Truex Jr. wins at Las Vegas; Busch brawls with Logano

Truex Jr win paid out at 8/1 odds in the sports books.

LAS VEGAS — Sunday’s Kobalt 400 shaped up as a two-man show even before the green flag dropped at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

After a weekend in which Martin Truex Jr. and Brad Keselowski pretty much dominated every practice and qualifying, Sunday’s race was no different.

Truex passed Keselowski for the lead with two laps to go and ended up completing a sweep of all three stages with the race win. This came after Keselowski started from the pole, with Truex starting alongside him on the front row after the two were fastest in Friday qualifying.

In Sunday’s showdown, Keselowski’s car appeared to lose some power shortly before Truex made the winning pass and fell to fifth by the finish. Kyle Larson moved up to second, followed by Chase Elliott and Joey Logano as Kyle Busch wrecked behind them all.

Read More Here........Fox Sports

Kobalt 400 Results


BRAWL! BRAWL!
And now two years later, we have Logano vs. Busch. While Busch didn’t feel like waiting for his pound of flesh, his post-race comments will have fans watching for on-track retaliation as well. “That’s how Joey races. So he’s going to get it."

Read More on Brawl Here........USA Today

Final Las Vegas Driver Ratings: 2017 Kobalt 400

Ryan Blaney looked strong during happy hour with the best 10-consecutive lap average.

Micah Roberts' Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Driver Ratings
Kobalt 400
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Sunday, March 12, 2017 - 3:46 pm ET
RATED DRIVER     ODDS                         PRAC 1       QUAL   PRAC 2     PRAC 3
 1. Brad Keselowski (6/1)          2nd         2nd      21st        5th
Two-time winner (2014, 2016); second-best 10-consecutive lap avg during final practice.
 2. Chase Elliott (7/1)                9th         12th      1st         2nd
Best 10-consecutive lap average in practice 2; runner-up at Michigan '16 using same package.
 3. Kevin Harvick (5/1)               8th         19th       9th       15th
2015 winner, seventh last season; led race-high 292 laps last week; using fall Texas chassis.
 4. Matt Kenseth (12/1)             5th          4th       20th       4th
Three-time winner, the last in 2013; second-best 10-consecutive lap average in practice 2.
 5. Martin Truex Jr. (8/1)            1st          2nd      18th       1st
2015 runner-up and 9.6 avg finish in past six; finished eighth last week at Atlanta.
 6. Kyle Larson (12/1)                4th         5th        2nd        6th 
Last two races using new low-down force package: won at Michigan, runner-up at Atlanta.
 7. Kyle Busch (7/1)                 14th         9th        4th       16th
2009 winner and fourth in two of past three starts on his hometown track; 13.5 avg in 12 starts.
 8. Kasey Kahne (30/1)              6th         7th        5th        7th 
Two-time runner-up, but more importantly showed lots of speed last week and Saturday's practices.
 9. Jimmie Johnson (7/1)            3rd        16th      16th       13th
Four-time winner, the last in 2010; sixth or better in four of past five; sluggish 19th at Atlanta.
10. Ryan Blaney (80/1)              7th          3rd        6th        8th
Strong sixth-place last year; best 10-consecutive lap average in final practice. Great long shot bet!
11. Joey Logano (7/1)               18th         6th       24th      14th
2016 runner-up with track-best 10.7 avg finish in eight starts; sixth last week at Atlanta.
12. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (15/1)      21st       18th       17th       3rd 
Three-time runner-up; eighth or better in last four. Got car dialed well in final practice.

Note: Last week's results at sister-track Atlanta is a good handicapping reference not only because it's a high-banked 1.5-mile layout, but because it was the first 2017 race using the new low downforce package that was introduced at Kentucky and Michigan last season.

Opening odds courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.

Micah Roberts, a former Las Vegas sports book director, has been setting auto racing odds in Las Vegas since 1994.

Martin Truex Jr fastest during first Las Vegas practice session

Martin Truex was 12/1 to win Kobalt 400 pole position.

Martin Truex Jr. ran only seven laps during Friday's first Kobalt 400 practice at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but on his final lap laid posted the fastest speed at 193.500 mph during the 85 minute session. He was the only driver to post a speed over 193 mph and should be consider the favorite to win the pole during qualifying which is scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm ET tonight.

Brad Keselowski, the 2014 and 2016 Kobalt 400 winner, was second-fastest with a lap at 192.995 mph and he was followed by four-time Las Vegas winner Jimmie Johnson (192.988), Kyle Larson (192.719) and three-time Las Vegas winner Matt Kenseth (192.644) to round out the top-five fastest.

Kasey Kahne finished fourth last week at Atlanta and continued to show speed again this week with the sixth fastest lap (192.610) which was posted on the final of his 21 laps run. Kahne spent the first half of the session getting his race trim dialed in and posted the fastest 10-consecutive lap average of the session among four drivers that ran as many in a row.

