Thursday, March 3, 2011

Las Vegas Kobalt Tools 400 Chassis Selections

Note: Not all team press releases list the chassis being used 

Busch is using runner-up chassis from Charlotte this week
1. Kyle Busch: Started fifth and finished 15th in 2010; Credited with winning from the pole in 2009, but had to start at the rear of the field due to an engine change; Combined to lead 107 laps in 2008 and 2009; 9.0 average finish in three starts with Joe Gibbs Racing; Scored three top 10s with Hendrick Motorsports from 2005-2007; Tied for the second-best average finish (9.0) on the new Las Vegas configuration; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 286) that he finished second with at Charlotte last fall.

2. Kurt Busch: Has yet to post a top-15 finish in five starts with Penske Racing; Last of two top 10s came with Roush Racing in 2005; 4.0 average start in the three races with the COT including a pole last year; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 744) in the Kobalt tools 400.

3. Tony Stewart: Recorded first top 10 (seventh) in two track starts with Stewart-Haas last season; Scored six top 10s in previous 10 starts with Joe Gibbs Racing; Posted a 20.8 average finish in the four races on the track's new configuration; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 591) that he last finished fifth with at Indianapolis.

4. AJ Allmendinger: 29.0 average finish in two starts with Richard Petty Motorsports; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 736) in the Kobalt Tools 400.

5. Jeff Gordon: Led a race high 219 laps and finished third in 2010; Has finished sixth or better in five of his last six starts; Has combined to lead 366 laps in the last four races; 14.7 average finish in the three races with the COT.

1998 Vegas winner Mark Martin will be using a new chassis
6. Mark Martin: Winner of the inaugural race; Has finished in the top 10 in 10 of his 13 starts; Started eighth and finished fourth last year; All four of his starts (14.8 average finish) in a Chevrolet came on the track's new configuration; Finished 40th in 2009 in first track start with Hendrick Motorsports after the engine expired; Will debut a new chassis (No. 646) in the Kobalt Tools 400.

7. Bobby Labonte: Making first track start in a Toyota for JTG-Daugherty Racing; Finished fifth with Hall of Fame racing in 2009; 18.2 average finish in four starts on the track's new configuration; Scored four top 10s with Joe Gibbs Racing on old configuration.

8. Ryan Newman: 21.5 average finish in two track starts with Stewart-Haas Racing; Posted four top 10s in previous eight starts with Penske Racing; 16.2 average finish in the four races on the track's new configuration; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 531) that he last finished seventh with at Homestead-Miami.

9. Juan Pablo Montoya: Has yet to lead a lap or finish in the top 15 in four starts; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 1105) in the Kobalt Tools 400.

10. David Gilliland: 22.0 average finish in four starts; Finished 30th last season in first track start with Front Row Motorsports.

11. Paul Menard: 26.5 average finish in four starts; Best finish came last year with Richard Petty Motorsports in 17th; Will make track debut with Richard Childress Racing in a new car (chassis No. 328).

12. Carl Edwards: Winner of the 2008 race; Led 86 of his 91 career laps at LVMS en route to the win; Tied for the second-best average finish (9.0) on the new Las Vegas configuration; Fifth-best average finish (13.1) on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 732) in the Kobalt Tools 400.

Johnson using Charlotte chassis that finished third
13. Jimmie Johnson: Defending race winner; Win was fourth in nine starts; 13.8 average finish in four starts on the track's new configuration; Best average finish (9.6) on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 623) that he finished ninth with last fall at Texas. (3rd at Charlotte Too) 

14. Denny Hamlin: Finished 19th in last season; Ended a streak of three consecutive top 10s with a 22nd-place finish in 2009; 13.2 average finish in the four races on the track's new configuration; Seventh-best average finish (14.1) on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010.

15. Kasey Kahne: Two-time pole winner; Best finish came on the old Las Vegas configuration in second; Has led 14 laps and posted an average finish of 15.2 on new configuration; Finished ninth last year in a Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports; Will make track debut in a Toyota for Team Red Bull.

16. Martin Truex Jr.: Finished 20th last year in first track start with Michael Waltrip Racing; 19.8 average finish in the four races on the track's new configuration; Best finish came in 2007 with Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 12th.

17. Dale Earnhardt Jr.: 9.3 average finish in three starts with Hendrick Motorsports; 9.8 average finish in the four races on the track's new configuration; Will race the same car (chassis No. 617) that Jeff Gordon piloted to an 11th-place finish at Dover.

18. Bill Elliott: Has yet to make a start on the track's new configuration; Last start came in 2004 with Evernham Motorsports where he finished 20th.

19. Regan Smith: 24.7 average in three starts; Best finish came in 2009 in 19th.

20. Brad Keselowski: 32.0 average finish in two starts; Finished 26th last season in first track start with Penske Racing; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 745) in the Kobalt Tools 400.

Notable Drivers Outside the Top 20
Harvick & Bowyer both bringing strong cars to Vegas
Clint Bowyer: Coming off second consecutive top 10 with an eighth-place finish; 18.5 average finish in the four races on the track's new configuration; Will pilot the same car (chassis No. 324) that he last finished seventh with at Texas.

Kevin Harvick: Coming off third top five (second) in 10 starts; 11.2 average finish in the four races on the track's new configuration; Third-best average finish (12.0) on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 325) that he finished third with at Homestead-Miami.

Matt Kenseth: Two-time winner on old track configuration; Second in laps led with 447; 18.0 average finish and led 80 laps on the new track configuration; Will drive a new car (chassis No. 733) in the Kobalt Tools 400.

Robby Gordon: Has yet to post a top 10 in 11 starts; 26.5 average finish in the four races on the track's new configuration.

David Ragan: Only top 10 came in 2008 in seventh; 27.2 average finish in the four races on the track's new configuration; Finished 42nd in 2009 after an engine failure; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 730) in the Kobalt Tools 400.

McMurray brought new chassis this week
Jamie McMurray: Finished 34th last year in first start with Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing; Only top five (fourth) came with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2004; Posted a 14.7 average finish in three starts with Roush Fenway Racing on the track's new configuration; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 1102) in the Kobalt Tools 400.

Marcos Ambrose: 17.0 average finish in two starts with JTG-Daugherty Racing; Will make first track start in a Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports.

Greg Biffle: Coming off fifth top 10 in seven starts; Tied for the second-best average finish (9.0) on the new Las Vegas configuration; Third-best average finish (6.7) in the three races with the COT; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 706) that finished fourth at Phoenix last season.

Joey Logano: 9.5 average finish in two starts; Finished sixth last season; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 297) in the Kobalt Tools 400.

David Reutimann: Finished fourth in 2009 for first career top five in the Cup Series; 18.0 average finish in three starts.

Jeff Burton: Best track on the circuit based on 9.9 average finish in 13 starts; Won two races (1999, 2000) with Roush Racing; Last six starts have come with Richard Childress Racing; Best average finish (8.5) in the four races on the track's new configuration; Will pilot a new car (chassis No. 344) in the Kobalt Tools 400.

- compiled by Jeff Wackerlin, MotorRacingNetwork.com

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