NASCAR Classic Full Race: Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton tangle at Texas | 2010 Texas Motor Speedway

ESPN's coverage of the Chase for the Sprint Cup comes to you today from the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth our coverage presented by godaddy.com field 243 is set to take on a very fast treacherous track it's a place that can chew up racecars last year's race here had the most dropouts and fewest finishers in this track's history its place for a lot of different drivers of one only two drivers have scored a win here more than once 14 former Texas withers in the field lots of possibilities as we get set for 500 miles of racing let's go trackside please remain standing as the 302nd Military Police Company United States Army presents our nation's colors and now please welcome dr. Roger Marsh of Texas Alliance Raceway ministries as he offers today's invocation Heavenly Father as we gather here at the Great American Speedway today we want to give you thanks for all of our military personnel both past and present many who have given their lives for our freedoms father we also pray that you would give comfort to the family and friends of NASCAR giants Jeff Byrd and Jim hunter and as we turn our attention to today's race it's our prayer that you would give us a safe race an exciting race and we thank you so much for the opportunity to do so in Jesus name I pray it amen to honor our troops please place your right hand over your heart as foreigner' lead singer Kelly Hansen performs our National Anthem oh say can you see by the dawn's early light what so proudly we hail that's it's why last gleaming whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight all around us we watched were so gallantly streaming through the night that our flag was still there oh say does that star-spangled way [Applause] the Texas Motor Speedway is energized fans are revved up and ready for 500 miles of racing on a beautiful november afternoon a race where their closest championship in NASCAR's chase Iran will take center stage [Music] three races three tested dryers [Music] three steps to clean the cop in the cleitus chase in history [Music] kevin harvick fought his way back at Talladega Kevin Harvick serving noticed that for him the chase is on expectations have been high for Denny Hamlin and Denny Hamlin's right in the middle and now he is ready for an aggressive run to the front [Music] shiny's mirror this is dangerous for the points later Jimmy Johnson must apply the pressure how we get going here and send a message that is it means a long time and let me go do it down do it down let's go to the front turn for 500 miles Texas stopped at Texas Motor Speedway this stage is set for a finish of historic proportion just the we races three opportunities and only one cup [Music] usually by this time of the season the championships been whittled down to just two drivers with a realistic chance of claiming the crown but not this year the added dimension of having that third man in the fight means a lot we're getting ready for those three to be among 40 others on this very fast and treacherous Texas Motor Speedway for 500 miles of racing Jimmie Johnson starting 17 yeah well he is the champ remember that he's got the most experience I've another two he knows how to do it I just want to see if he could do it again Denny Hamlin way in the back starting in 30th position today he has got to get himself to the front of this race he needs to lead some laps he needs to garner some of those all-important bonus points we talked about a little while ago that could be the difference once we get to home stone and Kevin Harvick who's had a pattern for a lot of the summer months and into the fall this year not qualifying very well but finding a way to be at the front at the end of the day Harvick starts 26 yeah he's been a great closer so you can't count him out when he gets tough he seems to grind halfway through the race and gets his car back up front he could win this thing so the championship trio among the field of 43 as we get ready to go lots of intrigue lots of excitement here at Texas Motor Speedway three races to go three drivers in the championship and now a few little words to get it underway and now race fans it's time for those most famous words in motor please welcome your grand marshal cma ACM and grammy award winner lee Ann Womack start your engines [Applause] [Music] great give me an hour got it great I got you alrighty that are done one champion we call this race they don't have to wait cuz it's time upstairs to Mardi Greene Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree gentlemen Thank You Alan hello again everybody glad that you're with us you wanted it you've got it a chase like none other three men within 38 points with three races remaining and it comes down to a showdown where quite frankly guys you've been talking about it on countdown let's talk about it one more time you cannot play defense today no you know Marty we're all going to be the beneficiaries of having three drivers involved in this championship what is going to make these drivers do is go as hard as they possibly can for 500 miles of mistake-free driving they have to get the job done they know that next pass could be the points that makes the difference when we get to homestead in the end of that day there's a lot of pressure on the crews not just the crews on pit road but the crews that they left the shop they got to build the engines and put these cars together it's all about the details and they don't want to be the one that maybe overlooks a detail that costs them a shot at winning this championship so there's a lot of pressure on the whole team to get it done let's not forget also the 40 other drivers that they're trying to make a statement as well they've got a lot at stake and the boys have at it how is this going to affect this race well time's running out for sent a lot of hungry drivers to win a race I mean you just think about Jeff Gordon it's been 62 races since he's won he's kind of out of the championship chase right now but he still is very hungry to win if he lines up beside Jimmie Johnson at the end of this race I'd be if I wasn't Jimmy I'd be careful because he really wants to win he's gonna do what it takes to do it yeah our championship drivers are all commanding a lot of respect from these others that are out there but we've seen our championship drivers have more troubles with their own teammates than we have some others so they're not going to get a whole lot whenever it comes time to really try to win this race this is gonna be a lot of fun maybe Kurt Busch said it best six days a week we're teammates on Sunday we race and that's what we're getting ready to do one of those guys that wants to get back to Victory Lane he's done it twice this year he's gonna start on the outside the front row he's our in-race reporter it's Greg Biffle stop doing DJ at Gregg Dale Jarrett ESPN you have a copy hey Greg our first question comes from our mailbag in Franken Ocala Flordia asked now that the season is where it's that are you in the Roush organization more focused on next year or just trying to win these last races really really focused on winning these last couple races the best points finish began and of course doing that by doing that we're learning for next year at the same time so you know main effort within these races but that's getting us prepared for next year as well hey Greg and talking about getting prepared and here too as I watch qualifying in practice looks like Doug Yates and his boys have given these sports a little more horsepower under the hood yeah that the engines are running great the stood up are nine inches running really really good and you know rpms helps this other front suspension that our cars have been running exceptionally well in Chicago and we're just real excited about today's bets are now got a really fast car all right Greg thanks for talking with us you have a great day and we'll talk to you later on are over the wall reporter today is Mark Hollywood Armstrong he's the front tire changer on Robby Gordon's number seven Hollywood let's talk about strategy today well marnie one thing about Texas it's big and it's fast but strategy down here on pit road is going to be trying to do everything right get your driver in and out of the pits as quickly as possible but something tells me that towards the end of this race one of the biggest strategies that could come down to is this fuel it might not be what you get in the car that can help you win the race but what these guys don't get in could stop them from going to Victory Lane party time you guys be safe down there cars are rolling out when we come back we with three races left to decide the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship [Music] back here at Texas Motor Speedway starting grid across atop your screen elliott sadler the 18th difficult center this year ties the modern era record Trevor Baynes going to the rear they had transmission change and several guys did not make the race six in fact JJ Yeley Scott Briggs Michael McDowell Jeff green Josh wise and brian has Laos key let's get the latest in pit road Jamie little once party strategy that's what it comes down to remember last week with Kevin Harvick she stayed out on one round of pit stops just to keep the 48 from leading a lap so what's the plan today they told me to match him if the 48 leads the lap they must need a lap at all costs they must finish at least two positions ahead of the 48 it's the tightest battle among the top three drivers in chase history Jimmie Johnson knows that finishing ahead of the 11 and 29 today may well mean winning the race Jimmy likes it that way it's simpler he knows he has one thing to do today no defense just offense just win Dave burns in terms of competition it is on even on pit road that's because when Jimmy Johnson and Denny Hamlin hit they could play some games with each other because they're pitted right next to each other that's because when given the option crew chief Mike Ford decided to take the pit stall right in front of Johnson he said it was the best option for our team logically but it was also a bit of a payback for what the 48 shows next to us when we were at Kansas count the 11 in HoN gamesmanship dr. Jerry punch you know with all the questions surrounding the future Richard Petty Motorsports how truly appropriate works they came to Texas and made a state by qualifying all four cars in the top 13 nothing epitomizes NASCAR more than a winning car tied to the name Petty and today poll center Elliott Sadler liked nothing better than that legacy I'm Marty Reed they say everything is bigger in Texas but how huge would it be by the king victory lane here today so right doc as we are getting ready to go green down on the pit wall all the crew members were online as they came by here was the pep talk from the 48 crew chief a beautiful day for this point on 3 raises lived and died by so you heard from Jack good mouse let's also take a look at the track facts here at Texas Motor Speedway this this place here has been a No Limit zone for the whole weekend there is one area there's a speeding limit on pit road don't get caught speeding it could be hazardous to your championship boots 13 tickets handed out this year alone to chase contenders during the chase and ready now as they are into turn number three Elliott Sadler with Greg Biffle and Edwards Montoya Reagan Kurt Busch that is the first three rows and if you noticed on the pace lab with the time change the shade has already started to roll across turn number one this race is going to end right at dusk the track is going to change definitely yeah these guys are gonna have to work hard all day long and be ready to make some serious adjustments when it comes down to win pace car pulls off they come down slowly slowly slowly and the Triple A touches [Applause] [Music] everybody made it out of time it always has been and here it is side by side coming through turns three and four Elliott Sadler yeah la really wanted to leave that first lap but biffle's gonna get him by a nose so Biffle gets credited with places equality was David Ragan now Carl Edwards slides up behind bippo really excited about his race car here this weekend and here he goes on the high side I thought that the outside group would take a few laps to work in but it's there [Music] stop Kyle Busch's streak in the mission one one two and three but here comes Juan Pablo Montoya the blue paint scheme this week on the floor - he's got David Reagan right up underneath him whoa and he gets loose I don't know if Reagan got into it was has been extremely fast all weekend five four of them are Ford's right now and they haven't had this kind of performance for quite a while the nine obviously running strong so far here in the early going [Applause] there's the shadows we were talking about Tony Stewart on the right side screen Hallman the track [Applause] check in on chase Sam Hornets right in front of him twenty-eight I should say [Music] she think they started right for something [Applause] [Music] see the big improvement with the crew chief change goes over to the fix car david ragan they've really become a solid race team now watching practice yesterday did look fast and I expected see these last three races via a springboard for this team going into next year Montoya taken that middle name we saw that happen early yesterday with several of the cars in the Nationwide race if anybody's going to make that they're having a go she ate a racetrack but they really haven't seen the entire weekend here much higher tempter do you know you talk about the shade going into one day they're the rest of the racetrack is much warmer than what they've experienced Greg Biffle has opened up a 1 second lead over Carl Edwards side-by-side Matt Kenseth the 39 of Ryan Newman and here comes Jimmy Johnson for 16th 17th and 18th these gaps are not blasted up through the field like I kind of expected quickly they haven't done that so far you see that wiggle Truex had about a corner and a half ago he managed to gather it back up and he's closing quickly on the 39 it looks like Ryan Newman is really struggling with his race car right now how about Jeff Burton going underneath the Kurt Busch [Applause] nobody else has been you can tell that all the dust flying out from hunters car trying to get up underneath convert as well [Music] [Applause] [Music] that's not thinking too positive right there tough situation this easy start during the day that that looseness in and off but then you compound the problem with the car turn in the center yeah that's the problem with that you can't make a quick adjustment to change that dynamic and be loose getting in the corner tight in the middle and loose off if it was one thing always in the corner pretty easy to fix but you can't fix that easily I'm still side-by-side Reutimann can the deal there's Jeff Gordon trying to get a little closer to these two as well one thing it's going to happen though this track is going to change quite a bit it may end up changing it in favor of Kurt Busch you've got to hang in there to see finally takes over that number 12th spot bumps whoops back to 13 14 [Applause] Jeff Burton right in front of the double oh there he is [Music] try the high side again when he is run enough higher than anybody has that you could say that there is some robber this late down there yes be yes being a little bit careful not to get too far up there and get into some of that the rubber that was going off of these tires and going up to the very top well Greg biffle's out in front ouch penetration got its 13th NASCAR win at Texas yesterday in the mission Tasha arm the racetrack up into the wall smoke on the 87 Joe Nemechek saw this development down don't let a little pressure I don't know it's oil I don't know what that is in the front straightaway you saw some smoke and then it got more serious as he got down into turn one and two yeah you can see the damage on the right side as well as it back here is what happened it's like something happened under the hood all probably getting down on the tire see that's why he goes up the track and gets in the wall actually you know what he got in the wall early in the race like the first lap off of turn two he scraped that wall that may have been where this damage came from that might just be the engine maybe right Andy you may be very very right there so you can see that there in splash of fuel question is now who else will come down pit road after we've completed 12 of the scheduled 334 laps not a lot of grip on this racetrack in the Sun I would expect to see everybody come get some tires but again two or four yeah the questions going to be how many we'll see all right let's find out Jamie little they're coming your way David Ragan has been solid in these opening laps just a little tree on entry that called this early right sides only later greg biffle may make the two-tire stop they've been talking about his car was real real loose just adding those two tires might tighten it up Carl Edwards running third his car was free and tight on max compression free off just a slight air pressure adjustment two tires from fo two tires turn Edwards dr. Elliott says I need more for my side tire change air pressure the race off position so report near and elliott sadler won't gain a couple of spots guys all right dog the fat and there is a tire sitting on the infield and we think it is from the 11 yeah not only that Jimmy Johnson had to back up he was seated right behind Denny Hamlin had to back up before he could get out so those two pitted beside each others already causing problems looks like for both teams now we're hearing it as the 48 tire hit is it our fault or what's the deal here kind of lead no penalty okay that's probably nascar called no penalty on that because another car hit that it was really tight down there on pit road everybody kind of jammed in there the call was at the 98 car you heard that over the radio actually hit the tire sending it out into the infield section and you could see the guys on that crew breathing a sigh of relief yeah they still lost quite a few spots there on pit road by having to back up the crew actually push the car back before Jimi could leave well--don't Nemechek is being pushed behind the wall so it