Ryan Blaney grabbed the seventh fastest lap (192.239) with just a few minutes remaining in the session on his 17th and final lap turned. Last week's pole sitter and 2015 Las Vegas winner Kevin Harvick was eighth fastest (192.239) followed by Chase Elliott (192.164) and Denny Hamlin to close out the top-10.

Kyle Busch ran the most laps (27) of the session and posted the 14th fastest lap while in qualifying trim on his 25th lap.

There will be two final practices Saturday which will be the give a much better indication of how the cars will run on race day.

Practice 1 Speeds

Best Las Vegas NASCAR Prop Bets: 2017 Kobalt 400

Keselowski and Penske crew have new low downforce package figured out. 

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series roars through Las Vegas for Sunday's Kobalt 400 in what again will be the largest-wagered race of the season.

Just for perspective, the No. 2 race according to wagering handle is the Daytona 500 — about four times less than the Vegas race — and way down the list is the Indianapolis 500.

It's easy to create such a huge handle with up to 100,000 fans visiting the city and it being the only stop on the NASCAR circuit where wagering is legally available. With so many fans in town, the sports books are able to boost the betting menus by offering every type of wager possible that's found in a box score.

Brad Keselowski rolls in as the hot driver. He won last week at Atlanta, and he won last year in Vegas. Kevin Harvick (5-1 odds) and Keselowski (6-1) are the favorites this week.

Las Vegas’ Kyle Busch (7-1) will be a popular bet, with Daytona winner Kurt Busch (25-1) starting as a long shot.

Here’s a look at some props offered by William Hill sports books:

Manufacturer to win: Ford plus-160, Chevy plus-180, Toyota plus-200
Ford won the first three races at Las Vegas and has won a track-record nine times, including three of the past five. But the big reason to support Ford here, despite having only 14 cars compared to 16 for Chevy, is because the two most dominant cars in last week’s Atlanta race were Fords driven by Harvick, the 2015 Vegas winner, and two-time Vegas winner Keselowski.

Set-up requirements are similar for sister tracks Atlanta and Vegas (both 1.5-mile layouts). Also, Joey Logano has the best Las Vegas average finish (10.7) among all drivers and was runner-up last season. Kurt Busch is still looking for his first home track win, and he might offer the best long-shot odds to win.
Read More Here....VSiN.com

Kyle Busch feels "a little bit more pressure" when racing in Vegas

Kyle Busch is 7/1 to win at Las Vegas Sunday.

HUNTERSVILLE, North Carolina (March 6, 2017) – Aside from NASCAR’s biggest events like the Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a win at the hometown racetrack is high on the priority list for many in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. 

Las Vegas native Kyle Busch crossed off an all-important hometown win in just his fifth NASCAR Cup Series start at his hometown Las Vegas Motor Speedway, site of Sunday’s Kobalt 400. The driver of the No. 18 M&M’S Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) and 2002 honors graduate of Las Vegas’ Durango High School would like to double his number of Cup Series wins at the 1.5-mile oval after he brought home that emotional first win there in 2009. 

Driving the yellow M&M’S Toyota that day, Busch qualified on the pole but was forced to start at the rear of the field because the team needed to change engines during Friday practice. Unfazed, Busch remained patient on race day as he and the M&M’S team worked their way to the front of the field by the 54th lap. Busch went on to lead three times for 51 laps en route to claiming what he called at the time the biggest win of his young career. 

While that win was special, Busch already was no stranger to winning on Las Vegas Motor Speedway property. From 1999 to 2001, he earned more than 65 wins in Legends cars while racking up two track championships at the facility’s “Bullring,” which existed for several years before the 1.5-mile oval was built. Busch eventually moved up to Late Model Stock cars and his winning ways continued as he captured 10 victories in Late Model competition at the Bullring in 2001. 

In addition to celebrations at the Bullring and the aforementioned 2009 Cup Series win in his hometown, Busch came agonizingly close last year to bringing home his second Cup Series win in the shadows of his childhood home. An incredible restart vaulted Busch from sixth to the lead of last year’s Las Vegas race with less than 40 laps to go. However, a vibration that turned out to be a loose wheel caused Busch to lose the lead with five laps to go. It was a tough pill to swallow as he had another Vegas celebration in his sights. 

This weekend, Mars brand Ethel M Chocolate, which has a factory and store located in nearby Henderson, Nevada, will also get into the act. Not only will Ethel M have its logo adorn the rear decklid of the No. 18 M&M’S Toyota, it will also sport decals for the Kyle Busch Chocolate Collection in honor of Busch’s return to his hometown. The Kyle Busch Chocolate Collection is a limited, 16-piece chocolate assortment featuring Busch’s favorite Ethel M specialties. Wrapped in custom NASCAR-branded packaging, the collection is available for fans to purchase online at www.ethelm.com, and at Ethel M locations, including its factory store in Henderson, at McCarran Airport Boutique, and at M&M’S World® on Las Vegas Boulevard. 

