As weather threat ends, tire trouble arises as Texas field chases Joey Logano

Ray Slover

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As weather threat ends, tire trouble arises as Texas field chases Joey Logano image

Other than trying to catch early race leader Joey Logano, Sprint Cup drivers' biggest problem on Sunday night was tires.

MORE: Shortened race a problem, but not unique | Significant concussion discussion

Jimmie Johnson pitted under green with a tire going down. Turns out, he was having a similar problem to the one Bowman, a Hendrick Motorsports teammate, was having.

Having won at Martinsville, Johnson was in no hurry early in the AAA Texas 500. But even with his place in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship guaranteed, Johnson wouldn't mind winning at Texas.

After all, he won the previous four Chase races at the track.

MORE: Kyle Busch's close call | Menard's scary spin

Another reason? If Johnson were to win, he would force the rest of the field to fight it out next week at Phoenix. Seven cars battling for three spots in the final four at Homestead-Miami is not a problem for Johnson but a big one for those drivers.

Johnson made it through a green-flag pit sequence in the top 10.

Another Johnson teammate, Chase Elliott, fought flulike symptoms all day and had a relief driver ready if needed. But Elliott took advantage of Sunday's six-hour weather delay, resting and feeling better by race time.

Carl Edwards, who crashed at Martinsville and likely needs to win at Texas or Phoenix to make the final four, was in third place one-quarter of the way through the race.

Kurt Busch, also on the outside looking in at Texas, was having another miserable run. His car was loose to the point it was near crashing, he told his team on radio.

Then, this:

The race's second caution allowed Kurt's crew to address the problem.

By Lap 100, Kurt and brother Kyle were well off leader Joey Logano's pace. However, Kyle was much happier with his car after pit-stop adjustments.

Kyle made a huge save in the incident that brought the second caution. As Brian Scott lost control, Busch slipped past Scott's spinning car. It was a close call for the defending Cup champion who couldn't afford to have his race ruined by a crash.

Just before the race was halfway, Paul Menard went on a wild ride when he had a tire go down.

And ...

Pit problems included Tony Stewart and Trevor Bayne having to back up on the packed roadway to get into their stalls.

Cars started full-speed racing with a notion Sunday night could be a dash to halfway. However, the night's final rain threat slipped north of the track and it appeared likely the AAA Texas 500 would go the full distance.

Ray Slover