looks like they're gonna have to do a lot of work on that car maybe the day is over for Joe Dave Blaney was one lap down he will get back on to the lead lap as he gets the Aaron's lucky dog free pass 42 cars now back on the lead lap here at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Texas presented by godaddy.com back here at Texas we can tell you the deck man for Jimmie Johnson is okay here's what happened watch the 48 right here wow that was close call for the jack man and the tire ended up going out right now we're getting ready for the restart Eliot stays right with greg biffle I think we've re-established what's going to be the preferred spot to choose on these restarts at robby gordon stayed out and period we ever it's got a big head of stain right here on front stretch [Music] drive it into the shade he's closing right up on the 1699 cars really good Sam much quicker he got back to the throttle and Greg Biffle right there lot of momentum for Carl coming off yesterday's big win in the Nationwide Series event Vegas right there though too hard to get into three he'll drop back now and loses about two to three car lengths liaos Elliott Sadler to get closer that car in fourth place mark mark that the Jeff Gordon is now - sex position that he's picked up nine spots at the beginning of the race [Music] [Applause] let's check in on Jimmie Johnson he restarted 16th he is up to 13th right now now move him they took those two tires on my pitstop and they gained a lot more spots at that the backup he's uh looks like it's car likes to tire twenty-seven speaking of Harvick there he is right now I'm not thinking he's gonna be happy because the car doesn't seem to be responding and all of us practice this car was so inconsistent and he said I had a lot to do with the tires so he really wasn't sure how it was going to handle today they're going to continue working on it guys but it's really would take for every chance they can get all right Jimmy he wasn't happy with the tire yesterday in the Nationwide race he is that agreement with his viii in that race yesterday and everybody up here thought he was going to contend for the win Burton's got his hands full right now with the 39 I Ryan Newman and Demi Jimmy Johnson side by side with the 98 in fact he's passed Paul Menard yeah that may be insignificant right now but Paul Menard is too far this part right behind Jimmie Johnson in the pits that's what calls Jimmy to have to get in and the night when they couldn't get out because Danny Hammond had him walked in so that might have looked insignificant but it's a big pass for Jimmie Johnson how about the battle for third right now Mark Martin feeling racy here in the early going as he gets past Elliott Sadler Clint Boyer gonna try and follow him like this lab team is really hit on something last really got their performance back up and on mark finished 11th of Talladega last week check in on Denny Hamlin right now he's moved up the he's trying to guess Ambrose for another spot [Music] a long run got a car in the wall off turn four it looked like it was Kurt Busch got Dave Blaney smoking as well I thought Kurt Busch did catch a piece of that wall they're pretty good on four yeah he was high and one into the last lap too so he may have been something coming out of this car I'm not sure Bobby Gordon stopped again he is now one lap down Blaney has made it safely to pit road you can see him there at the right side of your screen Biffle is picking up where he left off he's got a one point three second lead and he's opening it up here comes board on the high side of David Ragan Matt's for six Kurt Busch has a real problem with his car let's check back there you can see Kurt yeah he pounded that wall pretty good probably is trying to see what he's got here he is all the way back to 36 position and still fading is not a good day so far for the blue deuce started this race sixth and has been going backwards since the drop of the green flag [Music] what are you hearing about Kurt situation well it has been to simply a myth two bucks they really tried three major wholesale chassis changes yesterday and had to say miss you loose in tighten the middle and loose off they can fix the loose in and loose off but couldn't fix a tight middle you saw what tight in the middle will do trying to hang on and he kicks the wall or watching the car they don't see any smoke or printer rubber on you think if you can hang on and maybe give a yellow flag you can come in and not lose all this time you don't want to take any chances here at these speeds with their driver to the crews up on the wall watching in Kurt's make the call if he wants to come in and have them fix that right side all right doc rusty you notice something from your position yeah I'm talking races are you guys are memory dominated an all-star race in the coca-cola 600 and then they came back with the same style setup and the car was just basically junk they built some new chance he said Curtis real unhappy with the cars and one thing has complained about us of cars rolling a lot a lot of body roll and I've been noticed in the left front corner the air dam was getting itself up off the ground and the car is actually pushing the front end very badly as it's going at the corners these guys have definitely got a chance to issue they got to work on and Curt just doesn't know what it is he said it's amazing that we would dominate a race to go back and be so far off and after the great victory yesterday Brad Keselowski winning the first championship for Penske Racing this has got to be a big disappointment as you see Kurt along in 36 how about Denny Hamlin he has moved it to the 21st position and he's gotten around Ambrose Brian Newman is his next target what's the latest you're here and Dave buddy remember just a few points bathroom Jimmy Johnson at the start so far it's been interesting gotten a little contact with Marcus Ambrose early that got a little bit disconcerted but no real damage to the right rear of the race car then following this round of pit stops he quickly had this to say on the radio he hasn't said anything after that a little bit of a vibration he's still moving forward past Ryan Newman right now Denny Hamlin working his way toward the for over he started in 30th how many times we hear that word vibration yesterday in the Nationwide race yeah we did we heard that quite a bit up so you don't want to hear that though time to run for championship position the race leader is greg biffle here at a race of texas presented by godaddy.com [Music] welcome back to the triple-a Texas 500 make sure to go to nascar.com for all your latest NASCAR information and also make sure to go to good gear comm to check out good years there the NASCAR driver for a chance to win a 2011 we've completed 37 laps here at Texas Motor Speedway battle for fourth right there between Elliott Sadler and taking over the spot we can also tell you during the break Mark Martin has taken over the second position from Carl Edwards but he's still got to go about two and a half seconds farther forward to catch up to race leader Greg Biffle and yes that is Jimmie Johnson has moved up to sixth how about Kyle Busch as we're looking at 8th 9th and 10th and Kyle is on the move remember he started way back in this field he has picked up 20 positions Dave party he started one team night then I talked to crew chief Dave Rogers about that Wow as he clears Paul Menard Rogers said they really had a shot at the pole cool temperatures aggressive driver and an adjustment that they were watching other cars to wait and make the cars that went out ahead of him he said I just miss it on the set up Kyle drove it aggressively we just didn't get there that so they were confident that their car could move through the field they thought they might start the day a little further forward he was fastest in both practices yesterday you guys were talking about the fact that he is one of those guys that we had to watch because he almost won this race last year here comes Jimmie Johnson Johnson to the top five every time I look at that moniker that's the fastest car I see wasn't that high side and it's been working really good for me not all the way next to the boat but he's running up pretty high but you know the Kevin Harvick right now is in 14th position looking to take another smile from Juan Pablo Montoya man yeah he and Jimmy Johnson both are utilizing this [Music] go three wide there is on the low line and for Tina Tony the best car that little group right there he's been running the bottom of Cana but he's got a really good car let you know that then he Hamlin is running 19th right now sequence of events lot of cars bunched up there for a little bit now says okay let's try it again down-low c-come nice car really working good blower on the racetrack you're trying to write now let me keep complete that pass let's get an update on to be Stewart Jamie why talk to his crew chief Darian brought this morning and he says the way they have loaded by the end of happy hour yesterday their car was good he said just watching her be patient we're gonna be good on the long runs and that's exactly what's happening guys we have caution on the track for debris yeah we've got debris on the racetrack our second caution here on lap number 43 as the yellow flies for the second time today it will wipe out that two-second lead that greg biffle had over Mark Martin and again another opportunity for some hectic pitstops yeah a lot of cars on the lead lap so it'll be congested down there still have 38 cars on the lead lap let's update you on four cars that have taken it behind the wall Landon Cassill Travis Kvapil Blaney Joe Nemechek our Aaron's lucky dog he's going to go to Robby Gordon he'll get back on to the lead lap that will give us a total of 39 cars back on the lead lap when we go back to green flag racing is everybody on the racetrack still believe lap so do you switch strategies now if you took two the first time you're going to be 40 I'll take four yeah you got this you'll do you still might see a two-tire guy spread in the field but somebody that took for the last time but if you took two the first time you need for right now well they're coming your way Vince Welch Jimmie Johnson pretty happy with his race car right now he says it's a little free into turn three and he really feels some tightness coming off the corner in traffic on this pit stop get into the box a little bit early so they can make those changes and not have them back it out like they did last time Dave burns Vince Greg biffle's race car is still very loose are going to put a spring rubber in the left rear that's going to take a little time for tires doc Mark Martin said my car is so good Allen don't do a thing but four tires on it top it off with Sunoco and let me go don't touch anything day Denny Hamlin is on pit road as well [Music] loose in an off track record here pressure adjustment for Denny for tires and the faster race off pit road Denny Hamlin got blocked by the 82 of Scott Speed and is going to cost him a ton of spots looking out Busch though his team continues to get it done on pit road Kyle started 29th in this race and look where he is here just 43 laps here's what happened to Denny they had to come in at an angle because the 48 was already in his stall and you can see that just kind of stacks up as you go down pit road the 82 car Scott Speed was in there also crooked so he had to back up I said real frustrating gamesmanship and picking that after the 48 pick there to kind of be riding with them and work against you until you can go on the race track and make it easier to get your pit stop all right we'll reset it for you go back to green flag racing room we returned here to Texas a race presented by godaddy.com [Music] back here at Texas Motor Speedway where we have another new leader Mark Martin will get the privilege of leading the field down here's the three pit stops of our chase contenders yeah you say right there jimmie johnson and hitting him on have decent pissed off Jimmy lost a couple spots and you can see that for response that Danny lost really bad not being able to pull out of his pit stop a look at Harmon it stated doing a great job gaining a spot and Denny Hamlin he ended up coming in 19th he loses six spots on this exchange it's Martin Edwards Kyle Busch pit bull and Sandler for green again at Texas [Music] behind in Gregg these restarts where he's been able to really get out and kind of distance himself from the rest of the field [Music] going around Gordon to take over the textbook vegan seal niffle trying to work the inside with Carl Edwards and that drops off so quickly they're coming out of two [Applause] the cat was flying right before that caution came out see how far he can go Jimmy Johnson back in seventh right now new tires but he's really good for the link what Greg Biffle has got himself a race car today smoothly he is just shot past my car you can retake the lead we heard him talkin in the countdown show making some changes he wasn't sure he made the right one for the day but looks like they're working pretty well another guy [Music] battle for sixth and he gets it done so moving back into the sex position and set sail now try to catch Clint Boyer you see Bartok on the top side who's running in tenth place right power here [Music] and Joe in the gun Martin Truex [Applause] [Music] we started way back he's into the 25th spot right now pretty all these power suck offended come on 25th you see he's having to race a lot of cars here Harvick on the other hand they make up spots on pit road now he was racing for top-10 spot what's the latest you're hearing Dave but just to explain a little bit further that you know situation with the 82 which he now goes by Scott Speed crew chief Ryan Pemberton of the for the silver car there he came and talked to crew chief Mike Ford beforehand said we'll work with you as best we can when the when the situation happened on pit road my court had to radio back to his driver Hamlin hey the 82 did about everything they could they're about as far forward as they could so trying to work together but sometimes you could just do the newest but you can do look like Jamie McMurray may have brushed the wall right in front of him we'll check on that battle for third right now as Kyle Busch goes past Carl Edwards like he's standing still yeah I think Carl gave him that spot they saw out party thing to do just let him go and now later than race that might come back to you like has a problem he's coming to pit road as we continue here under green there you see from high above Jaime what's going on you see the guys working on the right side of believe it was a vibration he said he killed the front turn on the race car before that last round of stops and he just lost overall grip so he has put him a lap down in 38th position right now but he gets back out onto the track Newman is also coming in so all of a sudden some unscheduled pit stops the 39 of Ryan Newman they're going to go ahead and put four tires on it but the issue for him has been inside the car his seat belt have come undone so Ryan Newman had to come in for this stop to reattach his seat belts while he's doing that they're gonna put on four fresh Goodyear you ever have it happen to you oh wow not to the point that I couldn't get it hooked back but I came really close to a number of times and what happens is get that steering wheel closed your uniform gets caught on a buckle or something and just clip that and that's very unfortunate yes right you don't hear that very often but I can't run out there without seatbelts saw to Epica in a row I thought made to loose wheels in a row but that's that's pretty crazy right there why and also one lap down now he's in 38th position now we mentioned Jamie McMurray tagging the wall a little bit right here just brushed it with the quarter panel much yeah he should be okay that wasn't too hard yeah Bedini Hamels hope he's going to gather that thing back in 11.1 second lead over Mark Martin with Kyle Busch now in third myth looking for win number three this year sorry [Music] under our third caution here after a 59 laps because Sam Hornish slid into the wall and he almost made a lot worse his car just got loose in the center three up into the wall a lot of debris flying around nice save at the exit that could have been worse if he had turned it around there he could have collected some others let's go down to pit road Vince the 48 of Jimmie Johnson coming in the entry into the pit box has been a key issue for them so far through these first two stops just two tires for Jimmy likes his race car Dave Greg Biffle only wants to tires as well the car much better the time wedge adjustment doc no changes Vermont light side tires only less than seven seconds he's away Hey and he had with two tires out of his pit box cleanly this time wedge and drag bar adjustment his race car still loose see the race off pit road elliott sadler picks up five positions Clint Boyer won Kyle Busch lost two which is rare for that crew and Carl Edwards dropped three as well this time Denny Hamlin did not get boxed in they took two tires as well will he set the field and go back to green flag racing when we return here sexy [Music] [Music] as we get ready to go back to green flag racing here at Texas Motor Speedway let's show you the Aaron's lucky dog the 31 of Jeff Burton we can say a Ryan Newman stayed out took the wave-around he's back on the lead lap total of 38 cars still on the lead lap now the six car David Reagan's going to restart 32nd he had missing lug nuts he was seventh prior to the pit stops at deftly blow for his chances he's gonna have to fight his way back to the front let's reset it for you it'll be Greg Biffle Mark Martin up front before on the high side again Elliott Sadler clip boy than Kyle Busch Jimmie Johnson that's the first three rows Denny Hamlin's back in 11th Kevin Harvick restarted 17 and were green again at the great American Speedway Mark Martin in the pot parlay spinning his tires trying to get if we gets another one of those great restarts and starts opening up the lead quickly again Tina Kyle Busch now he's gonna try low no cause back in July side-by-side with Carl Edwards that's the battle their poor seventh position [Applause] there's Denny Hamlin as he is trying to work his way back up they had a great pit stop