Weekly picks from Spade Racing’s writer/webmaster/janitor Mike Mackler’s uncle.
Welllllll, that was quite a battle last Sunday, huh? Two guys who you never expected to go at it went toe-to-toe, and the carnage was amazing! Of course I’m talking about the brawl that happened at work!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUsmMJf7DVewBYuYPT9d-jh8oNgZP7xXbpQTtMC4IdsiHIua1KflAWQJ5CbLonAcDWLKc7nt4_L4sX88wFqagO5PkC09LEFOLFR3tvrc6LmZe4_k_QFhWdUXMK_dV5G3w8YQGBIL8OUk/s200/UncleMaxPic.png)
Anyways, here’s my picks for the upcoming race weekend at Texas (total wins in parenthesis):
Truck Series JAG Metals 350 (5 wins)—Matt Crafton—new contract, same steady results.
Xfinity Series O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge (7 wins)—William Byron—stepping up on the big tracks leading up to his shot in Cup
Cup Series AAA Texas 500: FAVORITE (5 wins)—Martin Truex Jr.—I probably should’ve been picking him more this year anyways. NEXT FAVORITE (2 wins)—Kyle Busch—likely a win with far less drama this time. DARK HORSE*—Kyle Larson—“hey guys—if not for a bum engine, I’d be battling Truex for the title”.
*—NOTE—during the Cup Playoffs, a Dark Horse must be a driver who is out of championship contention.