NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 14, 2012
Photo – Getty Images

Fans can expect a big ‘ole Texas showdown Saturday Night when the Sprint Cup Series cars invade the mile-and-a-half Texas Motor Speedway. Everything is bigger in Texas and when NASCAR invades the Lone Star State, the race is always more exciting than expected. Texas is usually the track where the gloves can come off when the drivers’ tempers reach their boiling points, but the gloves have already come off throughout the last few races and that could spice things up on Saturday Night.

The NRA 500 will take place on Saturday April 13, 2013 and the green-flag will wave at 7:46 PM EST. Saturday Night racing is always more electrifying and on this Saturday Night, the drivers will have 334 Laps and 501 miles to chase victory. Race Night weather looks partly cloudy, but with a 0% chance of rain and the low temperature that night may dip down to 56 F. You can catch the race on FOX and a radio version of the broadcast is on PRN.

As many fans remember, last year’s Spring Race at Texas was sort of a “snooze-fest.” Two cautions throughout the entire race left for a lot of green-flag racing which fans didn’t particularly enjoy. Greg Biffle took the win after the night was over and that win was a testament to his hot-start last season. Biffle has had a lot of success at Texas and he may just be back in victory lane this weekend.

Last weekend at Martinsville brought some hot-tempers along with some classic short-track racing. Any feuds that developed during the race could roll-over to this weekend, but the drivers seemed to have left the arguments at Fontana. Jimmie Johnson will attempt to win his third race of the season on Saturday Night and maintain his points lead. We all know that Johnson can do well at any track so we can’t count him out this weekend.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was one of the drivers who struggled at Martinsville and his struggles forced him out of the points lead. His teammate, Johnson, took over on top of the standings, but Earnhardt Jr. would love to regain his position on top of the throne. Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch continue to lurk close to the teammates in the standings and they could get to the top at anytime.

Brian Vickers will be the driver filling in for the injured Denny Hamlin this weekend and that means Mark Martin will be back in the No.55 car at Texas. Vickers piloted the car last weekend, but Martin will get back in the car as scheduled for this race.

Texas is an interesting track where anything could happen. Wild wrecks, hot tempers and even circus performers have been spotted at the track before and that means just about anything could go on in the Lone Star State this weekend. Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon will look to continue their climb back up the point’s ladder and they could easily be in victory lane once this race is over. A Texas size of a race is expected this weekend and you won’t want to leave your couch once this wild party gets underway on Saturday Night.

Event Schedule

1:00-3:00 PM CT (2:00-4:00 PM EST) (Thursday) Sprint Cup Series Testing at Texas, not televised

3:30-5:00 PM CT (4:30-6:00 PM EST) (Thursday) Sprint Cup Series Testing at Texas, not televised

11:30 AM-1:00 PM CT (12:30-2:00 PM EST) (Friday) Sprint Cup Series Practice, televised on SPEED

2:00-3:30 PM CT (3:00-4:30 PM EST) (Friday) Sprint Cup Series Final Practice, televised on SPEED

5:40 PM CT (6:40 PM EST) (Friday) Sprint Cup Series Qualifying, televised on SPEED

6:30 PM CT (7:30 PM EST) (Saturday) Sprint Cup Series’ Race, the NRA 500, televised on FOX

Next Race– STP 400 at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas

Entry List via Jayski.com