2017 AAA Texas 500

The 2017 AAA Texas 500 was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race which was held on November 5, 2017, at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. Contested over 334 laps on the 1.5 mile (2.4 km) intermediate quad-oval, it was the 34th race of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, eighth race of the Playoffs, and second race of the Round of 8.

Background
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas. The track measures 1.5 mi around and is banked 24 degrees in the turns, and is of the oval design, where the front straightaway juts outward slightly. The track layout is similar to Atlanta Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway (formerly Lowe's Motor Speedway). The track is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., the same company that owns Atlanta and Charlotte Motor Speedways, as well as the short-track Bristol Motor Speedway.

Entry list

 * Daniel Hemric filled in for Menard for Qualifying, First and Second Practices as Menard and his wife, Jennifer, welcomed their second child that week.

First practice
Ryan Blaney was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 27.009 seconds and a speed of 199.933 mph.

Qualifying
Kurt Busch scored the pole for the race with a time of 26.877 and a speed of 200.915 mph.

Second practice
Kurt Busch was the fastest in the second practice session with a time of 28.159 seconds and a speed of 191.768 mph.

Final practice
Denny Hamlin was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 28.203 seconds and a speed of 191.469 mph.

Stage results
Stage 1 Laps: 85

Stage 2 Laps: 85

Final stage results
Stage 3 Laps: 164

Race statistics

 * Lead changes: 13 among different drivers
 * Cautions/Laps: 8 for 40
 * Red flags: 1 for 10 minutes and 29 seconds
 * Time of race: 3 hours, 29 minutes, 52 seconds
 * Average speed: 143.234 mph

Television
NBCSN covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen and Dale Jarrett had the call in the regular booth for the race. Two–time Texas winner Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte had the call in the NBC's Stock Car Smarts Booth for the race. Dave Burns, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast reported from pit lane during the race.

Radio
PRN had the radio call for the race, which was simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

Standings after the race

 * Drivers' Championship standings


 * Manufacturers' Championship standings
 * Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.