Busch will also visit the Ethel M location in Las Vegas Thursday for an exclusive question-and-answer session at 4 p.m. PST. So as Busch returns to Las Vegas this weekend, the only thing that will be sweeter than winning his first Cup Series race there would be winning a second one as Busch looks to avenge the tough finish to the 2016 race and add another Vegas trophy to his list of accomplishments. 

KYLE BUSCH, Driver of the No. 18 M&M’S Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing: 

Is there more pressure racing at your hometown track? 

“Yeah, Vegas always means a little bit more pressure – more pressure on myself – just because it’s the hometown and you want to win there. Thankfully, I have won there and I’ve knocked that one off the list, but certainly you want to win there every year. It seems like either Carl (Edwards) or Jimmie (Johnson) are better than most there, but I love Vegas, the atmosphere and everything going on around that place. Last year was tough to swallow. We led at the end and had a loose wheel, so all I could do was just hold onto it and not put our car in the fence. It’s always been a big race for us and the M&M’S team, so I’m hoping we can bring home another win there.” 

What was it like to bring home a Cup Series win in your hometown in 2009? “

It was cool. To go out there and to run a smooth race and to have a shot at winning at the end of the race, that’s what it’s all about. I watched Vegas being built from the ground up, and I remember when it wasn’t anything but a gleam in the eye of Richie Clyne (founder of Las Vegas Motor Speedway) – all those guys who made that place happen.”

Having grown up in Las Vegas, do you still have a lot of friends in the area? Do you get a lot of ticket requests from friends and family? 

“I get a lot of ticket requests for California, Vegas and Phoenix – all the West Coast stops that we run. It’s kind of hard to fulfill all of them, but we try when we can. We get to go to M&M’S World on the (Las Vegas) Strip to sign some autographs on Thursday and I’ll be doing a Q&A at Ethel M on Thursday as well, so I’m looking forward to seeing some of the hometown fans there, as well.”

Are you able to enjoy trips to your hometown? 

“It’s fine going back there. There’s really not much family out there. It’s just family friends. There are a lot of friends you get to see and catch up with that you text back-and-forth or talk back-and-forth with during the year, but you never get to see them, so that’s always cool to go out there to the race. Besides that, there are the different appearances we do for M&M’S. You get to go to some of the restaurants that you liked there growing up, so that’s always cool. It’s just another weekend, but I particularly know my way around this city better than I do any other place.” What is your fondest racing memory of growing up in Las Vegas? “My fondest racing memory is probably my first Late Model race. I started about eighth or 10th and ended up winning it. My first-ever start, I won. So that is definitely a great memory to have.”

- True Speed Communications

Kurt Busch looking for first Cup win on hometown track

Kurt Busch is 25/1 to win Kobalt 400 for first time.

KURT BUSCH, Driver of the No. 41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford Fusion for Stewart-Haas Racing: 

Talk a little bit about how the plan came together to take the Harley J. Earl trophy on a Stanley Cup-like tour. 

“We came up with an idea Friday morning in Atlanta. I realized that there are only two trophies from victory lane at Daytona, and you cannot get a replica of the trophy. Gene Haas has his from the breakfast afterward and it is now in Oxnard, California, at the Haas Automation headquarters. My trophy is at the race shop right now. All the crew guys have been taking selfies with it and other pictures of it and they had a toast the other night with it. I am going to get the nice carrying case that goes with it and I am going to send it out on a tour. I am going to turn our Harley J. Earl trophy into the Stanley Cup. It will make events here and there. I wanted to get replicas for Ford, Monster Energy, for myself and whomever is significant enough to get a replica. But they only make two. That is what is so significant and powerful about this trophy. The first visit after the SHR race shop will be to Las Vegas, so the fans in my hometown can see it, and then it will go to Corona, California, so it can hang out in the Monster headquarters for a little while.” 

What does it feel like coming back to Las Vegas? 

“Vegas is different. It’s our hometown and we grew up racing on that little three-eighth-mile bullring that is in the shadows of Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Every time I go out there, it reminds me of all the people who helped Kyle (Busch, brother) and I, especially our dad Tom. But the different Late Model teams, modified teams, the Legend car races, and all the competitors, the Dwarf car days. It’s just fun to come back and reminisce. But, ultimately you’ve got to strap on the helmet and focus on the task at hand. It’s always special in Vegas.” 

The West Coast swing of races at Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Fontana serves as a pretty good indicator of where a team stands. How important is that slate of races? 