this last time taking the two tires he's now shown in ninth guys that's more like the race that they were [Applause] race point is hard at this point in time with Greece Kevin Harvick's got his hands full dough with Tony Stewart right now he has shown in 18th position he took four tires that last off Denny Hamlin on the other hand he took two and had the fastest pit stop on pit road with those two and we could tell you Jimmy Johnson's team option an update on Kevin Harvick Jamie little Marty you mentioned it Kevin Harvick's team his crew chief Jill Martin mob did you take pretty much everything we just Dean with your cloth dip time for a full green run no matter you can't give up that much track pavilion view and the last voice you're heard there was his boss man Richard Childress not happy about the call either but remember they had problems with Tigers and practice and they wanted to take for every time you gotta watch Kevin Harvick now back in traffic trying to get around the 24 gonna go three wide if it's not lose to excuse him enough room here comes Harvick underneath speed few hours early and there things seem to be pretty good with their race cars so little surprised at that call see Richard up on top of the Hollow side-by-side with Martin Truex now true expound half a car length on him now here's the thing though if you get a long green run those four tires will come in handy for for Kevin Harvick and Gil Martin looks hard can you make up that much that mean they go follow each other saw these guys came to Berlin and you put your driver in a much more stressful situation how about Kyle Busch going on Clint Boyer for third and Jimmie Johnson's just watching the dog [Music] Kyle's got the spot and here comes Jimmy to follow and he makes it look easy Johnson port boy [Applause] you guys were talking about green flag runs Jimmy Hicks our longest has been more in his race we've completed 69 [Applause] think you're going to see things we typically see some longer green flag runs but we're just seeing a fresh slick racetrack and it's creating some issues for a lot of these guys now Gilmartin kerchief on Kevin Harvick's car he didn't know how many were going to take - and he made that decision he was kind of banking on a few more doing the same thing and that was putting so far back they just got around Jeff Gordon he picks up the 15th position deal on the box this isn't going to be something that obviously unless they get involved in accident this is going to be devastating to their chances to win this race because we have so many laps together the further back to battle for 19th with Juan Pablo Montoya and Tony Stewart joy of coming off that great run of talent I ended up third Tony Stewart finished 31st one to forget that week Carl is sorry all of a sudden moving in the wrong direction what is happening to Edwards he's back to 12 he restarted eight money so that's a net loss of tied off of turn two all day long nice race car taking the wedge in that so I think they've gotten it as far as they want to in terms of taking the loose out of it tied off to and how much of that is the changing track conditions longer here on the front straightaway and through turn one the track definitely is changing they'll have to keep up with that Denny Hamlin down low trying to get another spot as he's seven Marlette virgins second a lot of times that two tires will make you far a little tighter to that radio you heard was Kyle Busch he's got his hands full right now with Jimmie Johnson [Music] can actually feel like a vibration he had something that big races therefore the splitter he did want to get off [Music] you heard him say we got dragged tail-happy to [Applause] the big garbage bags that you have looks like [Music] performance too much I mean he could probably feel that it's a vibration but it shouldn't hurt him too much he ran a 30.8 the last lap 30.7 this lap as we now focus on the battle for 8 Matt Kenseth and Elliott Sadler kenseth clears him by a good to car lengths and meanwhile greg biffle continues to run up front with a one point three second lead he has now led 68 laps of the 75 that we have run the Biff I guess that move they made it's paid off so far and look at the beautiful racing palace known as Texas Motor Speedway in right now Sprint brings you an inside look at the chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup all the points are shaken out like this by 33 now would be kevin harvick [Music] for more NASCAR stats in-car audio online race radio check out ask hobo sprint god slash speed and fastest lap is Greg biffle's see there at 29 seconds he now leads by 1.4 seconds over Mark Martin then Jimmie Johnson has now moved into third position three seconds behind link Boyer has gotten around Kyle Busch into fourth let's go up to speed and get the latest started off with Dave burns Marty it's a great day so far for Roush Fenway Racing and I had a chance to talk to Jack Roush this morning about the improvements in their program in the latter half of the year he said to me I really wish this had been in the first part of the year but I'm happy for the improvements that we're making he said that the program is working well except for some engine issues at Fontana a few weeks ago we've cailed back our tuning just a little bit he said I'd like to be doing it with just a little bit more Flair though maybe a win today would be flair in Jack's mind doctor and back behind him as the 5 car Mark Martin Alan Gustafson said sits Dover this five team is the five team of the year go running up front leading left being in contention to win races today our strength will be long green flag runs our weakness will be the short runs into the race a moment ago Mark Martin here's the good news guys I am really here's the bad news the 16 car is the 30 of the 48 of Jimmie Johnson is pretty solid right now as well running in third position Chad Ken House told me earlier today we just want to get up into the top 10 putting ourselves in the car that's capable of winning the race they've made very few adjustments minor adjustments with their car so far they've taken two tires Jimmy right now says he's pretty good at 1 & 2 a little loose in 3 & 4 the car much better when it's in clean air doc in the 33 car Clint Boyer the only two-time winner among the chasers and the chase does far Clint says the car has been a little bit tight they got some damage on the nose of this car coming on the pit road the championship punt and for Kyle to race other people hard he did that for him at Martinsville ETV Johnson across the finish and gave Denny a better opportunity keep your eye on piles further forward to the front the car is still just a little bit loose but they're getting closer instead of really loose they're using words like little now Denny is to describe the condition thank you guys let's update you on two cars one the 17 Matt Kenseth was eighth had to make an unscheduled stop to change right-side tires he is an out one lap down in toya he's one lap down now in 38 meanwhile Greg Biffle continues to sail here he's got a 1 second lead over Mark Martin here at our race presented by godaddy.com [Music] much of the early drama at Texas Motor Speedway where the championship trio of Johnson Hamlin and Harvick are concern has been on pit road the tire getting knocked away from Johnson's drone the first stop Hamlin's crew having some trouble parking and getting away on their second stop losing some track position Kevin Harvick's team choosing four tires on the last stop put him back in the pack all three though running well so far in the early going at Texas Motor Speedway Greg Biffle has been the dominant driver on the day but rusty company's coming Mark Martin this is good to see man ol mark Martin's back on track he's running great just like the mark of Oli's right now yeah Greg Biffle about a tenth of a second that last lap in that old car his is flat flying right now it's handling very good just little piece of trash with a girl that five car something to keep an eye on see if it blows away in the back on that 16 now what about that 16 Brad 16 car has been strong all day a great job by Greg Biffle and Greg Germann trying to figure out what's wrong with the car early seems like they've got it coming till the track seems to be coming to them a little bit even though marks tracking them down I think they're going to be a threat come next change up after we go through our next signature Greg Biffle has led 89 of the laps so far but not the next one there goes mark boy let mark buy see what Mark's got here for a few laps so Mark Martin goes out in front best finished this season for the five second at Martinsville 42 races since his last win a year ago September at New Hampshire and by the way company also coming in the form of Jimmie Johnson who is closing on that lead quickly now a moment ago Juan Pablo Montoya on pit road for an unscheduled pit stop it dropped him well back in the pack Jamie was wrecking loose he thought he had a bright career going flat so he brought it down pit road they changed all four looked at all those tires and nothing was wrong all right so uh Montoya there but they got him but he's only in the second car lap down and he's back at 38th place take a minute focus it on Denny Hamlin in our Gillette ProGlide profile dead he started the race back in 30th you see that he has chipped away is his way forward and has moved his way now up into the top five strong without a letter strong enough solid pit stops throughout the great right now and he is just got that car flat flying you know the resident all the chasers Kevin Harvick's even got his car running good they're all up there now in the top top 10 and that's where they needed to be he started way back when this race started remember Denny Hamlin started 29th and one here the April 19th at Texas Motor Speedway something else we talked about on countdown earlier that will bring up again as Jimmie Johnson closes in on Greg Biffle for a second 14 points between Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin Jimmie has earned 10 that more bonus points than Denny in the chase the points you get for leading laps and leading the most laps in a race if he gets up there and leads a lap puts a little more pressure on that 11 car to get out bro absolutely I mean that's real money those bonus points I mean they gotta grind hard to get all they possibly can just look we're just in with a few points me lead a lap lead the most laps do whatever you can to get those bonus points that work for me when I won my title I could do that yeah three of those guys Harvick Hamlin and Johnson are very well aware of the bonus point situation and I think we're gonna get to watch here and see how hard giveme Johnson uses to get those bonus more so Jimmy opted to third after starting the race in 17th and again losing a little ground that first pit stop when the tire got knocked out of the hand of his tire carrier hey I've been watching Jimmy Johnson's lap times this guy's been flat flying when he gets right behind the 16 car he loses a little bit of speed he puts her right back on a bottom the track and the speed comes right back up and look at him like get any boyo right now he's got his car working that's fourth spot Danny Hamlin's pick it up so he is one spot behind Jimmie Johnson on the racetrack now he has got him in his sights and wherever Jimmy goes is where Danny is headed it's it's the great thing about this championship with three drivers so close together they've all got to race hard they've all got to be a fun right now you've got Johnson [Applause] in position he's made his way back forward after giving up some track position for the strategy on the last stop fighters two laps complete another round of pit stops coming up after a long green flag run [Music] top-3 are in your screen Sam hornish's lap traffic pit stops have started early here biffle's still out in front and the 29 Kevin Harvick is in Jamie he is in his car sprayed on a long run want to make it better [Music] Carl Edwards is in halfway back on the adjustment that made his car tight that's wedge in the left rear that's a four-tire stop on the 99 [Music] 16 of Greg Biffle is on pit road now he just misses Scott speed and lets him know didn't appreciate the cutout right there they're gonna take a shim suspension to help we'll be a little bit less loose for Greg Biffle loose everywhere very fast patrol full of Sunoco fuel four tires working on that left front and now they finish it ring is gone there's the 48 of Jimmie Johnson been pretty pleased with his car throughout most of the day today but right now he says it's just too loose they're going to go around and a half down on the track bar is going to be a four-tire change for Jimmie Johnson since crew chief says one of the strengths of this team is dialing in the car throughout the course of the race they've been massaging it he's been this race goes on Jeff Gordon one engineer faster to be in lucid pipe the Midland tied off major it's still loose according to the driver they will make a four-tire change [Applause] on the 11 car see how they can put their wood three on the right side maybe a track bar adjustment they've got a free hit exit John and they leave both Danny and Jimmy led laps during that sequence of green flag pit stops so no game for those two but Kevin Harvick did not lead a lap yet Mark Martin right now shown as our race leader NASCAR sporting the cycle through what we're going to see is all this happens Jimmy Johnson had a really slow pit stop they had a lot of problems on the right front [Music] [Applause] and at Denny Hamlin greg biffle going around Kyle Busch 16 in a half second stop became Martin's lead right now over Matt Kenseth is one point two seconds two seconds Reutimann and third Boyer is now shown for Logano fifth Biffle back to sit Harvick 8 Hamlin [Applause] there you see Denny Hamlin [Applause] you see right here he's passing kevin harvick confited just a few laps maybe a couple of laps before Danny did so Dee Dee's got just a little bit fresher tires now but you know you go back to the twenty nine stop when they took four he's actually dug his way out of it gaming Matt Kenseth the 17 car is in he said the car is getting pretty warm 2:55 watched the amount of tape he's down in a way they tighten him up four tires and on the right side your screen Denny Hamlin now into the seventh position he is back in 11th as a result of the slow pit stop in fact he has a total of about three seconds behind any Hamlet leader and you can remember he was just a second mistakes on pit road could cost you and it's right now reared its ugly head and they also took a chance by staying out there they think boys they say that they're a little bit longer as to Denny Hamlin but then with the bad pissed off all of that combined who's Jimmy Johnson pretty far Denny Hamlin makes it look easy going around his teammate Kyle Busch carrying the momentum for the corner so moved Denny now into the sixth position a little bit further back there's the 48 this something we've seen that did we talked about Jimmie Johnson's pit crew just being a little bit suspect especially probably the of the three championship contenders probably their third that's a really the only Achilles heel this team has it seems like this year is on pit road and it's not been big things that's costing them it's just a little here and there that one right there wasn't what a disaster but you know three seconds slower on pissed off can lose you a lot of track position especially under green you see where Jimmy is on the track there is your race leader and that shows you the difference between first place place what are you hearing on the 48 camp right now well crew chief Chad Knaus kept his composure despite that slow stop you noted they had a little problem on the right front they had trouble getting the tire wasn't an issue of dropping a lug nut or any of that matter it was just a matter of getting that right front tire on we're slow in that category certainly slowed down their stop they've been happy with the race car though they made a track bar adjustment as we noted on that last pit stop you try to Snug Jimmy up but he and Chad have been fairly happy with the way things have gone so far they liked the balance of their race car and they know staying on top of these changing track conditions will be key as the shadows creep over and this race starts to work its way toward dusk where you noticed on that graphic right now the way they were running Denny Hamlin would take over the point's lead it shows how sensitive each position really is Hamlin running sixth Johnson running just four positions back and it's enough to swing the points working lap number 120 at 330 way to go in this one [Music] [Applause] move greg biffle into the number three spot as he's gotten around Clint Boyer right behind Mordor coming up is Joey Logano [Music] back on that track like we've seen him all race long road where he had to wait on the 82 that cost him it just been a time to the leader Mark Martin so just all of these little things add up and you know you can have a fast race car on the track but you have to put it all together one ski thing that they did though on pit roads they made a change on their stop they took the Sham out of that right front bump stop or left run open time for the AT&T fastest pit crew of the Year award see the 24 teams currently in the lead you help determine the standings you vote from your AT&T phone by texting the car number the 2258 for the pit crew you think is the fastest and most valuable [Music] every Sunday catch the BCS countdown show for the exclusive unveiling of the new BCS rankings and find out who's at the driver's seat and who's poised to be this year's BCS Buster the BCS countdown show presented by discover Sunday's 8:15 on ESPN it continues at 9:00 Eastern on ESPNU if they give TCU down here in our area or they pounded Utah you kiss your tit how about that comeback by Penn State down 21 nothing win number 404 Joe Paterno right now mark Martin's trying to collect the win how about the fact he's had 10 wins and 80 top tens and 164 races on the mile and a half ovals work our way back a little bit further Denny Hamlin's running in fifth right now and then you've got Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson just going after each other position on