Week 7 -- Texas
Welcome to Texas, where everything's bigger including the racing action. This year the Texas Motor Speedway will host two races for the first time. We start off with the traditional April date, revisiting the site of Elliott Sadler's victory a year ago. The Labonte brothers will no doubt be in the spotlight Sunday when they race before the hometown fans, but I look for some other names to be among the top 10.
GLENN'S TEN:
* Kasey Kahne (winner) -- It has to happen eventually. Kasey keeps racking up those second places, so there's only one spot higher that he can finish. He was second here last year, and both the Evernham Dodges qualified well (2nd and 3rd) on Friday. The kid can't wait to get the monkey off his back, and this just might be where he finally does it.
REST OF THE TOP 10 (in no particular order):
* Jeff Gordon -- Jeff struggled in final practice, but he qualified 7th and ran well here last year before battery problems sunk his chance for a win. This is one of the tracks on which Gordon has never won, but that could change this year. I think he'll overcome his practice woes to have a good day Sunday.
* Jimmie Johnson -- He'll keep the string of top 10's alive.
* Kurt Busch -- If he doesn't get punted into the wall this week, he should be up near the front.
* Matt Kenseth -- What's happened to this bunch this season? Matt's starting to look like the new Jeff Burton in the Roush camp. He's starting a woeful 39th on Sunday. But I look for him to make his strong, silent move toward the front 10 before the end of the day.
* Elliott Sadler -- Gotta give him the incentive factor as the defending race champion.
* Mark Martin -- The swan song season continues.
* Tony Stewart -- Might not be loud about it, but he'll be in the top 10 at day's end.
* Ryan Newman -- Might just hang on to make the show, but it will only be after leading the first 50 laps, then having a stupid pit road problem that keeps him a lap down for 200 laps before he makes it up with too few to go before the finish.
* Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- Junior is slowly turning around his season. I'm nervous about this pick, but he did finish top 10 in this race last year and needs another good finish. A good run at a speedway would be a huge confidence booster.
ALSO WATCHING: ...Ricky Rudd (starts 5th and has been making steady improvement.) ... Greg Biffle (relegated to the rear of the field after a practice crash. Can he come all the way to the front in a backup car?) ...Carl Edwards (I had a hard time not picking him, but he could make a good showing. Probably happy to be off the short tracks.)