“The West Coast swing is a perfect gauge for how your work went through the off-season, whether it’s the wind tunnel, the chassis dyno, new development, and then the team, as far as how the pit crew is performing. Those races on the West Coast swing really can put a stamp on where you are, what needs to be done, and what weaknesses or strengths we have.” 

There are a lot of logistics involved in the West Coast swing. What do you do? Do you stay out on the West Coast or do you commute like you would to other NASCAR races? 

“I stay on the West Coast. I call in to the team call-ins. Ashley (Busch, wife) likes to drive to the races out West. So, it’s just a nice, old school road trip, going from Vegas to Phoenix to Los Angeles and making the best of it. We stop at some of the scenic spots – Grand Canyon, there are the beaches out in L.A. So, it’s a fun, cool West Coast trip.” 

Of those venues that you mentioned, is there an area of the West Coast that you like to visit, have to visit, when you’re out there? 

“My hometown of Las Vegas, going back there to see family, friends, and restaurants. There’s this old-school place where we always used to go get pizza when I was a kid. It was just great to go back to the roots and reminisce. It gets you back to where everything started, going to Vegas.” 

You can’t test like you once were able to in January. So how do you, as a driver, adjust to a change like the one that has been made at Stewart-Haas Racing for the 2017 season? 

“It’s because the teams have more depth. There is more simulation. The engineering staff has gone through things at a much higher level, whereas it used to be the driver and the crew chief who would go to the track and then come back with a notebook of things. Now, the notebook has been gone through by the lead engineers and they’ve prepared it as best as possible before we show up. Limited track time saves money but, at the same time, you end up spending it on personnel and hiring the key guys to make the cars safer, faster, stronger, and I know we’ve done a great job to transition with Ford because I’ve seen some of the drawings and the way that Doug Yates has the engine set up. We had to change a few of our suspension settings to adapt to the way he had his engine set up, so there might be a couple bugs here or there, but I’m not too worried about it. We’ve got really good, quality people at Stewart-Haas with Yates engines.”

Chassis No. 993: Kurt Busch will pilot Chassis No. 993 in Sunday’s Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Built new for 2016, Chassis No. 993 debuted in May at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, where Busch earned his seventh top-five finish in the annual non-points NASCAR All-Star Race. Chassis No. 993 saw its first points-paying laps of the 2016 season in the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November, when Busch struggled with an ill-handling racecar and finished 13th. Since then, Chassis No. 993 was outfitted with a new front clip and body in preparation for Sunday’s 400-mile race. Las Vegas Motor Speedway Notes of Interest:  

Back Where it Started – Kurt Busch, a native of Las Vegas, grew up approximately 20 miles from Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He graduated near the top of his class from Durango High School in 1996. He began his career racing go-karts in Las Vegas when he was 7, transitioned to Hobby Stocks in 1996 and, by year’s end, captured the track championship at Las Vegas Speedway Park. He racked up numerous wins and championships and eventually caught the eye of successful NASCAR team owner Jack Roush, who decided to host driver auditions for a team he fielded in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. 

Busch was invited to participate and, in a pivotal moment in his life, he won the audition and started competing for Roush in 2000. Less than a year after hiring him to race in the Truck Series, Roush announced that Busch would be promoted to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Barely a year removed from running Late Models on the Featherlite Southwest Tour, Busch was racing the No. 97 Ford in NASCAR’s elite division. Since then, he has claimed 21 poles, 29 wins, 126 top-five finishes and 245 top-10s in 578 NASCAR Cup Series starts; three poles, five wins, 17 top-fives and 23 top 10s in 30 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts; and four poles, four wins, 14 top-fives and 20 top-10s in 28 Truck Series races. 

- True Speed Communication

NASCAR in Las Vegas: 2017 Kobalt 400 Betting Preview

It's props galore in Vegas for all the NASCAR fans visiting this weekend.

I may be a little biased, but after going to several NASCAR races across the nation I can't help but feel Las Vegas is the ultimate destination across the circuit. Sure, it's just another 1.5-mile cookie cutter, but the amenities that the city has to offer make it an easy No. 1 in my book.

Despite gambling offered across the city, colleges and universities think so too as four conference basketball tournaments are being played in town this week. Forget that the players can't participate in some of 21 and over activities, the conferences want the parents and alumni to show up for tickets sales, and they do.

NASCAR and Monster Energy also think it's a cool place too which is why an announcement is expected this week that Las Vegas will finally be getting a much deserved second Cup date next season. It's likely to be in the Chase and possibly, I hope, the season finale. Monster Energy wants more bang for the buck and the show Las Vegas could put on for the Championship race is unmatched.

The way I see it is I only have so many dates a year I can take off and most of the time my girl wants to go with me, except for my NASCAR weekends. Sometimes that's a good thing -- time away can be good, and it's the same story with my friends who meet me at tracks. But when March rolls around with Vegas, their wives always make the trip. That's the allure of Vegas. It always passes the wife test.

