NASCAR Sprint Cup at Texas: Denny Hamlin and 11 Drivers Likely to Be in the Mix

The great state of Texas, where we see cowboy hats, football and NASCAR. Texans love their pigskin, but this weekend they'll love their fast cars.

But like last weekend, we're going to a track that Denny Hamlin has loved lately, when it comes to the checkered flag.

Who do I think will do well in the Lone Star State on Sunday? Come along with me as I make my selections for the Samsung Moblie 500 on April 9.

No. 1: Denny Hamlin

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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 07: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Office Toyota, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 7, 2010 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Image

He swept the races here last year. He also finished  second in the November 2009 race here and 12th that April. I don't think he can win a third straight race here, but I am expecting a solid top-10 finish from him.

No. 2: Kevin Harvick

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MARTINSVILLE, VA - APRIL 03: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 Budweiser Chevrolet, poses in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goody's Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 3, 2011 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Je

He's on a two-race winning streak and is super hot right now. He also finished sixth here in November and seventh last April. He hasn't won at Texas, but with his last few races and his showing here last year, I'm not counting him out.

No 3: Kurt Busch

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MARTINSVILLE, VA - APRIL 03: Kurt Busch, driver of the #22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge, stands on the grid prior tor the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goody's Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 3, 2011 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jerry Markla

Big Busch was the last one to win here before Denny took over last year and finished fourth here last April. He finished eighth in the April 2009 race as well before winning that November. He's not a huge favorite for me, but his win and fourth place makes it hard for him to be ignored.

No. 4: Jimmie Johnson

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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 07: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, races Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 7, 2010 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Pho

Yes, Johnson again, but he did finish second here last April and won here in 2007 in addition to finishing ninth in November (plus, this is the infamous track where they basically rebuilt the car to get it back on the track in '09). Do I expect him to win? No. Do I expect him to make a showing and be in the top 10? Yes.

No. 5: Carl Edwards

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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 06: Carl Edwards (R), driver of the #60 Copart.com Ford, celebrates with Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage (L) in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at Texas Motor Sp

Hamlin swept the races here in 2010 and Edwards swept them in 2008. He also finished in the top 10 in the April 2009 race. Granted Edwards didn't have a good 2010 season at this track (33rd because of an accident in April and 19th in November). But other than two races this season, he's done well, with four top 10 finishes.

No. 6: Greg Biffle

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MARTINSVILLE, VA - APRIL 02: Greg Biffle, driver of the #3M Ford, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goody's Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 2, 2011 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jason Smith/Ge

Biffle had two strong finishes here last year with a fifth in November and a 10th in April in addition to strong finishes in 2009. He only has one top 10 this year and is in the 20th points position, but this seems to be a track he likes from past results (he also won here in 2005) so I expect a solid finish from him.

No. 7: Mark Martin

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MARTINSVILLE, VA - APRIL 03: Mark Martin, driver of the #5 Quaker State/GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, stands next to his car on the grid prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goody's Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 3, 2011 in Martinsville, Vir

Martin had a good showing here with a sixth and a third last year. He hasn't won here since April of 1998 and only has two top 10 finishes this year, which makes him questionable for my list. But I feel that his showings last year and the year before (sixth in April '09 and fourth that November), plus his 10th place last week, make him worthy for a good showing this week.

No. 8: Kyle Busch

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MARTINSVILLE, VA - APRIL 03: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Pedigree Toyota, leads Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goody's Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 3, 2011 in Martinsville, V

Texas isn't the strongest track on the circuit for Little Busch, but you can't count out someone who has finished in the top five six times this season. Busch finished third here last April and eighth the April before. Surprisingly, Kyle has never won at this track (one of the very few) in the Cup series, but I expect him to be consistent enough again this weekend to pull out a top 10 finish.

No. 9: Kasey Kahne

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MARTINSVILLE, VA - APRIL 03: Kasey Kahne, driver of the #4 Red Bull Toyota, leads Joey Logano, driver of the #20 The Home Depot Toyota, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goody's Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 3, 2011 in Martinsville,

The winner of the April 2006 race seems to be adjusting well to his new team, pulling off a 50-percent top-10 rate this season. He finished fifth in April and 13th in November of last year. Last November was one of his few races with Red Bull at the end of the season and he seems much happier this year. He's driving harder and focusing on taking Red Bull as far as he can in the season he's with them, so I expect Texas to be one of the races where he focuses on finishing in the top of the placings.

No. 10: Dale Earnhardt Jr

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MARTINSVILLE, VA - APRIL 03: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Amp Energy/National Guard Chevrolet, leads Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 Budweiser Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goody's Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Ap

Junior isn't the strongest of drivers at any track right now, but he did pull off a top eight finish here last April. "Little E" is also eager for a win and showed that last week by driving more aggressive than we've seen from the No. 88 car. The crew chief change seems to have done wonders for this team and I expect him to pull off another strong finish in this race.

No. 11: Jeff Gordon

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FORT WORTH, TX - APRIL 05: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 DuPont Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 5, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Im

Gordon had always been "cursed" at this track until he finally won in April of 2009. While he was in an accident in both 2010 races, he did finish 13th in the November 2009 race. He's been running pretty well this season, and his first win after a long dry spell moved him up four spots in points last weekend to 12th. I expect the No. 24 to be at least in the top 10 if not the top five.