FanHouse Warmup: Samsung 500

What: Samsung 500
Where: Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, Texas
When: Sunday, April 6 1:30pm/et FOX (Green Flag Approx. 2:15pm/et)
Distance: 334 laps, 500 miles
Weather: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind around 15 mph. :)
2007 Winner: Jeff Burton
Predictions: Keep Reading





Good God Almighty: It's Sunny! - Is there really anything else I need to say here? Though I know it isn't true, it has sure seemed like nearly every race in the 2008 Sprint Cup season has been dogged by rain, moisture, coldness or a variety of other non-Chamber of Commerce weather.

The Lone Star State isn't letting us down, though!


Sunday's forecast is weather designed for the Beach Boys. Mostly sunny and a high near 79. Let's go racin' boys!

Michael McDowell ... Wow. - I know I've already linked to this above, but if you haven't seen a replay of Michael McDowell's crash Friday afternoon during qualifying, then, well, you owe yourself to click here.

I still can't get over the fact that the SAFER barrier compressed completely against the Turn 1 wall at impact. I think that in itself shows that McDowell is with us today and will race because of the safety innovations since we lost Dale Earnhardt in 2001.

For Dale Jr. Fans, Has the Worst Happened? - An article Sunday morning over at the NASCAR Scene talks about a new friendship being born from working together between Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The article has Gordon talking about how he "texts" Junior now and that they have never been "rivals" like some fans think they have been.

I can hear a whole bunch of Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans simultaneously reading that, shaking their heads, and loudly yelling "NOOOO!!!".

Who's Gonna Win Sunday at Texas?

Welcome back to the now hardly ever accurate "Pick the Winner, Not Your Nose" section of the FanHouse Warmup.

Who can do it Sunday at Texas? Well, my bets aren't on a guy who's never won there before that goes by the initials of JG. Gordon said Saturday that he was "scared" of his car and that it just wasn't handling like he needed it to.

In other words, I think you can rule out Hendrick from victory lane.

My pick? I'm going with Roush Racing, and more particularly Carl Edwards.

Edwards has been streaking on the 1.5-mile speedways thus far, and had his engine not blown at Atlanta, he was cruising for a third victory of 2008. Sunday isn't going to be any different.

Look for Roush teammates Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle to be strong competitors as well.

Enjoy the race, and we'll see you here at FanHouse for plenty of post-race coverage of everything that actually mattered.