For bettors, it's also the most fun race to visit because of all the action offered around town. Las Vegas kicks off NASCAR's three-race West Coast swing and it will be the most wagered race of the season, and the difference between second-place isn't even close. The action wagered in the months leading up to the season opening Daytona 500 two weeks ago will be more than quadrupled this week for Sunday's Kobalt 400.

Because of all the action with over 100,000 visitors in town for the race, the sports books amp up their wagering menu in a similar fashion as they do for the Super Bowl. Odds to win the race are the most popular bets, but you'll be able to bet anything that's in a race box score.

And I really do mean ANYTHING.

Read More Here.....VegasInsider.com with Top-5 Finish Prediction

2017 Kobalt 400 Las Vegas props from William Hill

William Hill books have Ford as the 8-to-5 favorite to win Sunday's Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas. 

WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOKS (108 BOOKS ACROSS NEVADA)

SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2017 - 12:30PM
LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY - LAS VEGAS, NV
NASCAR MONSTER ENERGY CUP SERIES

KOBALT 400 PROPOSITIONS

WHICH MANUFACTURER WILL WIN KOBALT 400
5321 CHEVY +180
5322 TOYOTA 2 / 1
5323 FORD 8 / 5

WHO WILL HAVE BEST FINISH IN KOBALT 400
5331 DANIEL SUAREZ +125
5332 ERIK JONES 11 / 5
5333 TY DILLON 9 / 4
5334 GRAY GAULDING 15 / 1
5335 COREY LAJOIE 15 / 1

WHO WILL WIN KOBALT 400 POLE
6541 KEVIN HARVICK 6 / 1
6542 BRAD KESELOWSKI 7 / 1
6543 JIMMIE JOHNSON 15 / 2
6544 JOEY LOGANO 8 / 1
6545 KYLE BUSCH 17 / 2
6546 MATT KENSETH 10 / 1
6547 CHASE ELLIOTT 8 / 1
6548 DALE EARNHARDT JR. 15 / 1
6549 MARTIN TRUEX JR. 12 / 1
6550 DENNY HAMLIN 15 / 1
6551 KYLE LARSON 15 / 1
6552 KURT BUSCH 10 / 1
6553 AUSTIN DILLON 18 / 1
6554 KASEY KAHNE 25 / 1
6555 RYAN NEWMAN 18 / 1
6556 DANIEL SUAREZ 30 / 1
6557 CLINT BOWYER 30 / 1
6558 RYAN BLANEY 30 / 1
6559 JAMIE MCMURRAY 30 / 1
6560 FIELD 8 / 1

FINISH POSITION: KEVIN HARVICK
6901 UNDER 5 1/2 -120

FINISH POSITION: BRAD KESELOWSKI
6903 OVER 5 1/2 -120

FINISH POSITION:JIMMIE JOHNSON
6905 UNDER 5 1/2 -120

FINISH POSITION: JOEY LOGANO
6907 OVER 6 1/2 -120

FINISH POSITION: KYLE BUSCH
6909 OVER 6 1/2 -120

FINISH POSITION: MATT KENSETH
6911 OVER 8 1/2 -110

FINISH POSITION: CHASE ELLIOTT
6913 OVER 8 1/2 -110

FINISH POSITION: DALE EARNHARDT JR
6915 UNDER 9 1/2 -120

FINISH POSITION: MARTIN TRUEX JR
6917 OVER 9 1/2 -110

FINISH POSITION: DENNY HAMLIN
6919 UNDER 10 1/2 -120

FINISH POSITION: KURT BUSCH
6921 OVER 10 1/2 -120

FINISH POSITION:DANICA PATRICK
6923 UNDER 24 1/2 +100

TOTAL CAUTIONS: KOBALT 400
6925 UNDER 8 1/2 -125

WINNING CAR NUMBER: KOBALT 400
6927 CAR NUMBER 1-20 -130
6928 CAR NUMBER 21-95 11 / 10

NUMBER OF WINNING CAR: KOBALT 400
6929 ODD CAR NUMBER 5 / 1
6930 EVEN CAR NUMBER -700

DRIVERS TO LEAD A LAP: KOBALT 400
6931 OVER 10 1/2 -125

AVERAGE SPEED OF KOBALT 400
6933 OVER 136 1/2 MPH -110

DRIVERS ON LEAD LAP AT FINISH: KOBALT 400
6935 OVER 18 1/2 DRIVERS -120

MOST LAPS LEAD BY ANY DRIVER: KOBALT 400
6937 OVER 125 1/2 LAPS -110

NUMBER OF LEAD CHANGES: KOBALT 400
6939 OVER 21 1/2 CHANGES -110

DRIVERS NOT COMPLETING 133 LAPS: KOBALT 400
6941 OVER 1 1/2 DRIVERS -120

WHICH ORGANIZATION WILL HAVE A BETTER FINISH
6943 HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS -110
6944 STEWART-HAAS RACING -110

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Track Facts: 2017 Kobalt 400

Kevin Harvick won his first career Las Vegas Cup race in 2015

At Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

History

·        The construction to build the superspeedway known today as Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) began in 1995. Speedway Motorsports Inc. acquired the property in 1998.

