Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Kobalt Tools 400
By Richard Tix
NASCAR's trip to Atlanta Motor Speedway was interesting. The weekend started out with another qualifying/inspection mess and ended with Jimmie Johnson dominating the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500.
After the previous two races on Saturday (XFINITY and Trucks) Sunday brought us a bit more action. Now, I am not a fan that says every race has to be non stop action and I understand that we will have fuel mileage races from time to time. Also, drivers are not going to push the issue lap 150 of 300 because the key is to be position late in the race.
That being said, I do think a few races on the 2015 NASCAR Cup schedule could be cut down a bit. I think the stop at Atlanta every year could be cut down to a 400 and still be just as fun. With 400 miles fans will still get a race that is long enough and have enough strategy in it to keep them entertained for most of Sunday, but compared to a 500 we will just have less "Narwhal" commercials.
But, that's just my opinion so my rant will end there. With the competition caution on lap 25 and some big names with strong cars starting in the back it gave us a whole lot of movement in the early going (plus, add in the old track surface that lets people gain spots early on in runs).
The race was really broken up in three stages. The Joey Logano stage, the Kevin Harvick stage, and eventually ending in the Jimmie Johnson stage. Even with the race dragging on a bit over 500 miles it was still an interesting race.
Now, NASCAR is onto Las Vegas Motor Speedway where lately we have seen some pretty interesting Cup races. Will we again get a good race in 2015? If we do, check out who maybe towards the front or back in The Good, The Middle, and The Bad.
After the previous two races on Saturday (XFINITY and Trucks) Sunday brought us a bit more action. Now, I am not a fan that says every race has to be non stop action and I understand that we will have fuel mileage races from time to time. Also, drivers are not going to push the issue lap 150 of 300 because the key is to be position late in the race.
That being said, I do think a few races on the 2015 NASCAR Cup schedule could be cut down a bit. I think the stop at Atlanta every year could be cut down to a 400 and still be just as fun. With 400 miles fans will still get a race that is long enough and have enough strategy in it to keep them entertained for most of Sunday, but compared to a 500 we will just have less "Narwhal" commercials.
But, that's just my opinion so my rant will end there. With the competition caution on lap 25 and some big names with strong cars starting in the back it gave us a whole lot of movement in the early going (plus, add in the old track surface that lets people gain spots early on in runs).
The race was really broken up in three stages. The Joey Logano stage, the Kevin Harvick stage, and eventually ending in the Jimmie Johnson stage. Even with the race dragging on a bit over 500 miles it was still an interesting race.
Now, NASCAR is onto Las Vegas Motor Speedway where lately we have seen some pretty interesting Cup races. Will we again get a good race in 2015? If we do, check out who maybe towards the front or back in The Good, The Middle, and The Bad.
(A look back at recent driver results and where they place)
The Good
- Carl Edwards- Carl is currently on a four race streak of top 5 finishes including one win at LVMS. In his career 10 starts he has two wins, 5 top 5's, and 6 top 10's to go along with a 9.2 average finish (Best of any current driver. Tied with Jimmie Johnson).
- Jimmie Johnson- Speaking of JJ, he also is on a top 10 streak (three races). From 2005 to 2010 (6 races) JJ won 4 times, including three straight (05, 06, and 07).
- Joey Logano- The last few years JoLo has made a living at the beginning of the season between Auto Club and Las Vegas. Of the two, LV has been his less impressive track but I think he could be trending up. Last year he finished 4th and led 44 laps. In his 6 starts he has 2 top 10's and 4 top 15's.
- Extra Credit- Dale Earnhardt Jr (6 top 10's in his last 7)
The Middle
- Denny Hamlin- In DH's last five starts at LVMS he has only one top ten, but all five have been top 20's. In his first four starts at LVMS he has three top 10's and one finish outside the top 20. The one constant in those 9 starts? None of them have been top 5's, yet.
The Bad
- David Gilliland- In his 8 career starts at LVMS he only has 1 top 20 finish (14th in 2009). The more concerning stat is that he doesn't have a finish better that 28th in his last five starts here. Sorry David, but if you're in the top 12 in points you are fair game to this spot.
- Aric Almirola- Six career starts and no top 10's for Aric at LVMS. In that same time he has no top 15's and only one top 20, which is concerning for a driver with RPM. His first three career races here did all come with bad luck, but since then he has no excuses to not at least run around the top 15.
- Landon Cassill- Another small time driver in this spot. I like to keep it for the guys with big name team rides, or top 25 drivers, but Cassill's three starts have been rough here. Originally this spot was for Kurt Busch, FYI. Landon Cassill started his first two weeks out with last place finishes and now heads to a place where his three career finishes are 43rd, 36th, and 42nd. Rough might not even be a good enough word.
Track Stats
- In the last 6 races (since 2008) Vegas has not had a Multi-Time winner.
- In the last 7 races Ford has won three, Chevy Twice, and Toyota Twice.
- Ford has 8 total wins at Vegas. Leading Chevy (6), Toyota (2), and Dodge (1)
- Jimmie Johnson has the most track wins here with 4 (3 straight from 2005-07)
- Only one driver has won from the Pole in 17 races. Kyle Busch in 2009
- 17 Cup races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
- Dale Jarrett won the inaugural Pole. Mark Martin Won the inaugural race.
- Jimmie Johnson (4), Matt Kenseth (3), Jeff Burton (2), and Carl Edwards (2) are the only drivers to have multiple wins at LVMS. That's 11 wins of 17 races from only four drivers.
Las
Vegas Motor Speedway
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Race
|
Date
|
Cars
|
Winner
|
St
|
Car
|
1998-03
|
3/1/1998
|
43
|
Mark Martin
|
7
|
Ford
|
1999-03
|
3/7/1999
|
43
|
Jeff Burton
|
19
|
Ford
|
2000-03
|
3/5/2000
|
43
|
Jeff Burton
|
11
|
Ford
|
2001-03
|
3/4/2001
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
24
|
Chevrolet
|
2002-03
|
3/3/2002
|
43
|
Sterling Marlin
|
24
|
Dodge
|
2003-03
|
3/2/2003
|
43
|
Matt Kenseth
|
17
|
Ford
|
2004-03
|
3/7/2004
|
43
|
Matt Kenseth
|
25
|
Ford
|
2005-03
|
3/13/2005
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
9
|
Chevrolet
|
2006-03
|
3/12/2006
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
2007-03
|
3/11/2007
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
23
|
Chevrolet
|
2008-03
|
3/2/2008
|
43
|
Carl Edwards
|
2
|
Ford
|
2009-03
|
3/1/2009
|
43
|
Kyle Busch
|
1
|
Toyota
|
2010-03
|
2/28/2010
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
20
|
Chevrolet
|
2011-03
|
3/6/2011
|
43
|
Carl Edwards
|
3
|
Ford
|
2012-03
|
3/11/2012
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
7
|
Chevrolet
|
2013-03
|
3/10/2013
|
43
|
Matt Kenseth
|
18
|
Toyota
|
2014-03
|
3/9/2014
|
43
|
Brad Keselowski
|
2
|
Ford
|
2 comments:
I agree the race went on too long. I never want anyone to get hurt, but more cautions (debris on the track/spinouts etc.) would make it more interesting. I was shocked looking at the track. Is it safe and should it be repaved ?
I like when tracks have tire fall off, brings in the strategy of taking care of your tires. So, I am up in the air about repaving. Its just the nature of ATL to be a bit drawn out. That is fine, because no matter what we do (repave, shorten, etc) we will have some fuel mileage type races, but Sunday just seemed drawn out.
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