The others I feel that are the most capable of top-10 finishes at TMS are Jeff Burton (-218 and fourth in points), Denny Hamlin (-425 and 11th in points), Greg Biffle (-185 and third in points), Tony Stewart (-401 and eighth in points) and Jeff Gordon (-312 and sixth in points).

My darkhorse is Brian Vickers, whose best TMS Cup finish (13th) came in his first top-series attempt there in 2004. But he has four top-20 or better results in his last five Chase races.

Keys to success at Texas Motor Speedway
Since opening a decade ago TMS has undergone some changes that have kept drivers and teams from getting a real good handle on what works best at the track. One thing is for sure, TMS is fast and it will probably be the fastest track in qualifying this year in the Cup series.

Although every track is different, there’s no mistaking that TMS is most similar to Atlanta Motor Speedway and Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte. At TMS, teams won't be able to use exactly the same set-up as they do at Atlanta or Lowe’s but at least they have a very good starting point in their effort to hit on what works best. The same drivers who have success at Atlanta and Lowe’s should also do well at TMS.

New pavement was put down in 2001 so the grip is good and the pace doesn't slow down. Tires will be watched carefully since the quick pace is hard on them.

Special feature NASCAR crashes Sparks fly and cars spin when NASCAR drivers get into accidents.

The second groove kind of disappeared after the surface was repaved but it's coming back and will only get better as the race goes on. It will get wider and wider but the car or cars set up to run the bottom the best will have a decided edge.

The transition coming off Turn 2 to the straightaway is abrupt and we could see some cars having difficulty getting off that corner. To be able to come off the tightness of Turn 2 and maintain momentum coming down the backstretch is quite a challenge.

There was a dip or bump in Turns 1 and 2 but those have been removed and that should tighten up the field as there should be smoother transitions to the backstretch. Also, aerodynamics and handling are crucial at TMS as is correctly calculating use of the smaller 18-gallon fuel cell.

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