After winning the inaugural Cup race at Texas in 1997, Jeff Burton became the first two-time winner in the 14-race history of the 1.5-mile Fort Worth track. Burton led only one lap but was in first when it counted. In a Lone Star State showdown, Burton beat Matt Kenseth in an aggressive but clean race to the finish line.

In hindsight, the most interesting event in April was Dale Earnhardt Jr. finishing the race in Kyle Busch’s ride after both cars were wrecked. The hot-headed Busch left the track, and when his car was repaired, Earnhardt jumped in. As it turns out, that wouldn’t be the last time Junior replaced Kyle in a Hendrick Chevy.

In the second Texas trip of the season, Jimmie Johnson ripped a sure win away from Kenseth with two laps to go and never looked back.

The second straight runner-up finish at Texas proved that Kenseth — who won in April 2002 — is a force to be reckoned with in the DFW area but also showed that he can be gunned down in a shootout to the checkers. Still, the consistency of the 17 car is impressive, with three seconds, one third and a 12th in his last five runs.

Until last season, Tony Stewart was a consistent threat at Texas. Prior to last year, Stewart had seven top-10 finishes in 10 races, including a win with 278 laps led in November ’06. That trend changed in 2007, when Stewart finished 25th and 11th with zero laps led in either race. 

FANTASY STALL

Looking at Checkers
Matt Kenseth will be the second driver to score a repeat win at TMS in 2008.
Pretty Solid Pick
Jimmie Johnson
Good Sleeper Pick
Denny Hamlin

Runs on Seven Cylinders
Kyle Petty, David Ragan and Reed Sorenson.
Insider Tip
The Atlanta race in March will serve as a nice barometer for Texas’ results.

KEEP AN EYE ON...
Kurt Busch The Blue Deuce led for a total of 52 laps at Texas last season but faded in crunch time, finishing eighth and 11th. If the crew can dial it in late, he should contend.

Denny Hamlin This Gibbs youngster has four top-10 runs in five career Texas starts.

Kevin Harvick If the Childress intermediate CoT package is up to snuff, Harvick could capitalize. The Bakersfield native has a third, two fifths and a 10th in four of his last five races in Fort Worth.

Martin Truex Jr. Third- and seventh-place finishes in 2007 following eighth- and 14th-place showings in ’06 prove the DEI equipment may not be as bad as some conclude.

J.J. Yeley Although he wrecked on the first lap of the April event, Yeley finished 17th in the fall. This season, he jumps to Hall of Fame Racing’s No. 96, which came home with a top 20 in each ‘07 Texas race.