·        The first NASCAR race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was a NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race won by Ken Schrader on Nov. 2, 1996.

·        The first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race was held on March 1, 1998, won by Mark Martin.

·        In 2006, the track was reconfigured to include progressive banking.

Starts

·        There have been 19 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

·        143 drivers have competed in at least one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas; 108 in more than one.

·        Jeff Gordon leads the series in starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with 18. Matt Kenseth leads all active drivers with 17 starts.

·        Stanton Barrett (1999), Kyle Busch (2004), Timmy Hill (2012), Jon Wood and Aric Almirola (2007) made their first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

·        Joey Logano leads the series among active drivers in average starting position at LVMS with an 8.250.

Poles

·        Dale Jarrett won the inaugural pole at LVMS with a speed of 168.224 mph (32.773 secs.).

·        12 drivers have MENCS poles at LVMS, led by Kasey Kahne with three (2004, 2007 and 2012).

·        Kyle Busch is the only driver to win consecutive poles at LVMS from (2008-‘09).

·        Youngest LVMS pole winner: Kyle Busch (3/2/2008 – 22 years, 10 months, 0 days). 

·        Oldest LVMS pole winner: Dale Jarrett (3/4/2001 – 44 years, 3 months, 6 days).

Wins

·        11 different Monster Energy drivers have won at LVMS, led by Jimmie Johnson with four (2005, 2006, 2007 and 2010).

·        Five drivers have multiple Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins at Las Vegas: Jimmie Johnson (four), Matt Kenseth (three), Brad Keselowski, Jeff Burton and Carl Edwards (each have two).

·        Roush Fenway Racing leads the series in wins at Las Vegas with seven, followed by Hendrick Motorsports with five, Joe Gibbs Racing, Team Penske and Stewart-Haas Racing (two each), Chip Ganassi Racing (one).

·        Las Vegas-native Kyle Busch became the first and only driver to win from the pole, in 2009.

·        Only three of the 19 LVMS races (15.8%) have been won from the front row: Kyle Busch, 2009 (pole); Carl Edwards, 2008 (second-place); Brad Keselowski, 2014 (second-place).

·        Five of the 19 races (26.3%) have been won from a top-five starting position at Las Vegas.

·        Nine of the 19 (47.4%) races have been won from a top-10 starting position at Las Vegas.

·        Four of the 19 races (21.1%) at Las Vegas have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.

·        The deepest in the field that a race winner has started was 25th, by Matt Kenseth in 2004.

·        Youngest LVMS winner: Kyle Busch (03/01/2009 – 23 years, 9 months, 27 days).

·        Oldest LVMS winner: Sterling Marlin (03/03/2002 – 44 years, 7 months, 32 days).

·        Three drivers have won consecutive races at Las Vegas: Jeff Burton (1999, 2000); Matt Kenseth (2003, 2004) and Jimmie Johnson is the only driver to win three consecutive races (2005, 2006 and 2007).

·        Eight of the 11 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers who have won at Las Vegas participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Mark Martin (1998; inaugural event) is the only driver to win at Las Vegas in his first appearance.

·        Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the series (active drivers) with the most starts at Las Vegas without visiting Victory Lane with 17 races.

·        No driver has won the first three races of the season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. The five drivers that have won the first two events of the series season are: Matt Kenseth (2009), Jeff Gordon (1997), David Pearson (1976), Bob Welborn (1959) and Marvin Panch (1957).  

·        Four reigning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champions have gone on to win at Las Vegas the following season: Matt Kenseth (2004), Tony Stewart (2012), Kevin Harvick (2015) and Jimmie Johnson (2007, 2010) - Johnson is the only driver to do it multiple times.

·        Three drivers have won at Las Vegas and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship in the same season: Jeff Gordon (2001), Matt Kenseth (2003) and Jimmie Johnson (2006, 2007 and 2010).

·        Four manufacturers have visited Victory Lane in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at LVMS, led by Ford (Nine), Chevrolet (seven), Toyota (two) and Dodge (one).

·        Only four car numbers have produced two or more Las Vegas MENCS wins:

Car Number – Drivers – (Years)

o   No. 48  – Jimmie Johnson (2005, 2006, 2007 and 2010)

o   No. 99 – Jeff Burton (1999, 2000) Carl Edwards (2008, 2011)

o   No. 17 –  Matt Kenseth (2003, 2004)

o   No. 2 – Brad Keselowski (2014, 2016)  

Additional Finishing Positions

·        Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the series in runner-up finishes at Las Vegas with three; followed by Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart with two each.