the racetrack Jimmy Johnson and raining down pretty good but Harvey not let him go now that momentum that heartbreaks getting out in the quarter running that High Line's making it difficult for Jimmie Johnson let's go back to pitch strategies go because you wanna make he's got on the team pretty hard for that four-tire stop yeah he kind of got on Gill first for making that four-tire stop one moved under that last caution Pike stopped again said where it's time for a long green flag run well we've had that since then and look at this 29 knees all the way back up in the top ten not a bad decision by the off nobody knows anything about lottery numbers or anything Richard on top of the box of course the guy who started up out of this early pit stop strategy under this stretch is our current race leader Mark Martin he's I got a second and a half lead over David Reutimann dock party or riot NASCAR as you might expect it's all about following the leader most of these guys in that previous top could run four to six more lap down Oh about lap 110 Martin Martin that's a leader on lap 103 sagat's I suddenly have a vibration I'm coming this time so he came in on lap 104 and pitted and then it was monkey-see monkey-do feeding time they all came in behind him on the pit road four or five laps earlier can we say that a lot this year dot with a lot of you know somebody makes that early pitstop and everybody comes down because there's so much speed to be gained by the tires and there's not much really the risk because if the caution does come out they can take a wave around there's a lot of ways to get a lap back so [Music] six-second lead just evaporates let's go back and show you exactly what happened to Truex and it started way back up in the middle you can see get rid of applause exact with the wall there and down through the grass the problems in the grass oh then you have to be careful not to mess up the sweater in that [Music] okay for our race leader's we're going to have 28 green flag laps you coming oh yeah they're gonna be coming down pit road this is actually the longest green flag room we've had close to 70 laps or so I think they're going to do four tires here oh yeah I think so this would be a four tire decision guys on the wall ready to go Greg biffle's crew the 48 team tries to rebound from the rough stop they had we saw biffle's team you know take that time under green to make a change on their car so this can actually help them not having to adjust on the car make a quick pit stop and gain track position but I'm Denny Hamlin being in front of Jimmie Johnson is going to help his pit stop here to Jamie and David Reutimann worked his way into second but he was just saying he has no rear grip at all they're gonna go down on the track air pressure adjustment for the double theorem tape Denny Hamlin gives up fifth place to pit they will make a four-tire stop spring rubber in the rush-hour air pressure the right rear is down on the track bar third place Greg Biffle in as well they will make a track bar Justin for Greg better but still three four tires for Biffle dr. bottom I use green lar vard both the Chuck and the race-off Joey Logano picks up three spots Biffle picks up wat Martin drops two along with Reutimann carbocadon couple also the four-tire stop yeah Jimmy Johnson picks up one but he'll be behind his two challengers in the chase so things continue to stay interesting here at Texas Motor Speedway and we'll reset it and go green when we come back [Music] hi I'm Tony Stewart driver number 14 office defaults by Chevrolet and just want to say thank you to all the veterans for everything that you've done to make sure that we have a great country to live in that's safe and comfortable so thank you and you can join ESPN in support of our troops our wounded warriors and their families donate ten dollars by texting us oh two two seven seven two two or goal to us O Donnell our got a lot of troops here today or good nearby and we echo Tony's sentiments from start to finish guys glad that you're with us in fact uh you saw the American Red Cross banner of course they're active in a lot of things they're on the sixteen this weekend with Greg Biffle Biffle right now will restart second in this thing we had two wave arounds Andy Lally and Patrick our Ponty a and the seven of Robby Gordon got the lucky dog so up front OB Logano Bill Maher running six Jimmy Johnson back in eighth pace car pulls off green flag flies were race again ten different leader gets a good restart but we know what is about to happen it's been tough on that high side on these restarts and Biffle has been the toughest their tablet on the high side as well [Applause] to the strike McDonald's given him all he can handle who's going to lead the lap Logano gets credit for [Music] ten different leaders still going side-by-side Logano doesn't want to give up [Applause] [Applause] like their car not sure he's got enough visible dad does anybody else right at this moment but Joey Logano doing a nice job well the one times it goes in the long run when we had that stretch when we right before we went green flag pit stops that to change out the caution previous so kind of hard to judge how it your long run is when you don't have you know the same tires is everybody during the run this is probably going to be like a reset we can see how he does on this run and also had a chassis adjustment under that green Pike stop you see the freight train coming on down the line we can tell you then he Hamlin's not running back and me Johnson [Applause] eleventh position how about a tip of the hat to the 39 crew of Ryan Newman and now he has just moved into the tenth position so Newman and just a few more spots same story for the 31 of Jeff Burton Burton right now in the 13th position so two cars that were one lap down you see Jeff closing in on Gordon and Paul Menard [Music] Jeff Burton had a solid car earlier on and then you made a four-tire change and that's the good thing about having plenty of time this roof and get things going the right direction same thing for Kurt Busch you know he hit the wall coming off forward looked like he was going to be done for a while almost went a lap down but now he's back up in the mix a little bit on the lead lap in Mike at one point he was as low as 36 see him working his way back forward he's up into the 15th spot side by side there we love that thing Jamie McMurray had slight contact with right behind those two and Scott speed as well [Applause] let's get an update on Marcus Ambrose Dave buddy he's had a pretty good day and he most of the time it's been passing cars on the racetrack just a little rear grip is what he's been complaining about and in fact during that green flag pit stop cycle they even had an issue where an official was looking at one line they thought was the line they were supposed to stop on thought Marcus overshot his pit made him move back so he lost time it was a mistake on the officials mark but Marcus even with that has raced inside the top 15 for most of the second third of this race come back forward now Jimmie Johnson in side-by-side with Kevin Harvick and the points are also important right now Barbic does not want to give up the spot but he has to [Applause] Jimmy into the eighth position he's gonna stay up on that Highline try and get on top while Jimmy really racetrack quite a bit just trying to find out worst cars the fastest right now did you see pick up another spot watch went Boyer next victim is Kyle Busch Kyle might be a little bit stronger now that he's got that plastic off of the nose of his car when he dropped several positions right before you were able to get in and get it removed it's actually an anniversary Devraj has made his first start as Kyle's cup Poochie at this [Music] [Applause] while it was leaving chicken on Denny Hamlin with David Reutimann the 11:00 is running fifth right now Dave and I don't think he's going to pass David Reutimann instead he's going to run right up close behind him listen why [Applause] looks like it's gonna be like I'll go and get right behind ya some trash on the grill Toyota corporate teammate David Reutimann is trying to back off just a little bit so Denny can get right up behind him create a vacuum and pull that trash off the grill right up next of rudeman coming down the backstretch actually bunching getting into three I thought maybe it was gonna upset rudeman but it didn't I was trying to figure out what was going on there I guess that's what it was looking at he may have gotten it off yeah it looks like it's gone I mean I don't see anything let's head on over to the craftsman tech garage Tim hey there's two parts to that guys when this debris gets on the front of the car pulling up behind the car that really helps but another thing when the driver cuts off the fan where's that piece of paper go well it's gonna go straight to the ground thanks a little while is it good job yeah that's what they do they turn the fan off the full just do away with that pressure on the nose and you a lot of times I mean most times it well you can see Jimmie Johnson is closing in on Denny Hamlin looks like he's trying to get downloaded shut that lane down yeah that's one thing I've seen Jimmy Johnson's car on this run he's been able to go to the bottom of fat and make a drive and carry a lot of speed off the corner [Music] looks like he has real good success passing cars on the outside but he makes good time when he's in the clear when he can run the bottom side by side as they come out of to remember he drops off so much there and finally Jimmy does take the spot so Johnson moves into fifth Hamlin now running six Harvick is back in ninth and everybody's chasing Greg Biffle again has led a hundred and six laps let's take a look at the polemic see Marcin at all martin truex he hit the wall earlier you've been running right to Taylor I got this timer we got tires gonna come a far do you attend offend up you can see the damage I'm not sure that's gonna survive if he tries to stay out there now he need to get in get that changed I know he's got the field kind of bearing down on him he's not able to run fast enough to get around all right let's go back and show you exactly what happened to Truex and tiredest let go is a good thing it was really close to the wall there so he didn't get a ton of damage so Martin becomes our fifth caution of the day here we've run 17 laps under caution so far of the 151 we've completed and the crew goes to work as the fourth and fifth caution I believe brought the last caution now he's spun off four check can house on top of the box right now he has his driver running in fifth with Denny Hamlin 6th and Kevin Harvick running in ninth let's go back you heard Andy talk about the previous incident back on lap 31 you got all that damage on the right front they came in and fix it as well as they could but they were out there running kind of have to tail it of the pack and that tire let go on this caution here so now we've run about 18 laps this time on this green flag stretch this is one of those stops you might see some two tires today we're gonna see a lot it's gonna be a very crowded pit road once again we still have a lot of cars 34 still on the lead lap big break is going to be for Matt Kenseth he's in 35th right now one lap down he's going to get the lucky dog remember he pitted on lap 79 he went that lap down while running eighth he had that vibration problem and so now he'll be back on the lead lap here come the race leader's let's send it to Vince he's got the 48 well Jimmy Johnson may have grazed the wall he indicated that he wanted the guys to take a look at that right rear they're gonna make a two-tire change here otherwise he's very happy Dave Hamlin stops right now in front of him let's see how most things were there they're able to get around two tires too tired from pitbull as well and the race-off Joey Logano looks like he's going to do it again as he picks up the spot Biffle loses one Kevin Harvick's team picks up for a disaster for Jimmie Johnson changing right sides had a terrible life front stop it's the second time we've seen that happen today for that team so we'll reset it for you you can see Jimmy inside the cockpit here at Texas he's got his work cut out [Music] [Music] still under caution here at Texas let's revisit the AT&T fastest pit crew of the Year award the fastest pit crews determined by the winner each race pit time and your vote be sure to text the car number to 2258 for your pit crew choice all right the 48 has had troubles more than once today in the pits and let's go back took a look at this this was one of the first stops you see it tire got hit by Paul Menard which slowed them up a little bit no penalty no penalty on the 48 the houses the contact from the 98 then this is another stop to tire stop on the right side so you have the carrier the tire gets to man Tina's working on that right front the tire carrier really struggle getting that thing up on the hub and then this last one you see here they come inside the same issue on the right front and it's really up to this tire carrier to spy on that Bank properly and not knock the lug nuts off and that's he kind of left the tire changer there to put those nuts back on by himself and that's what cost them so much time and let's show you what it means on the pit time comparison yeah you see that ten point two four two tires almost twice as long as Denny Hamlin's and costing seven positions he's gonna restart in listen on the radio not now guys I need you there so bad that's where we no ma'am we know we'll get the lined up here you're doing a great job on the racetrack Jimmy got a really good race car got to keep her cool here and get her back up into the top hand at that wall we'll get after those guys again we know a lot of drivers that after two of episodes they'd be up on the tire yeah but that just shows too how professional Jimmie Johnson isn't the champion that he is he understands that you know they're trying as hard as they can but he's really putting him in some bad spots he doesn't want to have to get too aggressive at this point time to keep passing same cars over and over the 18 right behind Jimmie Johnson he lost seven spots also so you'll have to dig his way out of that hole all right we told you Matt Ken this was the lucky dog and Gillan stayed out got the wave-around so we now have 36 cars on the lead lap Montoya and Truex are shown one lap down up front it's going to be Joey Logano bersani's ever led here in Texas Bibble logs kevin harvick pip Denny Hamlin's sex toy or Birdman Stewart Edwards and Jimmy Johnson back in 12th under way [Applause] down into three just like we saw on the last time these two went side-by-side Logano is able to hold on at least for a lap or two [Music] good behind him is Mark Martin with a bird's-eye view [Applause] hanging really tough on that inside I don't know if you can do it again through turns to leave the last time we lucky me again Joey Oh said Lynn now he's got a nice run on the bottom again [Music] [Applause] still side-by-side Logano giving credit for leading that lap if it was let the most today delete a swollen end on Saturn one horse is involved David Reagan may have a piece of that as well - the man who will bring this race last year as trouble here on lap number 159 Andy Lally in the 71 there he was running 15 that's the one problem with having a bad pit stop it puts you back in the field these kind of things can happen it compound itself here we go saying me it got tap can't tell who that was the six of David Reagan I'm not sure if he got tapped or if he just if Kyle just got loose getting down into the corner I just wondered if it was the nine of Eric out in the world yeah I think it might have been the nine McAfee [Music] that's what it looks like there yeah then he got hit right there yes that's exactly what you have kept it off the wall okay brake line ring he saved that car like that he has made it to pit road I'm have to hustle it's like the other leaders are staying out pit road is open as they go by yeah we've only gone seven laps since our last round of pit stops and the nine is coming in aric almirola followed by Kurt Busch and several others that were further back in the field looks like cow might get back out he might stay on the lead lap here looks like it was close he's out in front of the pace car so it looks like Kyle will stay on the lead lap Dan come back around and change to the other side he changed the left sides because had that left rear that was flapping and you heard him on the radio helping the crew chiefs saying that you're gonna have to do the left sides first [Music] show you how close it really was for him staying on the lead lap there is the Pitt outline and look at the pace car now that blue line in the background if the pace cars past that he's drilled we just got word from nice going Davis fast they said we sped to keep the war a lot down you heard it there they're gonna hold him one lap maybe they actually changed right sides first now they're changing the left well I mean it was gonna be a lap down either way I guess that's a little hand signal given the NASCAR officials yeah guys for Kyle I can't shoot the messenger you know he was just trying to say on the lead lap and that's a chance you take if you make it great if you don't each all he's losing is what he would have lost it all right so while they hold him a lap let's check in on our in-race reporter Greg Biffle his own race leader hey Greg Dale Jarrett a copy hey man we heard you talking in the countdown show you weren't sure about the adjustments made they look like they're pretty good for that 16 car yeah they are as the speeds picking up here the sun's going down cool it off I'm just getting looser and looser now have a hard time keeping up with it good start taking a little few bigger swings out of here but is this picking up - you know these 20 is up here now and a few others look like you're getting five double zero alright man keep it up thanks for talking greg biffle let 219 laps what he won here back in April of 2005 he started in the rear in that race he in a backup car and he didn't lead for the first time in till lap 87 and right now he's led a hundred and thirteen laps today more than anybody else by a bunch this week on a ESPN's Monday Night Football Big Ben and the Pittsburgh Steelers head to