Amarillo by morning, up from San Antone.  Everything that I've got is just what I've got on.  I ain't got a dime but what I got is mine.  I ain't rich but lord I'm free.  Amarillo by morning, Amarillo is where I'll be.

Quite possibly one of the most infamous songs about Texas is Amarillo by Morning, sung by country Hall of Famer George Strait.  Everything in Texas is bigger, often better, and always done with a lot of heart.

NASCAR made it's return to Texas in 1997 at the Texas Motor Speedway, a track that was built similar to it's sister track, Charlotte, and soon became a track that Atlanta used as reference when it had it's reconfiguration.  Since then, multiple winners have found their way to victory lane at the 1.5 track.

That plays into the favor of many drivers, as some are looking for their first win of the season, others are needing a win to get back into the title hunt, and others just want to win outright.

It also plays in the favor of the writers, as the standings following last Sunday's race at Martinsville have closed everyone up immensely.  Five points separate the top-five, and 30 points separate the entire field.  With how this facility seems to play havoc on some of the front runners, this could be a breakout race for one or more writers.

Here's a look at their choices for the AAA Texas 500:

 

Misan Ayuka:  Matt Kenseth

He won here in the spring making him have two wins at Texas.  The championship seems out of sight so the 17 will be going after victories.

 

James Broomhead:  Tony Stewart

No reason given.

 

Kelly Crandall:  Tony Stewart

Really, really would have loved to use Matt Kenseth again but alas, the rules won't let me. And since I didn't pick Tony in Martinsville and went with the statistics side of things in Johnson, I'll throw out smoke this week.

 

Billy Fellin:  Carl Edwards

After Smoke's third win of the Chase (and year), Edwards really needs to get up on his horse now....what better place to do it than where cowboys did and still do roam?

He's won three times in the Lone Star State and RFR has this place down to a science. I'll take the 99.

 

Michael Hirshbein:  Matt Kenseth

No reason given.

 

Christopher Leone:  Kevin Harvick

No reason given.

 

Kara Martin:  Matt Kenseth

No reason given.

 

Ryan O'Hara:  NO PICK SENT

No pick was sent by the posted deadline.

 

Dustin Parks:  Denny Hamlin

After last Sunday's race, I sat down and determined my final three picks for the season.  Call it strategy or looking ahead, but there's only one race that one of those picks will change, and that won't come until Homestead.

I didn't pick Hamlin last weekend cause I knew he would be a popular pick, but I am going to take him at Texas.  Swept both races here last season, and the team is on a roll with consecutive top-five runs.  It's not been a banner year for the 11 team with only one win to the team's credit.

Still, I'm putting my faith that a FedEx delivery will come to victory lane.

 

Sal Sigala Jr:  Kyle Busch

No reason given.

 

Rob Tiongson:  Denny Hamlin

This team has been on a roll finally with three top-10 finishes in a row...I look for them to breakthrough with a huge victory at The Lone Star State.

Don't forget, he swept the races there last year.

 

Standings following Martinsville:

Sal Sigala Jr. (2255) Kevin Harvick finished fourth (5)

Dustin Parks (2254) Kevin Harvick finished fourth (1)

James Broomhead (2253) Jeff Gordon finished third (2)

Billy Fellin (2252) Denny Hamlin finished fifth (3)

Misan Ayuka (2250) Denny Hamlin finished fifth (4)

Michael Hirshbein (2248) Jeff Gordon finished third (6)

Rob Tiongson (2241) Clint Bowyer finished 19th (3)

Kara Martin (2238) Jeff Gordon finished third (1)

Kelly Crandall (2233) Jimmie Johnson finished second (4)

Christopher Leone (2227) Matt Kenseth finished 31st (4)

Ryan O'Hara (2225) Kyle Busch finished 27th (2)

 

Final Thoughts:  Someone will have to pony on up and make a run this week in the Chase as it's getting down to the toughest tracks in the Chase outside Talladega to determine a champion.  Three different tracks, many possible changes in the points.

Someone is going to be putting on the cowboy hat in victory lane, followed by a firing of the six-shooters as a winner.  Who is it going to be.

Find out Sunday afternoon, as the green flag will fly at Texas on ESPN at 3:00 p.m. ET.

 

Summary of Picks:

Matt Kenseth-3

Denny Hamlin-2

Tony Stewart-2

Kyle Busch-1

Carl Edwards-1

Kevin Harvick-1