·        Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart lead the series in top-five finishes at Las Vegas with six each.

·        Dale Earnhardt Jr and Mark Martin leads the series in top-10 finishes with 10 each.

·        Joey Logano leads the series in average finish at LVMS with a 10.750.   

Female Competitors

·        Danica Patrick and Shawna Robinson are the only two female drivers to compete at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

Driver	Season	Starting Position	Finishing Position	Driver Rating
Danica Patrick	2016	18	21	54.9
Danica Patrick	2015	21	27	60.4
Danica Patrick	2014	22	21	58.0
Danica Patrick	2013	37	33	40.5
Shawna Robinson	2002	36	42	N/A

·        Danica Patrick has an average finish of 28.8 at LVMS.

Track / Specific Event

·        There has been one resulting with a NASCAR Overtime finish at Las Vegas: 2006 (Scheduled Laps: 267; Actual Laps: 270).

·        Qualifying has only been cancelled once at LVMS - 2013.

·        The closest margin of victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was the March 12, 2006 race won by Jimmie Johnson over Matt Kenseth by a MOV of 0.045 second. Below is a look at the MOVs at LVMS over the last 10 races:

Date	Margin of Victory
3/6/2016	0.675
3/8/2015	1.64
3/9/2014	1.53
3/10/2013	0.594
3/11/2012	0.461
3/6/2011	1.246
2/28/2010	1.874
3/1/2009	0.411
3/2/2008	0.504
3/11/2007	2.795
Average MOV	1.173

NASCAR in Nevada

·        There have been a total of 60 NASCAR national series races among two tracks in the state of Nevada.

Track Name	City	Total Races	Monster Energy	XFINITY	Camping World
Las Vegas Motor Speedway	Las Vegas	59	19	20	20
Las Vegas Park Speedway	Las Vegas	1	1	0	0
Totals		60	20	20	20

·        The first NASCAR national series race held in the state of Nevada was at Las Vegas Park Speedway on October 16, 1955. Las Vegas Park Speedway was a 1-mile dirt track and the event was 200 laps. Norm Nelson won the race in a Chrysler. 

·        25 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Nevada.

·        13 drivers from the state of Nevada have made at least one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start.

Drivers	Starts
Kurt Busch	577
Kyle Busch	427
Eddie Skinner	56
Brendan Gaughan	51
T.J. Bell	11
Doc Faustina	10
Bob Ruppert	3
Brownie Brown	2
Gus Newman	2
Britton Jones	1
Herb Hill	1
Romie Alderman	1
Wayne Jacks	1

·        Three drivers with their home state recorded as Nevada have won a NASCAR national series race.

Drivers	National Series Wins
Kyle Busch	170
Kurt Busch	38
Brendan Gaughan	10

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Milestones
Drivers	Has	Needs	Milestones
Clint Bowyer	399	1	400th MENCS start; Ties Denny Hamlin for 58th on all-time MENCS starts list
Jimmie Johnson	80	3	Tie Cale Yarborough for sixth on MENCS all-time wins list
Kyle Busch	38	1	Tie Tim Flock for 18th on all-time MENCS wins list
Matt Kenseth	38	1	Tie Tim Flock for 18th on all-time MENCS wins list
Kevin Harvick	35	2	Tie Bobby Isaac for 21st on MENCS all-time wins list
Kurt Busch	29	3	Tie Dale Jarrett for 24th on all-time MENCS wins list
Denny Hamlin	29	3	Tie Dale Jarrett for 24th on all-time MENCS wins list
Ryan Newman	51	3	To tie Bill Elliott for eighth on the all-time MENCS poles list
Jimmie Johnson	35	1	Tie Rusty Wallace and Rex White for 17th on all-time MENCS poles list
Kasey Kahne	27	1	Break the tie with Terry Labonte to become solely 25th on all-time MENCS poles list
Denny Hamlin	24	1	Break the tie with Alan Kulwicki to become solely 28th on all-time MENCS poles list
Kevin Harvick	48	1	Break the tie with Lee Petty and become solely 10th on all-time MENCS second-place finishes list
Jimmie Johnson	46	2	Tie Lee Petty and Kevin Harvick for 10th on all-time MENCS second-place finishes list
Kyle Busch	36	1	Tie Bobby Isaac and Ned Jarrett for 17th on all-time MENCS second-place finishes list
Matt Kenseth	29	1	Tie Ricky Rudd for 25th on all-time MENCS second-place finishes list
Matt Kenseth	172	3	Tie Bill Elliott for 19th on all-time MENCS top-five finishes list
Dale Earnhardt Jr	148	2	To become the 23rd driver to post 150th MENCS top-five finishes
Jimmie Johnson	330	2	Tie Lee Petty for 12th on the MENCS all-time top-10 finishes list
Matt Kenseth	310	1	Tie Buddy Baker for 16th on the MENCS all-time top-10 finishes list
Kurt Busch	8,862	138	To become 20th MENCS driver all-time to lead 9,000 or more laps
Brad Keselowski	4,855	145	To become 39th MENCS driver all-time to lead 5,000 or more laps
Ryan Newman	4,705	295	To become 39th MENCS driver all-time to lead 5,000 or more laps
Track Specific Milestones
Drivers	Has	Needs	Milestones
Matt Kenseth	3	1	Tie Jimmie Johnson for the series-most wins at LVMS
Brad Keselowski	2	1	Tie Matt Kenseth for the second-most wins at LVMS in the series
Kurt Busch	2	1	Tie Kasey Kahne for the series-most poles at LVMS
Kyle Busch	2	1	Tie Kasey Kahne for the series-most poles at LVMS
Jimmie Johnson	576	24	To become first driver to lead over 600 laps at LVMS in their MENCS career
Matt Kenseth	526	74	To become first driver to lead over 600 laps at LVMS in their MENCS career