Cincinnati where they faced EO and the Bengals they're hungry for a win over the division leaders Steelers Bengals ESPN's Monday Night Football 8:30 Eastern our coverage begins at 7:00 Eastern with Monday night countdown served up by Applebee's so we're getting ready to go back to green flag racing is the Sun shadows Greg Biffle and Joey Logano David Reutimann Kevin Harvick Denny Hamlin 5th and 6th Boyer is 7th and Jimmie Johnson will restart in 14th the dog was Juan Pablo Montoya to the left [Music] this time quickly gets out front past Joey Logano David Reutimann unsportsmanlike conduct that's the reason that's Kyle Busch's radio remember the little gesture that we had to volatize for it's going to cost him two more laughs NASCAR and while all that goes on the race continues out on the track traffic back through the middle of this field there is Kyle will see if he comes in this time he's slowing down and making his way down pit road so a bad break turned into a bad situation and it's gone to worst battle for fifth over again about Harvick Hamlin Boyer all in line right there music let's go back to this yeah they've got the situation they know if they've got the 48 in their mirror and that's exactly what they will be able to gain points and Jimmie Johnson for a moment there was three wide and one of those cars was the first time we've been able to talk about young Trevor Bayne again I've really watched him a lot today we haven't had him on screen that much but he's done an excellent job driving this Wood Brothers machine he's up to 16th right now trying to go around Paul Menard and looks like he's going to do it take over the 15th spot that's the highest he's been today he's got Ambrose underneath and that's slamming the door on the nut Mon Paul Menard for the Wood Brothers let's get an update how's his day really been going Jamie it's been going pretty well he's impressing a lot of people around him of course his first ever start they had to start in the back of the field today because of a transmission change but he's hanging on but remember cars the CEO and then Michael Waltrip Racing in the knee tested last week with Roush so he's holding his own guys definitely not driving like it not bad for a nineteen-year-old matter back to the race up front there's greg biffle he's got Joey Logano now four tenths of a second behind and as we move back you see Harvick and Hamlin still running fifth and six who's saying where's Jimmie Johnson all the way back in 12th you want to talk about a point swing the top three would be within 24 if it stayed this way and Denny Hamlin would be the points leader here's out running thing I see about those three cars today Jimmie Johnson looks like he's got the best car all day I think Harvick probably has the worst of the three but here we got him almost in Reverse Harvick is in front of all his competitors and doing a really good job on living off pit road and Kevin's doing a great job socially on the racetrack and making passes well and the key is we're still just half way by two laps so there's still a lot of racing to go a lot more adjustments are gonna have to be made as you continue to see the shadows further and further across this mile and a half known as Texas Motor Speedway and we'll be back with a lot more of our coverage it's presented by godaddy.com [Music] Chevrolet wants you and three of your friends to meet Kevin Harvick and Miss Sprint Cup at the NASCAR Sprint Cup award ceremony in Las Vegas and you could win two all-new Chevrolet Cruze LTZ to go along to the trip for your chance to win enter at win your chevy.com running on former Dale junior not having his best day right now back in 32nd position though on the lead lap as you see that Sun glare and then into the shadows and we roll along now into the second half of today's 500-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway so far but kind of a standoff along the championship trio two of them have led Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin have each led a lap Kevin Harvick has not but right now Johnson is trailing the other two because of troubles head on pit road our best about every stop today yeah Jimmie Johnson keeps having these pit row pit road problems there's just no doubt about that but talk about the fourth championship see Joey Logano getting underneath the 16 of Greg Biffle right now boy he's as the Sun is setting that 20 cars got better and better but going back to the points this championships within 24 points now this tighter that's ever been Joey Logano has not had great results here at this Texas track in the past this weekend feeling they ran better here in April and feels like that a good run here would be a check off his list it really would it would bring him back into the picture as far as he's concerned this year of having a pretty good season I mean he really has not been as strong as he would like to have been through the year consistent as he would like to have been that this gives you a big shot great Bulls radio there there's that double zero car watching David Reutimann it's been he has been flying for the last hundred laps I mean he's consistently been one of the quicker cars on the racetrack and he has stayed on that top five top three basically all day long rusty he's a threat he is a threat night I look what he did back in Chicago Rachel he dominated that second half and won that race in Chicago this is no fluke what's going on here this guy is fast right now he's about two tenths of a second faster than a leader that last lap by right now it's kind of neutralized but this is a very very good handling car for David remember today let's come now beautiful afternoon here in Fort Worth but this race is going to finish sundown and under the lights here you see now about a half or so of the track is in the shadows behind the grandstands and the condos and the speedway club down in turn one the other half is in sunshine you see the temperature difference there you heard Greg Biffle complaining about his car chasing these track conditions i cured staying for the crew chief really is they have to stay up with the track conditions that's what we call it here NASCAR that if it changes something's going to happen the cars going to get tighter or if it's going to get looser and all the pins how you got your car set up generally when the track pulls off the car but I just heard Greg Biffle say I'm getting looser and looser so it changes for different so but no matter what they got to keep it just on the car the temperature and every crucial call has got to be made and again you got to be anticipating what it's going to be like when the Sun is down and the lights are on and this race finishes in its final miles 180 laps complete 154 to go Joey Logano now back out in front he is one of 11 different drivers who've led today here in Texas [Music] [Music] NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series in Texas is presented by godaddy.com and brought to you in part by the new 2011 Ford f-150 Built Ford Tough Silver Star ultra headlights from Sylvania see farther see wider see better and a back here at the great American Speedway we have got some very interesting developments happening as the Sun continues to cast the shadows over this one and a half mile track Joey Logano Squad has come to life and he has now got a 6/10 of a second lead over Greg Biffle he now finds himself not as good as he was when the Sun was fully out David Reutimann very consistent all day long right there in third and if you drift back just a little bit further Kevin Harvick has moved up to the fourth position picking up two spots while we were in break yeah these track conditions have really flip-flopped that thing you know Harvick did not have a great car in the beginning of the race so now he's got the best of the three Jimmie Johnson on the other hand has some problems and he's not making any headway he's not really passing any cars trying to come to the front so his cars not as good as it was Denny Hamlin is two spots further back in six and where is Jimmie Johnson he is stuck in the 13th position and he's actually losing distance to the leader he's now 12 seconds behind dad what I think the track conditions plus we've seen their car be the best when they changed four tires so they're looking for more opportunities we're running a little bit longer green and everybody gets four all right this is why this is so important we'll look at what happens if this doesn't change Denny Hamlin leads and it's a 19 point difference between the three of them yeah we still got some racing together though quite a bit but it just shows the ebb and this lead between these three can change here at Texas [Music] [Applause] there's Czech canals down the talking to his crew and what do you say to him chief well this is one thing that was never good at the firt the one thing you can't do is take your frustration out right here you got to get through this race they've had some problems have a chance maybe to make another pizza it looks like that's the 56 car of crew X again yeah up in turn number 4 as we got the caution out in yeah it's been a very bad day for Martin Truex in the Napa crew yeah it looks pretty bad this time it's he's gonna head for the garage so our seventh caution oh no and Jeff Gordon we're in the moment he's over at the Expo and Jeff Burton involved this had to happen right front fender my left front yeah that's devastating for these two yeah look at scarcer destroyed so Jeff Gordon who hasn't won his last race was that he one was here it's been sixty two races since his last victory and it ain't gonna happen today here's the first part with Martin Truex and all our eyes are down to the left yeah yeah kind of pounded that wall we need the caution was gonna come out and it's really hard to tell if he blew another tire if he just got loose and jumped up into the wall and while we're looking left over on the right side of the track here's what happened with Gordon and Burton well I don't know about that hard contact for the 20 for me like Burton did that on purpose it looked like the 24 slid up in front maybe and then jumped out of the gas as the caution came out that's pretty good League - maybe they made a little contact earlier Jeff is out of the car and appears to be okay I said they could have been in that caution came out right at that time as he was making that pass Jeff doesn't look very happy right here now they were running 18th and 19th at the time of this crash so we have a multiple incident at both ends of the speedway for our seventh caution here at Texas and Jeff making as well just there was an ambulance that Jeff's car he's walking over to the driver and it does because the way we raised him in 3 & 4 and he can pulled up beside us it just tried to fake like he's gonna turn into us something awesome too and that's what caused all that crap back there tours over know it now with the interface control oh yeah Jeff Burton I mean Jeff Gordon's not happy at all and they're gonna go and talk it out here [Applause] not have to get Jeff Gordon not happy with that what happened [Applause] this was stepping in between but this is far from I mean there weren't even words exchanged this was in your face that's all that coming because it was an ambulance behind Jeff Gordon's car he walked over there to the other they have to differ [Applause] good [Music] [Applause] I don't know if I put them in the same ambulance this could be fun for the officials that's a good idea or not you mentioned there was another ambulance on the upper side anyone right there alright let's go back and take a look at this again you can see right here Jeff Norton well it's going up in front telling that's a heart Jeff Ward took to it looked like the caution was already out it's not sure if something didn't happen a little earlier that kind of provoked Jeff Burton you have to think that this started before that and I've never seen this out Jeff Gordon man he just there was no time it's about two of the most unlikely guys you would expect to see in this situation and I'm sorry folks I'm not good at reading lips so I can't tell you what I used and repeat what was said they're part of it they kind of matching what they're saying I mean I really don't blame Jeff Gordon I mean he got hammered in the wall right there and I don't really know why it's what's left at the 31 and the 24 doesn't look any better there are no winners in that one well pit road has now opened Joey Logano leads him down and let's send it to Jamie little well bad news for the competition the 29 car is good on the short run good on the long run no changes is the call for tire stop for Kevin Harvick Dave Fleming true has stopped watching the shoving match to focus on four tires for Denny Hamlin and a wedge adjustment for a loose race car doc Bona biggest green race leader Joey Logano four tire centers get a little bit loose early now they can wedge adjustment and two tenths of an air pressure change Jimmy Johnson says he just doesn't know why the cars so loose they went down around and a half on the track bar and they were clean on the tire changes this time and the race off pit road as you can see the only one person to pick up the two and crack the top ten Marcos Ambrose Jimmie Johnson will sort it out let you know where he is when we come back and we're here at Texas and the fireworks are still happening [Music] well things have taken a bit of a twist here the Texas Motor Speedway under caution for the seventh time of the race our coverage today brought to you by godaddy.com the mangled car of Jeff Gordon being carried back to the garage a mangled car from Jeff Burton being carried back as well after an interesting turn of events that will be part of our dodge race rundown let's start first with a lot of what's been going on around the championship trio a lot of it's been on pit road yeah big time right front problems for Jimmie Johnson's pit crew they keep getting happen to happen bombs here on this right front quarter the first time to hit a tire second time they've had a right front issue here the issue is I'm talking about gets him to get a clock right keep having slow stops yeah he could get the right front tire changer doesn't seem to be able to his tire carrier seems to be somewhat of the problem there can't quite get the studs lined up get the tire on and I left these hanging here it looks like it well right front tire here trying to pick up the the lugs and get him on there so very very slow it's been 70 minutes all day long cost to Jimmie track position Denny Hamlin that trouble on an early to tire stop when he got blocked in behind Scott speed since then Hamlin's pit crew has been on the money he was happy about that first stop and then he's been moving up in the race move it up move it up he's been at the top but a lab during the race today Kevin Harvick's the guy that's made a knife charges well he started in 26th position worked his way into the back part of the top ten then he worked his way up into the top five a nice job by the twenty nine happy Harvick gets ride on his money right now it's not making any mistakes he's got a fast car he's adjusted for the temperature the track right now he's shown in the fifth position above all of his other chase competitors and then the really big moment of the rain here we go after the caution came out for Martin Truex being involved in a crash this happened on the cooldown Jeff Burton just used up Jeff Gordon there but whatever the incident was before that and mr. Gordon's not too happy goes down and he's gonna try to cauliflower Jeff Burton's ears luckily we had to there these boys are not happy oh it will be interesting to hear both sides of this expect real hear from Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton momentarily as they both come out of the care center got a little feisty there I've never seen him like that Gordon seen him is when I spot him out Richard yeah he had it coming up yeah you did it okay all right so we'll we'll see what happens here and who says why look at it boys looks like Gordon is gonna go elsewhere for a moment and Jeff Burton's gonna step into the scrum Jamie what both drivers have been released Jeff Gordon going back to his hauler we'll catch up with him in a moment but Jeff what happened we just saw the replays of you - well he gave off turn four and it's really hard to see off turn four and he drove underneath me and we drove underneath me I should have let him go and I didn't the caution came out he pulled up next to me to tell me that he was upset at me and then he went he went on then I went to pull up next to him - you know doing all team they say he was right and I I turned left and he was turning left and we just hung up and when we hung up off we went it was I I don't I honestly don't know what happened it was my it was my fault 100% it was my fault it's like once we got together I couldn't I couldn't get too often I didn't mean to hit him I made it pull up to him and tell him he was right because he was upset at me for what happened off to her floor and I should have let him go because you can't see over there right now and you don't need sight beat side by side and you know he I don't blame him for being mad I'd have been mad - what happened afterwards when you saw him walking towards you well like I said I knew he was gonna be mad and I don't blame him for being mad he didn't do anything that he shouldn't have done he was upset and they should have been upset I wrecked him under caution I didn't mean to wreck him but I recommend a caution and he meant to tell me he was upset and that you know that was okay I don't have kind of help I don't have a bit of problem with what he did he was mad he should have been mad did you guys have any words in the medical center well I have a lot of respect for Jeff and you know I think he has a lot of respect for me we talked and you know he's still upset no like I said I don't blame him he understands what happened more now and you know it is what it is all right thanks Jeff Burton takes total blame there now and we're gonna try to catch up with Jeff Gordon if we can for the end of this race all right Jamie thank you so so he didn't use him up I thought that explains it I mean I guess they just got hooked together I need a house or gonna have a hold of Jeff Gordon I won't hear from him real