After a quick dip into short track racing at Martinsville, the NASCAR Cup Series drivers are doing it big again this weekend in Texas.
An off week is great for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers and teams, especially when it comes over Easter to allow them to spend that time with family and friends, but it leaves a void in the hearts of fans. Fortunately, that will be filled in a big way this weekend as the cars fire back up for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.
After Clint Bowyer broke a winless streak that was nearing 200 races at Martinsville, Stewart-Haas Racing has now won four of the six races so far this season. If last year is any indication, they could be a handful again, as Kevin Harvick won the pole and finished fourth in the 2017 race.
It could also be a place where the Chevy drivers get right, considering Jimmie Johnson won this race last year and Kyle Larson finished second. If they can’t contend at Texas, they might start wondering where and when they can.
Next: 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule revealed
A total of 38 cars will take the green flag at Texas Motor Speedway, the same as the previous race, with the 96 of D.J. Kennington absent but replaced in the field by the 66 driven by Carl Long. Reed Sorensen is listed as the driver of the No. 55 this week, replacing JJ Yeley.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 is scheduled for a 2:16 p.m. green flag on Sunday, April 8.
O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 entry list/expected paint schemes for Texas Motor Speedway
- 00 – Landon Cassill – USFRA.org Chevrolet
- 1 – Jamie McMurray – Cessna Chevrolet
- 2 – Brad Keselowski – Miller Lite Ford
- 3 – Austin Dillon – Symbicort Chevrolet
- 4 – Kevin Harvick – Busch Light Ford
- 6 – Trevor Bayne – Performance Plus Ford
- 9 – Chase Elliott – NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet
- 10 – Aric Almirola – Smithfield Ford
- 11 – Denny Hamlin – FedEx Office Toyota
- 12 – Ryan Blaney – Menards/Richmond The Water Heater Experts Ford
- 13 – Ty Dillon – GEICO Chevrolet
- 14 – Clint Bowyer – Mobil 1/Rush Truck Centers Ford
- 15 – Ross Chastain – TBA Chevrolet
- 17 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – SunnyD Ford
- 18 – Kyle Busch – Interstate Batteries Toyota
- 19 – Daniel Suarez – STANLEY Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
National Champions Toyota - 20 – Erik Jones – Reser’s Toyota
- 21 – Paul Menard – Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
- 22 – Joey Logano – Shell Pennzoil Ford
- 23 – Gray Gaulding – Earthwater Toyota
- 24 – William Byron – Liberty University Chevrolet
- 31 – Ryan Newman – Grainger Chevrolet
- 32 – Matt DiBenedetto – Can-Am/Wholey Ford
- 34 – Michael McDowell – Love’s Travel Stops Ford
- 37 – Chris Buescher – Bush’s Beans Chevrolet
- 38 – David Ragan – 1000Bulbs.Com Ford
- 41 – Kurt Busch – Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford
- 42 – Kyle Larson – Credit One Bank Chevrolet
- 43 – Bubba Wallace – Click n’ Close Chevrolet
- 47 – AJ Allmendinger – Kroger ClickList Chevrolet
- 48 – Jimmie Johnson – Lowe’s for Pros Chevrolet
- 51 – Harrison Rhodes – Haas Automation Chevrolet
- 55 – Reed Sorensen – TBD Chevrolet
- 66 – Carl Long – TBD Toyota
- 72 – Cole Whitt – Rinnai Chevrolet
- 78 – Martin Truex Jr. – Bass Pro Shops/5-hour ENERGY Toyota
- 88 – Alex Bowman – Nationwide Chevrolet
- 95 – Kasey Kahne – Procore Chevrolet