DRIVERS OUTSIDE THE TOP 30 IN POINTS

30th	David Ragan	27 Pts
Pts. Pos.	Drivers	Points	Pts. Back from 30th Position
31	Daniel Suarez	25	-2
32	Jimmie Johnson	24	-3
33	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	20	-7
34	Corey LaJoie	16	-11
35	Chris Buescher	15	-12
36	Jeffrey Earnhardt	15	-12
37	Reed Sorenson	6	-21
38	D J Kennington	1	-26
39	Derrike Cope	1	-26
40	Gray Gaulding	1	-26
41	Cody Ware	1	-26

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

Las Vegas Winners List Since 1998:

Date	Winners	Crew Chiefs
3/6/2016	Brad Keselowski	Paul Wolfe
3/8/2015	Kevin Harvick	Rodney Childers
3/9/2014	Brad Keselowski	Paul Wolfe
3/10/2013	Matt Kenseth	Jason Ratcliff
3/11/2012	Tony Stewart	Steve Addington
3/6/2011	Carl Edwards	Bob Osborne
2/28/2010	Jimmie Johnson	Chad Knaus
3/1/2009	Kyle Busch	Steve Addington
3/2/2008	Carl Edwards	Bob Osborne
3/11/2007	Jimmie Johnson	Chad Knaus
3/12/2006	Jimmie Johnson	Darian Grubb
3/13/2005	Jimmie Johnson	Chad Knaus
3/7/2004	Matt Kenseth	Robbie Reiser
3/2/2003	Matt Kenseth	Robbie Reiser
3/3/2002	Sterling Marlin	Lee McCall
3/4/2001	Jeff Gordon	Robbie Loomis
3/5/2000	Jeff Burton	Frank Stoddard Jr
3/7/1999	Jeff Burton	Frank Stoddard Jr
3/1/1998	Mark Martin	Jimmy Fennig

2017 Playoff Grid Outlook
Pos.	Drivers	Points	Wins	Playoff Points
1	Kurt Busch	86	1	5
2	Brad Keselowski	84	1	5
3	Kevin Harvick	90	0	3
4	Chase Elliott	82	0	0
5	Joey Logano	80	0	0
6	Kyle Larson	79	0	0
7	Martin Truex Jr.	67	0	0
8	Ryan Blaney	63	0	0
9	Kasey Kahne	63	0	0
10	Trevor Bayne	58	0	0
11	AJ Allmendinger	50	0	0
12	Jamie McMurray	49	0	0
13	Aric Almirola	47	0	0
14	Clint Bowyer	46	0	0
15	Paul Menard	44	0	0
16	Matt Kenseth	41	0	0
Outside Looking In
17	Cole Whitt	38	0	0
18	Matt Dibenedetto	37	0	0
19	Denny Hamlin	37	0	0
20	Ryan Newman	37	0	0
21	Landon Cassill	36	0	0
22	Danica Patrick	36	0	0
23	Austin Dillon	35	0	0
24	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	34	0	0
25	Kyle Busch	32	0	1
26	Ty Dillon	31	0	0
27	Michael McDowell	30	0	0
28	Michael Waltrip	29	0	0
29	Erik Jones	27	0	0
30	David Ragan	27	0	0
	Green = Locked into the Playoffs, provided they attempt to qualify for the remaining regular season races and are in the top 30 in points
	Yellow = Have a win, inside the current Playoff Grid's top 16 - Currently in the Playoffs, not locked in
	Orange = No wins, Inside the current Playoff Grid's top 16 - Currently in the Playoffs, not locked in
	Red = Inside the current top 30 in points, outside of the Playoff cutoff