The NASCAR Cup Series is heading to Las Vegas Motor Speedway this Sunday to go “all-in” for the win in the Pennzoil 400.
This is the third race of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Season. The first was won by a rookie when Austin Cindric won the Daytona 500. The second was won by the defending NASCAR Cup Series Champion when Kyle Larson won the Wise Power 400 last Sunday.
The new next gen car is proving to be able everything the drivers and NASCAR wanted. While there are a few “bugs” that they are working out, the cars appear to be providing a closer playing field between large and small race teams. They also seem to be putting performance in the drivers’ hands and abilities.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a track that should continue to provide similar performance from the car as in the first two weeks. Here are the statistics for the track and race that drivers will be facing this weekend.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Data
Track Size: 1.5-miles
Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 20 degrees
Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 20 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 9 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 9 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 2,275 feet
Backstretch Length: 1,572 feet
Pennzoil 400 Race Data
Season Race #: 3 of 36 (03-06-22)
Race Length: 267 laps (400.5 miles)
Stage 1 Length: 80 laps
Stage 2 Length: 85 laps
Final Stage Length: 102 laps
Here are the 10 active drivers with the best overall driver rating at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Kevin Harvick – 102.5
Joey Logano – 102.5
Kyle Busch – 101.1
Chase Elliott – 100.2
Kyle Larson – 100.1
Ryan Blaney – 98.7
Martin Truex Jr. – 98.3
Brad Keselowski – 96.0
Greg Biffle – 93.0
Denny Hamlin – 89.3
Here are the active drivers that have won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway during their careers in NASCAR’s top division.
Brad Keselowski – 3 Wins (2018, 2016, 2014)
Joey Logano – 2 Wins (2020, 2019)
Kevin Harvick – 2 Wins (2018, 2015)
Martin Truex Jr. – 2 Wins (2019, 2017)
Denny Hamlin – 1 Win (2021 fall race)
Kyle Larson – 1 Win (2021 spring race)
Kurt Busch – 1 Win (2020)
Kyle Busch – 1 Win (2009)
You could compare the race to a game of Texas Hold ‘Em. Where the cars qualify will be like the initial pair of “Hole Cards” dealt to all players face down. “The Flop” (three community cards dealt face up in the middle of the table) will be performance and adjustments during stage one of the race. “The Turn” (the fourth face up community card placed in the center of the table) will be performance and adjustments during stage two of the race. “The River” (the final face up community card placed in the center of the table) will be performance in the third and final round.
Any bluffing, betting and raising will take place in the pits during the final stage and final pit stops of the race. Going “all-in” will only be able to be done by the driver as the race nears the end. That would be done by the driver or drivers that will put their car on the edge to get out front and win.
Which driver cashes in with a win in the Pennzoil 400 will be revealed when the green flag waives to start the race Sunday, March 6th starting at 2:30 p.m. central time (3:30 p.m. eastern time) at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
By: Buck Stevens
