Texas Reactions & Observations.

- It was clear Carl Edwards was a favorite to win the race Sunday, but I don't know if anybody thought he'd be that good. It's clear Roush Fenway has done their homework with this new car.

- It was a big rebound for Jimmie Johnson after struggling mightily on the 1.5 mile tracks earlier in the season. He looked like he had a car that could win throughout the entire race.

- On the other side of the Hendrick spectrum, Jeff Gordon finished dead last for just the second time in his 16 year career. Ironically, the first time was also in Texas, but in 1999.

- Dale Earnhardt Jr. has had good cars so far this season, but for whatever reason his team seems to lose the handle on his cars as the race goes on. He'll need to fix that issue if he wants to win a few races this season.

- Kevin Harvick may have had junk to drive with all day, but his team never gave up and salvaged an 11th place finish.

- Ryan Newman finished fourth but failed post-race inspection, so if you exclude that, Juan Pablo Montoya was the highest-finishing Dodge, in 19th. Imagine if Montoya actually got cars that drove well.

- Tony Stewart moved up one spot in the standings after his team made some changes to the car that decreased its performance from Happy Hour practice on Saturday. He was still able to manage a top-10 finish, though.

Next weekend is the race at Phoenix, and it's the first night race of the season. Expect Joe Gibbs Racing to be the team to beat when they hit the track under the lights.

Aaron Larsen