RELATED: Complete schedule for Texas
Here are the hot topics, trending news and key story lines to get you ready for this weekend’s races at Texas Motor Speedway.
WEATHER
A mix of sun and rain is forecasted for the Texas tripleheader. Friday and Saturday appear to have identical forecasts with both days projecting a high near 74. Sunday will be partly sunny with a high of 72.
Sprint Cup Series: The first practice will be Friday at 12:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN/NBC Sports App), with another pair of practices coming Saturday at 10:30 a.m. ET (CNBC/NBC Sports App) and 1:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN/NBC Sports App). Coors Light Pole Qualifying is at 6:45 p.m. ET Friday (NBC Sports App, will air tape delayed on NBCSN at 10:30 p.m. ET). Sunday’s main event, which is the second race in the three-race Round of 8, begins at 2 p.m. ET (NBC/NBC Sports App)
XFINITY Series: The first practice is Friday at 2:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN/NBCSN Sports App) with final practice later that day at 5 p.m. ET (NBC Sports App, will air tape delayed on NBCSN at 12 a.m. ET). Saturday is a busy day for the field with Coors Light Pole Qualifying beginning at 11:45 a.m. ET (CNBC/NBC Sports App) ahead of the 300-mile race (3 p.m. ET, NBC/NBC Sports App), which is the second in the Round of 8 of the XFINITY Series Chase.
Camping World Truck Series: A pair of Thursday practices were rained out so the series gets on track Friday morning for one hour from 10 a.m. ET to 11 a.m. ET. The second race of the Round of 6 of the Camping World Truck Series Chase is Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1 with Keystone Light Pole Qualifying just before at 3:45 p.m. ET (FS1).
CATCH DRIVERS LIVE
We’ll stream every driver press conference in the Martinsville media center at NASCAR.com/presspass. Some highlights are three of the Joe Gibbs Racing quartet on Friday and XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series Chase contenders on both Friday and Saturday. Click here for a full schedule.
LAST TIME
— Despite being eliminated from the Chase two weeks earlier, Jimmie Johnson proved he was still one tough competitor after earning his sixth win at Texas Motor Speedway during 2015’s AAA Texas 500. “Six-Time” only led for a total of six circuits, including the final four after taking the lead from Brad Keselowski on Lap 331 — and never looking back. Johnson has won the last four Chase races at the 1.5-mile track.
— Speaking of Keselowski, the Team Penske wheelman dominated the Texas event, topping the board for 312 laps and breaking the record for the most laps led at the track. Keselowski was still vying for a Chase spot at Homestead and the win would have earned him a berth; he ultimately came up short in making the Championship 4.
YOU SHOULD KNOW
• Jimmie Johnson: The winningest Texas driver returns to the track fresh off his Martinsville victory. Although Johnson is already locked into the Championship 4, a win here could leave the seven other contenders scrambling at Phoenix’s elimination race.
• This is the second of three races in the Round of 8, before the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field is cut to the Championship 4 for the Homestead-Miami Speedway finale.
• With all four Joe Gibbs Racing drivers still in contention for the 2016 championship, will we start to see teammates battle one another for wins instead of working together? With only two races remaining before the finale, anything is possible.
THE FAVORITE
Jimmie Johnson. With six wins, the top driver rating (107.8) and an average finish of 8.3, there’s no doubt that Johnson is the one to beat. Even though he is the only Chaser guaranteed a spot in the Championship 4, don’t expect him to take it easy on his competition.
Others to consider: Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch
THE SLEEPER
Tony Stewart. Although “Smoke” is out of the Chase, Texas could be his last chance to lock in his final career win before he retires at the end of this season. He’s visited Victory Lane here two times, tying him for third-most wins at the track.
Others to consider: Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth
STAFF PICKS
Jimmie Johnson: 4
Kevin Harvick: 2
Kyle Busch: 1
Chase Elliott: 1
Denny Hamlin: 1
Brad Keselowski: 1
Joey Logano: 1