quick but that that is as blunt and explanation as you'll hear Jeff Burton but I guess what else would you expect from from him yeah I mean too bad tough one of those tough incidents but it torque - good race cars the Jeff Burke's taking full responsibility so long I'm sure with Jeff Gordon cools off it looks like the bumpers did get hooked together Jeff just couldn't get away from 31 cards put straight up yeah you did now they got locked together Brad yeah here's the thing both of those crews have jumped all over both of those wreck race cars to see if they can repair them and get them back out because they're fighting first positions in the final standings and as we've documented before that that these points are important more going on back in the garage doc well it's actually on pit road here's what's happening the 24 crew of Jeff Gordon is going to go up and now start pitting the 48 car of Jimmie Johnson they've been told to go to the 48 pit and here's why because the 24 crew has been locking off 11.8 12 second 12.1 second stops and now they've been asked to come to the 48 and provide assistance so what's happening here is the 24 guys are already up here they're discussing what's going to go on and I don't know how well this will go over but they've been asked to come here and see they can get the best of the best on pit road Wow man everything's changing very amazing all right Marty DJ and Andy a lot going on whoa yeah what I'm looking at right now is you've just destroyed the morale of everybody in one of those blue and white uniforms get ready we'll talk more about that and yeah the race is getting ready to restart it's Joey Logano your race leader Biffle Harvick rudiment ham and Martin we're great again I can Harvey getting a big run now pushing doing the Gatto and turn one Harvick looking to try for that high side not willing to go up that high now this hasn't been the strongest part of Harvick's race car and race so far so you can see Biffle fighting on the inside he's normally like that high side jimmie johnson restarted in 13th position that's one of the reasons for the crew change they have lost positions every time on pit road Hamlin and Harvick side-by-side while they're going after each other to get back to the bottom right now this racetrack pulls off you're going to see more drivers on the bottom side especially with fresh tires and lence got the position for now and you tucks in behind gets down on the bottom [Music] all right we've caught up with Jeff Gordon Vince well Jeff Jeff Burton told us that it was definitely his fault he owned up to that but what was your perspective of what happened there and the reason you were so angry obviously I'll walk you right through it you know we went down to three he went wide going into three I got to the inside of him I mean there was four car weights between us and he drove from the wall all the way down to me almost and the second groove up and I didn't understand why and so we got down the cost she came out we went down turn one and I just went up drove up next him I didn't even touch him and I don't know I guess he was just really frustrated with the way his car was handling or something and I mean he just drove into my right rear put me in the wall under caution you know of all the people out there I never thought that it would happen with Jeff Burton I mean I've always had tremendous amount of respect for him but I certainly lost a lot of respect today and you know I don't think we're gonna be able fix the DuPont Chevrolet I mean we were ballon enough as it was but I really had confidence we were gonna be able to battle back and you know and get a decent finish maybe top 10 or 15 but certainly not gonna happen today after scuffling outside and then the two of you get in the ambulance together what was said there well I was walking towards him and I started going through all the scenarios in my mind thankfully I had a long walk down there to him because I thought I did about the least amount that I wanted to do you know I wanted to show him how upset I was but I wanted to do a whole lot more than that I held back and you know I just you know just still in disbelief and I didn't want to be an ambulance with him I tell you that but we got in there and you know I like Jeff I mean he's a guy that you know usually very rational and respect his opinion and you know he apologized said it was his fault he said he didn't mean to do it and whatever it's over big ship Marty Jeff finished 31st here back in April he crashed after leading 124 laps while you were talking Vince Jimmie Johnson lost two more spots he's now down to 15th Greg biffle's doing what biffle's done pretty much all day long he's opened up an out one point one second lead over Joey Denny Hamlin is been Harvick rounds out the top five as I watched Jimmie Johnson he's complaining of a loose condition I don't think that they've really fixed that you can see the points changing right now and Jimmie Johnson is going to have some more work to do in this 48 car of this race I want to get back to that crew and quickly I mean the morale of the 48 team right now yeah that's this is a bad timing to have that happen I know they're frustrated they've had bad stops but the timing of really just pulling them out of the game right now cannot have positive effects going forward it'd be like bench and Peyton Manning and this entire offensive unit wouldn't for the Colts I mean basically flying to go into the second team so we'll see what happens stay with us a lot to go here 127 laps and it has been to say the least an eventful day here [Music] lots to talk about on NASCAR now later tonight at ten o'clock Eastern Time on espn2 the post race coverage from here in Texas and then of course on our Monday ground table 5:00 Eastern ESPN one day the NASCAR Nationwide Series moves on to Phoenix next weekend our cover is presented by Dodge it's at 4:00 Eastern Time next Saturday on espn2 and then the chase moves to the desert mile for the Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix that's next Sunday 3:00 Eastern on ESPN we start with NASCAR countdown at Tsui Eastern here in Texas a very eventful day with 120 laps to go in this race Greg Biffle is out in front of Joey Logano by a second and a half Denny Hamlin runs fourth Kevin Harvick runs fifth Jimmie Johnson runs back in 13th position talking about just before we went to the break the call by Hendrick Motorsports to send Jeff Gordon's crew up to the 48 pit to service Jimmie Johnson's car for the rest of this race after the 48 Tina's struggle on each of their stops today and he expressed the opinion that that is a very difficult thing to do to pull these guys out in the middle of the game earlier today on NASCAR countdown in the middle of a discussion between Jimmie Johnson and Chad could house about how they can I think what was the word that Chad used he could be angry and take-no-prisoners sometimes Jimmy said he sees a professional scoring if you look through any professional football team baseball team I mean managers head coaches that's that's the way you have to be you have to act that way I mean you need your guys to step up the new job that's why they're hired so the situation the point your reaction to all this both the teams are very very good there's no doubt about that but every now then wanted is fantastic for the 48 team right now the 24 is available and they're not gonna have very very fast pit stops all day long for Jeff Gordon and 248 for whatever reasons having all the problems so why not do it if they're truly a fan they do it and so I'm all for this I think it's a fantastic new bread yeah I mean the question is gonna be is can the 48 group bounce back I mean are they going to be in shock after they get over this weekend because they're going to hear about it for the rest of the week throughout the media and everything else will they continue to point it out fits you well you have a little morale that the Chad can ask decline the opportunity to talk to us but I didn't speak with Ron Malik who's the car chief on the 48 he did confirm to me that Jeff Gordon's crew the 2014 will the 48 when the 48 comes for its next stop seven pit stops for the 48 today and they've lost positions on pit road in four of those stops they have got time this week to go back and fix the problem they don't have time today that's the main reason I agree with this change right here though it'll be fine and kevin harvick moving up to try and take a spot away from Denny Hamlin Dave Danny doesn't want to let him do that Allen they have told Denny that the 29 has not led a lap today and he's not going to be able to hold him back right now while he's going to go back after him kept the 11 trying to hold the 29 back keep him from those five precious bonus points he's not bleeding of course but if he stays in further than 29 all day you don't understand yeah if we get into a cycle of green flag pit stops it puts the 29 in position to try and equal up those bonus points with the 11 so this is as good as it gets me it is fantastic and lap after lap I'm looking at David Reutimann he's the faster fastest car the track debris on the grill is a 29 car yes you sure do a piece of paper he's in the temperatures up to 240 to catch somebody in front of Jamie no doubt about that or just what you just said get behind the left and get that piece of debris off because he's got to finish this race he is and appoints he doesn't want to do anything stupid [Music] keep an awfully close eye on that temperature gauge as they run here and see if they get a caution and a chance I'm telling you guys when they open the pay window up later on about 112 laps I wouldn't be surprised to see that double zero in Victory Lane yeah the temperature seems like it's really helpful is double zero Carr wrote him and like we say he's getting faster faster every lap last time my fastest part of track again second and 4/10 behind Greg Biffle who he is the race leader Biffle has led the most laps today and he still got a lot of laps to go if he wants to take home the trophy Biffle is at a hundred and 11 laps to go Harvick and Hamlin Johnson runs back in tents what's gonna happen next today here wolf I'm telling you right man sprint brings you an inside look at the chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup on the now Network biggest move of the day has been Denny Hamlin right now positions picked up a total started the race move to the rear [Music] for more NASCAR stats in car audio and live race radio check out NASCAR Sprint Cup mobile slash speed there is Denny right now he's got some open air it's another almost full second back to Mark Martin there is Kevin Harvick right in front of him where's our race leader Greg Biffle there is Biff she leads another lap a hundred and fifty eight laps it's good news and bad news bad news is he's failed to win the last four races after leading the most laps and also the drivers led the most laps in the last five races here in the chase this season has failed to win so it's the kind of omen that we usually think it would be I still take my chances if I move back a little bit further there is Colin says he is running right ahead of Ryan Newman we can tell you that Jimmie Johnson's gotten in front of all these guys now is he starting to go and the hat tip of the hat to Ryan Newman he and Matt Kenseth both a lap down the 39 car with lap 63 got the wave-around fight his way back into position you see Kyle Busch he's a couple laps down actually three laps down because of the penalty you didn't pretty crazy though it's been interesting to watch him we know that he is pretty hot under the collar inside there right now Kyle got busted for speeding got must again for the NASCAR official he thought he was number one [Music] with NASCAR and they benched him for two more laps but he has been driving like a man's dance just unfortunate of all the circumstances that took place to get him in that position cuz he really does have a fast race what kind of started you got tagged in the left rear by he was that aric almirola spun didn't hit anything and it was trying to get tires changed we called her he actually was speeding on pit road they held him they might have a little more on this whole situation well and yeah I just wanted to go down and check on you know how the car was doing since he's back on the track and running people down it and they said you know it is definitely running running very very well that sort of goes back to what crew chief Dave Rogers said over the radio hey you know don't do anything else we've all worked so hard for this you're costing us you know if they've maintained their cool what could they have done the race car is still very fast and at that point I think they were only one lap down they were in a really pretty good shape I mean they they look like they were going to stay they did they could have gotten that one back but trying to get three backs gonna be almost impossible move a little bit forward to Jimmie Johnson cuz he is starting to move back for it at one point in this run he was as far back as 15th he has now gotten up to the eighth spot and he's closing down on Matt Kenseth so it seems like a lot of this run goes better his cars getting yeah it looks like his car is better he was really really loose and couldn't go faster he lost a lot of time there but that's claim to his advantage down to get a lot left of the tires getting close for Pittsburgh and they should be coming up and we'll keep an eye on what happens with that 48 crew here at Texas our race presented by godaddy.com we're in Texas and it's good thing these guys didn't have six guns because it might be some bullets flying all over the place it's been a big rough day for the 48 team the crew has been replaced after Jeff Gordon has crashed out the 24 crew is now going to pit the 48 and we are expecting pit stops any moment here at Texas Motor Speedway and one car it's already in his robby gordon there's a lot of smoke there look more like anything than this time yeah I've been smoking for laughs they were 22nd when they came in on the lead lap they were having a good day looks like it's over now though play it right here there you go mark Hollywood Armstrong giving us a bird's-eye view so what do you need now butch has made his stop remember he has three laps down and the two of Kurt Busch comes in here's a pass for the land here comes Rudy min he is putting pressure on our race leader Biffle has clinched the most laps led at 171 Reutimann wants a piece of it on the left side of screaming's doc they even changed both food shopping under the previous potion black barber who's Jamie David Reutimann driving the same car he won with that Chicago car has been great the cooler it gets the better he runs four tires air pressure adjustment for the double zero what we found out is the guys that pitted early usually came out with the bigger advantage when the cycle completed yeah if I see Greg Biffle now coming off pit road is I mean coming off the racetrack on pit road as a leader tony stewart we can tell you is in Brad Keselowski is in and you're right there is Bibble at the top of this top of the screen let's go to Dave burns and the 16 they're still working on their pit stop as he comes down pit road confirming whether or not greg biffle would like that spring rubber back in the left rear I didn't hear the response may take him a little more time to make a wedge adjustment believe the cars gone just a little bit loose for Greg again so as the three M pit bulls come around to the left side they'll finish the stop and said Greg back out doc I gotta have more turn the Grippit levels dip again memory they want to free up a little bit air pressure for tires it's what he's been trying to do the 48 of Jimmie Johnson yes that's Jeff Gordon's crew pitting him he says instead of burying the three tight through the center of three and four are going to to the right rear four tires for Jimmie Johnson we continue Kevin Harvick did lead a lap he stayed out walking up 30 see him coming out right behind the Dale jr. there is Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson see how it all sorts out as here comes Matt Kenseth Jamie and this car has come to life party you talked about him he was a lap down the car is tightened up four-tire stop here that cold the windshield Tara it's been hard for these guys to see out here today a lot of debris Levin laughs as well he's on 13 at 28 lead changes here at Texas Motor Speedway today and we still have 87 laps to go Sam Hornish coming out the 17th right now your race leader yep the 38 of David Gilliland started back in 33rd he still has a scheduled pit stop yelling of course at 38 team trying so desperately to get back into the top 35 for next year record lead change here is one p9 we've done it twice we've had 28 so far today and correct me now it's now 29 as mr. Biffle has gotten back into the race name in second place is Patrick for Ponte a he has yet to make his stomach and then David Reutimann reitman is though one point six seconds behind Biffle looks like biffle's team did a good job on pit road because that was zero Greg did a good job getting on and off pit road itself so that's what you need try to win these races takes the whole team well and tip of the hat to Kevin Harvick he came out in then guess what guys Jeff Gordon's team did the job he is now running make Samantha Turner that's rank that lap-band you're doing awesome - and all the vendors are clear you were good to go Yangtze tutus pit stops of the 2014 did that last pit stop at twelve point six where the 48 fifteen point seven and you can see what it translates to on the track of one site of Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick now has moved up to third for this [Music] here at Texas Motor Speedway we've got 78 laps to go and Greg Biffle has led a hundred and eighty-one of the 256 that we have run he's got a 2.6 second lead over David Reutimann man who's won his two career events on the mile and a half ovals in third Kevin Harvick 4.5 seconds behind and Denny Hamlin running in the fourth position Joey Logano who's led for the first time ever as Texas career is in fifth and Jimmie Johnson Chintan rounds out your top six if you have not been with us in has been and all day to say the least [Music] was knocked out of the race in contact with Jeff Burton