Fill-in-the-blank: Texas

RELATED: Read more Inside Groove

Well, it looks like everything’s back to normal. —Jimmie Johnson’s winning races againKyle Larson is finishing second again and —Ryan Blaney is running up frontDale Jr. is scoring top 5-finishesJimmie Johnson’s beard is looking great on TV .

After going six whole weeks without a win, I thought Jimmie Johnson —and his team were in troublewas done winning for a little whilecouldn’t win because he was very thirstywas content with seven championships and 80 winshad a very luscious beard . Boy, was I —wrongrighta naysayera true fanprinting out a picture of bearded Jimmie just now or what?!

As much as Jimmie Johnson rose to the occasion, —Ryan BlaneyKevin HarvickJoey LoganoMartin Truex Jr.Kyle LarsonCorey Lajoiedehydration gave him a run for his money Sunday. What a —powerfuldominantdisappointingtypicalbeard-less performance! For a second, I thought this would finally be the week that —The Wood Brothers pulled it offKyle Larson didn’t finish second againBK Racing would have a clean raceJoe Gibbs Racing would turn things aroundputting Kasey Kahne on my fantasy team was a good idea .

The track reconfiguration at Texas Motor Speedway made the track very —wideslickreconfiguredfun to watchfresh and new for 2017, like Jimmie Johnson’s beard . I guess what they say is true: everything’s —biggerrepavedwarmfounda cowboyfastthirstya cactuslocated either in or not in Texas!

What I really don’t understand is why —so many peoplemillennialsreportersother driversIbarbers —questiondoubtlaudcheer foridolizewould ever shave the beard of Jimmie Johnson and his team’s —incrediblelegendaryso-calledstupid, sexy ability. I think the true secret to the No. 48 team’s success is —Chad KnausJimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevroletstage racinga thirst for victoryJimmie Johnson’s athleticismthe support of No. 48 fansbribing race officials with Lowe’s gift cardsJimmie’s beard with that perfect touch of gray .

Now it’s time for an off-week — no racing next Sunday. As —a NASCAR fana NASCAR driversomeone who’s really into EasterI admire the details of Jimmie Johnson’s full beard , this is —great newsterrible newssomething I didn’t even noticejust another weekenddisappointing but understandablea bummernot a bummer .