine” then set the pace until Matt Kenseth took the lead on lap 47. A few laps later, it was time for the first round of pit stops as Kenseth hit pit road along with Gordon for service. Gordon had slid back to eighth complaining of a very loose race car, so the crew made major changes and sent him back on the track. Pit stops lasted from laps 51 to 55. After the first round of stops, it was Kenseth back out front ahead of Reutimann.
Texas isn’t known for having many long green-flag runs to start it’s races, but this was a pleasant change to see drivers battle for position where it mattered most, on the race track, instead of in the pits. Kenseth would hold his lead until lap 88 when Tony Stewart put his Old Spice car out front.
The first caution came out on lap 97 when debris was spotted on the backstretch. Stewart brought the field down to pit road for stops, but the lead went back to Kenseth as he won the race off pit road. Stewart came out third behind Kenseth and Greg Biffle, with Reutimann and defending race winner Carl Edwards rounding out the top five.
On the restart, Kenseth moved out ahead of the lapped traffic and put a second between him and the remainder of the field. Biffle got his turn to lead on lap 117 as he passed Kenseth on the outside in turn 2. This was another long green-flag run as the next round of pit stops came on lap 153 as Kenseth came to pit road for tires, fuel, and adjustments.
The lead would shuffle between Biffle, Gordon, Kurt Busch and Mark Martin during this round of pit stops. Biffle would reassume position on lap 157 at the end of the round of stops. The caution would fly one lap later as Elliott Sadler spun down the front straightaway.
No cars near the front pitted since stops had just occurred, so it was Biffle leading the field to the restart on lap 162. Once again, it would be a long run without a caution, and Biffle made good use of it, stretching his lead over Kenseth to just over four seconds. Pit stops would come starting on lap 205 as Kenseth hit pit road for service first. Two laps later, Biffle came in. Gordon, Edwards and Stewart pitted over the next six laps, cycling the lead between them along with Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson.
Biffle took the point again on lap 215 after the round of pit stops. The race’s third caution flag came out on lap 219 as Marcus Ambrose lost the motor in his Toyota entering turn 4. Some of the leaders elected to come down pit road despite having pitted a few laps earlier, but Gordon, Martin and Paul Menard decided to stay out.
These drivers led the field to the restart on lap 226, but a mere five laps later the caution flew again as Sam Hornish Jr. spun his Mobil 1 Dodge Charger in the middle of turn 2. Bobby Labonte also got into the wall trying to check up for the smoke caused by Hornish.
Gordon continued to hold the lead through both cautions along with the fifth yellow flag of the day on lap 251 as Robby Gordon blew his motor right on the front straightaway. Gordon held the lead heading onto pit road, but coming out it was Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the AMP Energy Chevrolet taking the lead by only taking two tires.
Earnhardt only held the lead for one lap as on the restart, Kyle Busch got loose going into turn 1, causing Earnhardt to slide up the track and handing the lead back to Gordon. It was then that the field realized that the car to beat on this afternoon would be Gordon as he stretched his lead to nearly two seconds. However, once he reached lapped traffic, Edwards ran him down and took the lead on lap 296.
The race’s final caution flag came out on lap 303 as David Stremme cut a tire after contact with the outside wall. This was the final opportunity for crews to work on the cars so that their drivers had the best opportunity to go for the win. Edwards led the field down pit road for service, but unfortunately multiple problems on their pit stop put them outside the top 10 for the restart. Gordon’s crew did their job as they put their driver out in front for the restart.
The final restart of the day came on lap 308, and Gordon took off like a rocket once the green flag came out. His teammate, Johnson, began running him down with about 20 laps to go. With ten laps left, the lead for Gordon was nearly two seconds. With five to go it was under a second. One lap later, Johnson pulled to within a half second, but did not have enough on this afternoon. After going 47 races without a victory, and going winless in 17 tries at Texas, Gordon took the checkered flag, winning the Samsung 500.
The excitement could be heard on the radio as he told his crew, “You got me a win at Texas. I love you guys.” It was the first win for Gordon since 2007 and the first for him at Texas, which now leaves him with one track on the Sprint Cup schedule that he hasn’t won (Homestead). It was also the first for the National Guard, who was on Gordon’s car for this race promoting their G.E.D. Plus program. In all, it was a long overdue win for Gordon, and the fans knew it as they saluted him on his victory lap.
The series is off this weekend for the Easter holiday, but will be back in action on Saturday, April 18, in Phoenix for the Subway Fresh Fit 500.
TOP 10: 1. Gordon 2. Johnson 3. Biffle 4. Stewart 5. Kenseth 6. Martin 7. Montoya 8. Kurt Busch 9. Burton 10. Edwards
NOTABLES: 12. Hamlin 15. Newman 18. Kyle Busch 19. Kahne 20. Earnhardt Jr. 27. Harvick 30. Logano
CAUTIONS: Six for 36 laps. 97-101, 157-161, 220-225, 231-236, 251-259, 302-306.
LEADERS: 24 lead changes among 12 drivers. Gordon 1-7, Reutimann 8-46, Kenseth 47-50, Stewart 51-53, Kyle Busch 54, Kenseth 55-87, Stewart 88-98, Kenseth 99-116, Biffle 117-152, Gordon 153, Ragan 154, Martin 155, Biffle 156-207, Stewart 208-209, Gordon 210, Martin 211-212, Johnson 213, Menard 214, Biffle 215-220, Gordon 221-258, Earnhardt Jr. 259, Gordon 260-293, Edwards 294-303, Gordon 304-334.
POINT STANDINGS: 1. Jeff Gordon 1154 points, 2. Jimmie Johnson -162, 3. Kurt Busch -180, 4. Clint Bowyer -187, 5. Tony Stewart -191, 6. Denny Hamlin -216, 7. Kyle Busch -240, 8. Carl Edwards -265, 9. Matt Kenseth -290, 10. Kasey Kahne -303, 11. David Reutimann -309, 12. Jeff Burton -319