they made 24 crew come on over they pitted Jimmy on his last stop turned down a step giving him the track position that he's finally sort of calmed down a little bit a lot of battle for positions as we scan the track yeah and David Ragan in the six car just up ahead we saw him he's had a day that he ran really good the first part of the race they had problems on pit road had to go to the back of the pack and then he had to dodge conscious effort to go more towards the front of this [Applause] view from you can see his cycle [Music] get an update for pit road on the this is DJ described it started the day out very well-qualified very well and then just chase pretty much a loose race car car never really said it was terrible all through this process but you know the last time he came down pit road he was talking about the carving just here tighten the center and an arrow loose off so their adjustments were minor he's in a decent position as far as his feet goes as they wind it down let's even get some more track position yesterday's Nationwide Series event on a restart a little bit but he picked up the win there and trying to make it to here in Texas from one roush-fenway racing car to the man who's leading up front great buckle by 3.9 seconds / David Reutimann [Music] we have talked so many times about how mistakes have played such a key role in the chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and the drama on pit road has been unbelievable the change of an entire crew made by the Hendrick organization bringing over the 24 crew after Jeff Gordon's car was crashed out and the stop that they make gave Jimmy valuable track position he is now running seconds behind the race leaders but the turmoil has not ended for the 48 crew how about events well you did see everybody seeming to be pleased and supporting one another in regards to the change that was made here on the 48 I did see my clinger Feld who is the front tire changer for the 40 18 pack up his equipment and leave the pit box now he's the only one of this group that I have seen actually leave the box during this time but certainly these guys feel as though that they you know they've been replaced I mean let's face it it's a almost unprecedented move and certainly frustrating for their behalf but obviously a move that Hendrick Motorsports believed they needed to do for the betterment of the 48 team in Jimmie Johnson's championship hopes and remember we should point out Richard Childress made a swap but that was in the middle of the week we've never seen this happen during the middle two of the three that are running for the championship have different pit crews in this race right now than they did when they started the chase Jimmy right now six these ten seconds behind the race leader and this green flag stretch is now 70 laps and as exactly what would look like if the race ended right now Johnson would lead only by four and only 23 back to Kevin Harvick but again it keeps a bang and flowing as each one of these guys passes or loses a spot on the racetrack the drama has not ended since the drop of the green flag with those three not to mention the drama we had that was alright doc what are you hearing on your end of the pit road well you see my clinger felt some of the guys here for the Lowe's crew down here patching up they are packing up the 24 pit box and I went over and asked him I said who made the call he said we're not really sure who made us there was a writ for Jabba so we don't know so that you okay with this again we're team player I understand something you go on camera don't scare doesn't want us and talk now said okay they're down here trying to do their best for the 2013 while these guys are up hitting their car at least one more Scott thanks doc for updating us and meanwhile Jimmy Johnson calling 11 seconds behind the race leader I mean Biffle has opened up a 5.3 second run and remember when we were talking earlier regarding Biffle on the long runs where that's where everybody seemed to reel him back in whatever change they made as this racetrack changed all the way back to David Rubin on that last green flag run but now the track change and Harvick is looking to take over that second spot yeah he's doing he's made a nice run up here as Amy said greg biffle is after they changed tires just last time he's just spanked these guys he's brought some really really fast laps in the key part of race for Greg Biffle is when he made that green fight stop back in the middle of the race where they went pull - in out of the left front shot lost track position and on the track as far as time but it was one of those changes they need to make changes and lose the track position late in the race who clinched the nationwide championship yesterday here at Texas Motor Speedway will congratulate him he's 20 behind the race lead this car really wasn't that great didn't you need the practice sessions that I saw they didn't qualify well but they knew that what they had and when this race was going to be ending it looks like they've really made good good changes and they've got a good setup for the race words can be decided at the end of this thing when the track conditions are a lot different than the world prize and if you look around the entire track is now in the shade except that one little bit coming out of turn number two battle for 13th is Jamie McMurray with the wall early in this race trying to put the heat on Carla [Music] [Applause] this goes on Greg Biffle has now opened up a six second lead over Kevin Harvick here at Texas our race presented by godaddy.com [Applause] [Music] NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Texas is presented by godaddy.com domains websites and everything in between and in part by Chevrolet every model is backed by a 100,000 mile five-year powertrain limited warranty and Bank of America NASCAR fans should appreciate the speed of our ATM deposits no deposit slips no envelope quick and easy and here on lap 283 the 33 is in the pit stop good boy quote this thing is stupid loose it is so loose I gotta come down before I hit something out here sir chassis adjustment for in a big closed for Megan we still have 51 laps to go and right now race leader Greg Biffle has a seven second lead over Kevin Harvick but during the break Denny Hamlin got around David Reutimann he is now in third and that one pass changes the point's lead again depending on between the three pass that they make could be the one that separates them just enough or gives them just enough time whatever they take the checkered flag at Homestead they could be our new champion I remember what you said before the race you started the next three races may not be good enough well I think you just showed us just how good these drivers and teams are that we have battling for this championship and it's not just look at this in the top pocket so you better get you back next three races and the 48 cars running just let you know that Regan Smith has just made his pit stop let's go up on the 29th that's Kevin Harvick saying he's too hot they've been watching the temperatures they're just gonna play some audio just a few moments ago he said that he was too loose and they're talking about how cool it's gotten now the double zero on the other hand has been screaming his car is extremely those they told him keep talking you're getting slower a tenth of a second every time you talk to nataly's Happy's got four new ones on the 29 drops down to pit road on the right hand side the car has been great but as I said he just said all of a sudden were losing when the wind has picked up it's in the lower 60s right now for these guys four-tire stop is the call for Kevin Harvick who has been running in the top three the 48 of Jimmie Johnson coming again this is the second time that the 24 crew has been pitting him they're gonna make a four-tire change again no chassis Adel they didn't make a chassis adjustment just trying to get Jimmy a little freer off the bottom he's been a little too snug on the bottom line greg biffle gives up the lead he's changed his mind twice about how much wedge he wants out I believe it's of the left it's gonna be tire change cars isn't it great first he wanted map out than he wanted nut out went to hunt order Denny Hamlin is on pit road four-tire change for Hamlin his car would just a little bit uneven the track car down a half-crown bullet free for Denny Hamlin round up on the track bar said the cars getting better and better but the track is getting tighter and tighter here for tires final stop for mark hard to get a very good here at Texas this stops continues on that 12.3 second stop the 17th and Jamie so the cycle continues there and notice the 31 coming back out [Music] Payne a number on the side of the door but the 31 back out onto the racetrack is 97 laps down to the race lead and we mentioned Joey Logano had some problems getting into his pit box and it is costing few spots out on the track yeah bad timing here Carl Edwards was leaving his car driving through his pit its crew couldn't even get out there so cost him a little bit of time here gonna cost him a spot back getting back out on the track too so here at the triple-a Texas 500 Joey Logano slips back to seventh Greg Biffle is your race leader but his lead now has been chopped to 2.9 seconds Kevin stir then Reutimann is court Scott speed is fifth but I think he still has to make a pit stop if I'm not mistaken yes he does and then you've got Jimmie Johnson running in sixth that's your top six right now with there you see Joey Logano in seventh right behind Jimmy you know we were talking about green flag stretches as you watch this if it stays green remember last year the last hundred and twenty-two [Music] [Music] welcome back to the triple-a Texas 500 make sure to go to nascar.com for all your latest NASCAR information we've had a new record four lead changes here 31 today between 13 drivers Batman Greg Biffle is left the most so far 219 laps in pounding his lead as three and a half seconds over Denny Hamlin kevin harvick and he has put some distance between he and kevin to the tune the pass right here hardly looks like he's struggling a little bit with his race car right now a little bit on the free side maybe had--when goes by outside pretty easy and remember when Hamlin won here back in April he started 29th in that race today listed 30th actually started 28th after everybody made the changes moving yes [Music] let's find it out an update on Kevin Harvick's situation and DJ you're so right just before the 11:00 past the 29 oh the radio and said guys how many more this bar is ready to move no and whenever you get to this part of the race here obviously getting a little bit fatigued your speech are picking up just making it even more you're having to run a lot faster keep up with the track conditions the way that they are now so all of those things working against Kevin Harvick right now Busch not a factor today after going three laps down caution of the track and they say we have debris out on the track so it is now our eighth caution of the day and our longest green flag run comes to a halt here with 35 laps to go that solves everybody's fuel issue as far as when they want to stop but I'm sure I'm pretty sure everybody could have made it anyway so this is going to change things for sure you know I think it plays a little bit individuals and see this car has been so fast on the short run but now with the track earlier and what about Jimmy Davison also that last two intercepts the only 12 second pit stops that had been turned in and they've been done by the 24 crew where doesn't that and how about Andy - we've seen two tires most of the day I would think in this situation you don't have a lot of laughs so they only have 13 laps 13 14 laps since they pitted reliable see some two-tire stops here they can give up a lot of trouble ahead you see the call up front that was a 100 lap green flag stretch and we just completed Greg Biffle has now led 223 of the 300 laps that we have run here at Texas and we always talk about how important pit stops are none more important than the one we are about to see let you know that Patrick Carr Ponte a will get the lucky dog Patrick will make a 21 cars on the lead lap when we go back to green flag racing and there is the debris yeah Patrick carpenter has had a great run today I said just fell off the lead lap so the cars make their way around going down these you see this track they have above the caution lights actually built into the fence all the way around the front straightaway here and the fans there they are as you can see them in here we go now Jamie you're up first kevin harvick needs to be tightened up they're gonna lower the track bar right sides only for the 29 trying to get Jimmie Johnson's car to be just right for these final 33 laps they're gonna make a track bar just let a half-round down and it's going to be a two-tire stop for the 48 Dave Denny Hamlin likes the balance he'll take two fresh tires and they'll send him Joe's been on the 16 car he gets two tires and he's gone who's going to get the race off pit road here comes Joey Logano ow kevin harvick things are Knutson so Harvick's Garrigan did the job again they've had a strong day Logano picks up two Macbeth yeah he really spending the tires there and he calls Jimmie Johnson his spot too let's show you one more look at it and Kevin Harvick remember when they made their pit crew swap and here is the race off by that much Harvick gets Hamlin and Gil when the crew really love it because right now they are running to the front beautiful view here at Texas Motor Speedway the lights have come on as we are now down sick there Biffle lost some time getting his car going off food that when they made the fist I'm just getting going up speed is pissed off the time wasn't that bad let's listen to Greg's radio gear here oh that must be what happened coming on pit road there he must have torn something off the transmission so the first glitch that we've seen today on the 16 Dave it was a stop before the green flag stopped crew chief Greg Erwitt told me they broke something in the transmission doesn't have second gear this last time he just spun it getting up but he didn't have second to go to either we're back to green flag racing let's greg biffle there he laid back quite a bit he's running in third gear there right now so that he's going to make the best of this situation but he may have a lot of problems with that transmission he's got to get some room there because he's just not up to speed manages to not get collected by anybody here comes Hamlin on the high side for Jimmy Johnson's back in ninth the beginning of the broadcast we talked about those other 40 drivers they this is the moment we've been waiting for here we go with Mark Martin who wants to win so badly this year yes I was just 11 card Danny Hamlin trying to go to the lead right now when it really counts he's going to get it to remember when Denny won this race he'll only lived the last 12 laps it looks like he's going to become our 14th different leader actually he did lead earlier but it will be with just look at Matt kids with go by Kevin Harvick Kenseth on the move [Applause] he gets bumped back to film Gregg pimples finally got his car in high gear there and going forward again see Jimmy near the top of your screen look at the points the way it would swing Denny Hamlin would take over the lead and remember at the beginning of the day Mike Ford said this race with Denny Hamlin is now out in front my cord the crew chief today [Music] if a man just took that position he's headed to the front a way for Mike to cap off his 200th start for Joe Gibbs Racing as a crew chief if he can bring denney hall up front and Denny starting to stretch it out half a second now Kenseth was still running see how the gap is widening a little bit more okay that's something that Danny Hamlin has in his corner that really does a good job working with the driver working he puts countless hours in and trying to make this race team in this car they're very fast for Danny Hammond Mike they're on their right side with the glasses on let's check in on Greg Biffle now that he's up to full song doesn't have to worry about second gear Biffle going for the position on rudiment sixth on the racetrack there's still enough time for Biffle to get back the way that cars been running another caution that's going to be really his only chance if he has a chance to make sure that this thing goes that rest of the way green I'm not sure he's got enough time for Denny Hamlin's right then the last eight races here and the chase I mean nobody that's led the most laps has ended up winning battle for second brewing between Mark Martin Matt Kenseth [Music] second behind race leader Denny Hamlin and there goes Kenseth underneath what a comeback for the 17 yeah I'm not sure he doesn't have something for Denny Hamlin his car really looks good right now Joey Logano passing David Reutimann roodman still struggling with his car his back to the inside Matt Kenseth was just a couple hundred family and you see behind those two on the right Logano rudiment it is Jimmie Johnson he is still stuck in ninth position but now with 22 laps Jimmy has anything left he's got to start showing it and here comes greg biffle as he's about to move kevin harvick back another spot so moved Biffle up to fifth break his slid back to sixth [Music] Joey who has been one of our 13 different leaders trying to get look he's gonna drive right back up and behind them here comes the 48 trying to get underneath the rudiment yeah no that's the way you'd be a good teammate to right there what Joey Logano is doing he obviously he's out there trying to make it many spots he can but he realized every position that he can put between Denny Hamlin and his competitors for this championship only helps Denny in the ninth spot still trying to fight his way back up front he has now fallen four and a half seconds behind the race lead Hamlin's lead over Kenseth is 1.6 seconds that's what it looks like down the backstretch yeah it looks like Dini kicked in another here to use back to before that last lap in the laps continue to wind down next time.bye we will have 19 go here at Texas and you see how hard Jimmy's driving that car is really loose off the corner let's get an update from Vince we'll be early in the day