Comments: NASCAR Picks for Texas

After a week off to recharge themselves, the Sprint Cup Series drivers return to action this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. The 1.5-mile track is always one of the fastest on the schedule; with the record-setting lap times being seen in 2012, Saturday's Samsung Mobile 500 should satisfy any race fan's need for speed. This weekend's event is also the first scheduled night race of the year, and when the sun goes down and the track gets cool, the speed will only increase that much more.

Not surprisingly, the high speeds at Texas have led to some vicious wrecks over the years, as well as some thrilling finishes. Clean air is important at any track these days, but at least the multiple grooves at Texas allow for frequent passing in the middle of the pack. Restarts can be scary, especially for fantasy owners, but overall, Texas tends to be an opportunity for owners to put up a big score. The elite drivers in the sport have done well at the 1.5-mile tracks over the years, with familiar names getting to Victory Lane.

1. Tony Stewart, Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1
2. Matt Kenseth, Husky/Dollar General
3. Carl Edwards, Fastenal/Aflac/UPS/Subway
4. Greg Biffle, 3M/Bondo
5. Denny Hamlin, FedEx
6. Jimmie Johnson, Lowe's/Kobalt Tools
7. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., National Guard/Diet Mountain Dew
8. Kevin Harvick, Budweiser/Rheem
9. Clint Bowyer, 5-Hour Energy
10. Jeff Gordon, Drive to End Hunger/Axalta
11. Martin Truex, Jr., NAPA Auto Parts
12. Kyle Busch, Mars Brands/Interstate Batteries
13. Mark Martin, Aaron's Dream Machine
14. Paul Menard, Menards
15. Kasey Kahne, Farmers Insurance/Quaker State
16. Marcos Ambrose, Stanley/Dewalt Power Tools
17. A.J. Allmendinger, Phoenix Racing
18. Ryan Newman, Quicken Loans/Haas Automation
19. Trevor Bayne, Motorcraft/Quick Lane
20. Brad Keselowski, Miller Lite
21. Jeff Burton, Caterpillar/Cheerios
22. Joey Logano, Shell-Pennzoil
23. Kurt Busch, Furniture Row
24. Aric Almirola, Smithfield Foods
25. Juan Montoya, Target
26. Jamie McMurray, McDonald's/Cessna
27. David Ragan, CSX Transportation/Peanut Patch
28. Regan Smith, Guy Roofing
29. Bobby Labonte, Kingsford/Clorox/Bush's Beans
30. Casey Mears, GEICO