that they were going to have to build a lot of adjustability into this car because they knew the conditions were going to change from the heat of the day into the nighttime hours as that race concludes with the Sun down they've certainly been chasing it with chassis adjustments in three of their last four stops trying to get jimmie johnson something that he can work with obviously track position is key they've struggled in the pits today the Jeff Gordon crew the 24 guys have pitted this team the last three times earlier we reported that Michael inga called the rut for a tire changer of the 48 that actually packed up some of his things and left the pit box he has since returned but the 24 guys have given that 48 team three flawless stops here in the late stages of this race while left side of your screen mends as you finish up the 48s getting passed by Paul Menard on the right side biffle's gotten around the 14 of Tony Stewart so move Biffle Jimmie Johnson in tenth you heard the call seven team to go and you heard the report the 29 may have [Music] let's check the right side and there could be some damage over there Harvick right now shown in the seventh position right tires got it just pushing hard [Music] you heard him say we could be in big trouble that's David Reutimann coming up behind him we've talked a lot about how sensitive area that right rear quarter panel is only farce of your Harvick talking about that he's killed it and they're in big trouble right now [Applause] laughs - go he's got to find some way to get this car home salvage as much as he can out of this route Urban's going down low you can see Jimmy Johnson coming up as well he holds him off for now one good thing is we're not seeing any tire smooth on the there comes Reutimann again down on the low line and again [Music] listen anything up front Hamlin's lead is now 1.8 seconds watching kevin harvick because he is in some trouble to say the least here comes Reutimann again and again pharmacology yeah he's able to make that High Line work just enough he's [Applause] [Music] [Applause] back behind him as they come across the stripe again [Music] David cannot get enough clearance to decide open try his hand at it with Jimmy Johnson not too far behind see Kevin get that huge run once again but that high you gives you such a great angle on that and show you that momentum [Applause] almost had him cleared the last time doesn't look like he's going to get it done again closer have not cried enough [Music] [Applause] remaining here Hamlin's lead is now 1.9 seconds and here comes Menard to give Reutimann yeah yeah red lipstick rudiment up he gave me a lot of really getting loose there and Jimmie Johnson getting into the mix Menard had to crack the throttle a little bit that you've read him in a little bit of room that allowed Jimmie Johnson to come back to the high side and look at Menard to get get a good bite on melosa three wide this is the best action we have on the racetrack in Jimmie Johnson goes around both rudiment and somebody lit the wick now that was eight points right there and one little swing again [Applause] he now has Harvick right in front of it continue to wind down next time bye it'll be ten to go 1.8 seconds on the 48 here they go side by side I think know if I get both of these [Music] it looks like we're gonna try this maybe three wide again as they come around the corner and everybody thinks better of it you can just see how difficult it is to keep the momentum that you need on the exit corner because they quickly you just have to really be careful to make sure that you get the driver on the outside of no side by side Jimmy Kevin here they come to the strike nine laps to go last thing pharmacy [Music] Danny Hammond the racing is really whipping the rest of these guys has not been the phone of the pit crew on the 29 they have given him some great stops that one slip that he tags the wall and he finds himself dropping let's go back here this is a replay in little nudge bone grafting see Jimmy got a nice run down there going into the corner but hard like they would get that big run off the corner and it's a little bit of a buck [Music] [Applause] [Music] there's the race leader with now 79th caution he gets it refire and Hamlin's 1.8 second lead is wiped out or just what did Hamlet did not want to see they had this race well in hand like the lap times were really close between Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin right there when the caution came apart at the back there Hamlin in first right now then you've got Jimmie Johnson running seventh Kevin Harvick in ninth let's go back and show you what happened to Patrick carp on ta running 22nd they just lost it maybe that tire came down went down right there great job like Casey Mears to keep from getting into him as well yeah let furry was down so with six laps to go what do you want to do crew chief would stay out about what about those cars maybe do that you probably pit back there you're not gonna have not gonna matter who's gonna win big thing is going to be here it's Greg Biffle without second gear he's gonna restart fourth up on that high side Tony Stewart's gonna be behind him Jimmie Johnson is gonna be seventh we can tell you that the number nine is going to get the lucky dog so aric almirola will come around get back on the lead lap it'll give us 23 cars on the lead lap let's listen in on the 29 radio encouraging Kevin she kept pulling those bells tied he's getting ready to make a run out of here find out who is gonna take advantage of the situation who stays out can't they come in they could make a difference in initial agent heard the call stay out do not pit but we do see Tony Harvick's coming out man line up and come behind up to only six cars stay out Jamie now the role in the dice that's for sure number of other cars decided to quit as well as you can see I think the key thing here is Harvick brought a lot of cars down pit road and this is gonna make it this movement giver see he gets first out farther back I think Tony took four tires there so this is getting interesting again every time we finish we know what's gonna happen another tell you that the first eight cars and stayed out Lyn's mothers as well sort it all out I think the key thing is Denny Hamlin's got enough to buffer enough cars stayed out for him and Kenseth to kind of settle it I think it maybe even Biffle it we don't know what's going to happen back behind them yeah but I think Jimmie Johnson could be in danger of losses and spots of these guys they got fresher tires their jimmies cars not that good right now yeah he's in the vulnerable spot because he doesn't have a big buffer between him and the cars with tires so he could be the one on the hot seat well Alan let's send it down your way and recap what there's been a very eventful afternoon yeah if you're just joining us you missed quite the day here at Texas Motor Speedway so far it started with monkeys selling programs outside the racetrack no chicks with chainsaws part of the No Limits event for Youngs and ticket holders st. Saul's and monkeys before earlier we've had a fight on the racetrack Hey look at that little cauliflower here they're all pretty good at that and Jeff Burton we had a pit crew benched after Gordon's car was wrecked the 48 team not getting it done today the 24 sent in to replace them and still we have dramatic but in the late laps with the closest chase ever coming down to a final sprint to the finish and a restart with a three lap run to the checkered flag Denny Hamlin leading and the whole strategy shuffle that has gone on the chase leader with two races to go has won the championship every year of this championship format daddy's waiting it now party DJ dandy Allen here's the thing to look at Hamline Kenseth Martin Biffle Logano Johnson that's your top six but look at where Biffle is right in front of Jimmie and remember he has no second gear guys that could be problem for important not only Biffle but for Jimmie Johnson I mean if he if he doesn't get going he's be ready for this and notice the room that Biffle is trying to give as we're getting ready to go back to green flag racing on there say well everybody closed up he's out now Jimmy can't get up to speed yeah and you got a bunch of cars coming on time Jamie operating passing him up side by side for the lead a platoon and Harvick down low we're going to go three wide and look at the lady battle for the lead up front Hanlon [Music] next time by two laps remaining Hamlin oh so desperate what's that he's in the end he's going to make the basket in the one in Kansas Matt Kenseth you're ready sweeter kids with ran out of them once win number three on the 2010 white flag out one lap to go Jimmie Johnson's all the way back in 10th the change coming down the backstretch the last time Jimmy John's was not the point leader following race number 17 the chips was too and we've only got two pairs in the dossier and Denny Hamlin is going to make a statement saying if the drop you're gonna have to cut through me and it's gone to us five guards in that next image I did fairly [Music] we have got a new championship race leader great job Mike you made that car great at the end then stop Center I love you guys I told you I was gonna pick it over three to go it's all you heard you come here promised from yesterday we get you into top five you take care of it get it three chase contenders Denny Hamlin first Kevin Harvick sixth Jimmie Johnson ninth let's talk to Mike for Dave well we're catching up with him now as he cleans up some stuff here puts a few things away those comments from your driver who just took it to them to believe you know it's an emotional win you know this is the place where if we want to win this championship we needed to win this race and we did it these guys worked hard we didn't have a good car first half the race but you kept working at it Danny stayed calm you know when an opportunity arose we took advantage so yes it's awesome day you know I think it's it's more to come in the next couple of weeks you told me this morning that any time you got down this week at this guru stayed calm and cool including the driver yeah that was that was the key you know last week you know at Talladega we we kind of lost our composure a little bit you know intense but now that that was behind us when you just needed to take a breath clear our minds stay focused on what we needed to do and we did it today we've got two more races to go congratulations on a great win that's Mike for crew chief for the 11 Vince with Chad canals here's a chance walking through the garage area [Music] of a conversation with Jim chan I would characterized the day that you guys had said I was a pretty rough day for sure and unfortunate that it turned out the way we did we thought we were doing really good but you know we lost some track position and when you get back there you you don't know exactly how you need a tune on the car and it got a little edgy for him and then after we got back up front you know that it got too tight so you know we just couldn't maintain our track position that hurt his pretty bad suit who ultimately made the decision to have the 24 guys pitch your car I mean ultimately it's my decision obviously but we needed to do something you know this is a team and the two for a chop is always operated as a team and that's the way that we see it it's sad that we have to do that but you know in the interest of Hendrick Motorsports and what we got to do you know you got to do that stuff it's it's not uncommon we've seen it happen before and you know we'll get home and we'll try to get it fixed up and get our boys back what will you do next week is you look ahead to Phoenix I'm hoping that you know we get back with a 48 guys and we get everybody's confidence up and get this thing going right in the right direction you know it's not like you know it's not what we want to do but you know sometimes things just need to be adjusted a little bit and we had to do that say thanks Jimmy per Chad excuse me doctor Jimmie Johnson climbing out of his car here in a taraji I ain't getting a drink of water Jimmy I know it was a we just talked to Chad he talked about what a tough afternoon it was for you take us through your day yeah you know it's just a long day I mean we had speed in the car and I would work our way forward and then had some issues on pit road and I feel terrible for my guys so we had to kind of make a change there but you know 24 guys came in and did their part and did a great job we just we gave away so much track position in the beginning and it just was tough for us to kind of get back to where we needed to there at the end we were coming along pretty well that caution kind of came at the time where we didn't need it and then in front of me on the restart was the 16 missing first and second year and a lot of guys pitted behind us and I was kind of at the the back of the guys without taking tires and just kind of slipped from there so long day but it is what it is I mean it's a team sport we didn't do our jobs today but we'll come back next week and try again you're in uncharted territory right now normally this time of year you're the points leader now you're 33 points back going to Phoenix and homestead what's your mindset now well the last four years we've been in a different position it's uh you know I've lost plenty of championships in the past I mean this is racy and it doesn't come easy you're not gonna get what you want every single year and every single weekend I can promise you this I'm trying as hard as I can I know my team is we're gonna do everything we can 33 backs is not where we want to be but we're gonna work hard get back on top Jimmie Johnson not out of it at all function I'm gonna get him hard in Phoenix in Homestead what an impressive day for Matt Kenseth they were one lap down at one point at the end you guys almost won this thing Matt what happened between you and Denny Hamlin right at the finish yeah almost I mean nothing happened we've got a really good restart and gosh you just hate I've lost a lot of close ones here seems like I always come up come up last or I think we let the letter last lap but I just Danny was getting all there off me like like he should I do the same thing you know racing for the win and when we drove down into one we were pretty much side by side and I just got to the gas real early to try to clear him off and I was kind of surprised I did and because I was going so fast early I had to lift again to get the car off the corner and off the gas the car just car just went straight and went across track I just I just couldn't hold him there to let off the gas again so that's that's disappointing but hey these primary black guys did a great job today we haven't been in contention for many a fainting wins this year so it feels good to be up there I'm in contention but I sure would like to win sure exciting to watch he brings it home second today Marty a great run for Matt Kenseth and looking ahead remember Phoenix last year Jimmie Johnson wanted second place Denny Hamlin let's go celebrate in victory lane how about it Dave burns [Applause] oh my goodness for a guy who was coming in looking to take the lead in the championship maybe get a win he did both what's that feel like I just can't say enough for this this whole FedEx team what everyone I wait till 3:00 to go to go and I felt like you know that was aggressive his up been on restarts all year and I did what I had to do so bright can't think are all FedEx and their employees enough Fred Smith I know you for watching I'll talk to you in a minute but just everyone from FedEx for supporting me right from the get-go the whole JGR eleventeen the fans sprint coca-cola Wiley X and Toyota I can't say enough for this Toyota Camry to be on top and it's a big deal for a for everyone Toyota can't they've spent a lot of money and a lot of effort to help this sport grow and be a one of the top manufacturers and I'm proud of putting number one what is it about Texas Motor Speedway you came off the knee surgery and you come here and win and now this I don't know you know at the beginning the race for struggling we're running 25th and I can't go anywhere and just we kept working on it every stop we kept adjusting adjusting and soon as the only night for for our carts just took off and that's why that's why you could never look at qualifying in practice and everyone looks into it but I know where our cars got he called the spring win a turning point in his season I call this one a turning point in the championship Allen yes sir Denny Hamlin we talked about when we started today on NASCAR countdown how he said a lot of things in this chase and he's backed every one of them up he said he'd go with three races to go he's going baby I tell you it is so shucks checking up right now this is exciting stuff I wonder if he can see into the future he saves you win Martinsville he did he said have turned it up here he did I mean what's this guy know that everybody else doesn't know the future holds races at Phoenix and Homestead Miami to bring out this Chase for the Sprint Cup if you'd like to join us at the racetrack nascar.com slash tickets or that phone number on the screen final thoughts we're going to a flat racetrack out in Phoenix Arizona that's a whole different style track interesting what happens although but I think a hand when he's awful good knows flat racetracks but you know what the other two are awesome who these three would be in the mix today I'm totally shocked though to come out of here Santini Hamlin ahead I cannot wait to get the Phoenix next week Saturday Nationwide Series coverage presented by Dodge for Eastern espn2 next Sunday the Kobalt Tools 500 second last race in the chase for the Sprint Cup that's ESPN at 3:00 Eastern and countdown at 2:00 Eastern SportsCenter next Carl Edwards will join us more post race coverage from here in Texas Denny Hamlin wins a thriller you

Channel: NASCAR

Views: 58,666

Rating: 4.9153438 out of 5

Keywords: NASCAR, motorsports, racing, stock car, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, chase elliott, fantasy sports, fantasy fastlane, glass case of emotion, ryan blaney, crash, wreck, pileup, pit road, penalty, race track, super speedway, highlight

Id: J5e8ZDP1hx8

Length: 228min 27sec (13707 seconds)

Published: Wed Apr 01 2020