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Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Week 3 Preview: Las Vegas

Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Kolbalt 400


By Richard Tix

NASCAR's third race of the 2014 season will be in Las Vegas. With drivers seeing how much pressure is eased once you get a win in 2014 how many of them will be willing to gamble in sin city?

So far, we have had some good racing to start the year. The new race package that NASCAR released this year has seemed to be a step up from last year so far. The end of Phoenix had some exciting moments but most of those came from 2nd on back, which is all Kevin Harvicks fault for being so good.

Last year Matt Kenseth got his first win of many on the season at Las Vegas. After Kevin Harvick did that just last week at Phoenix with his new team SHR, maybe he will continue that success onto Vegas.

Take a look back at NASCAR Behind the Wall's 2013 Preview and Review from Las Vegas. Also, check out the most recent Power Rankings after Phoenix.

(The Good, Middle, and Bad is not a prediction on how drivers will do, but rather an idea of how they have done in the past/recent races)

The Good:
  • Carl Edwards- In the last 5 races at Las Vegas Carl has the best Average finish (8.0) of current drivers. He has a win and 3 top 5's in that same stretch. His last 3 finishes go a little like this, 5th, 5th, and 1st. 
  • Tony Stewart- Even though Smoke is know for his summer run, he has been good at Vegas in his last 5. He is second only to Carl in Average finish and has a win, 2 top 5's, and 3 top 10's (his last finish was 11th in 2013). 
  • Jimmie Johnson- JJ also has a win here in his last 5, in fact the last five winner have all been different drivers (no multi-time winner). 
The Middle:
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr- Well Jr could be considered for the good category but we only choose 3 here at NASCAR Behind the Wall. So to get his stats mentioned, he ended up here in the middle. In the last 5 races here he is the only driver with 4 top 10's, but at the same time he doesn't have a single top 5. He is on a great start to the 2014 season so maybe he will break the top 5 this time around.
The Bad:
  • Kurt Busch- Outlaw has one top 10 in his last 5 starts in Vegas, so it seems his gambling ways havent worked out here. Actually his last top 5 was in 2005 and he only has 3 career top 10's in 13 races. We wont mention how much he has struggled to start 2014, he needs this race.
  • Brad Keselowski- He may have turned a corner in 2013 at Vegas as he won the Pole and finished 3rd but before that his finishes were 32nd, 26th, 26th, and 38th. After a hot start to 2014 look for something closer to that 3rd place finish to get out of this category.
  • Aric Almirola- He is new to Vegas (only 4 starts) but he hasn't faired too well here. His finishes (from first start to last) are 39th, 43rd, 24th, and 16th are nothing to look at. However, he has been getting better each time, maybe he can turn it around here in 2014?
Track Stats:
  • In the last 5 races (since 2008) Vegas has not had a Multi-Time winner.
  • In the last 6 races Ford has won twice, Chevy Twice, and Toyota Twice. 
  • Ford has 7 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)
  • The newest "retired" driver, Mark Martin was the first Cup winner here in 1998
  • Only one driver has won from the Pole in 16 races. Kyle Busch in 2009
  • 16 Cup races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
  • Dale Jarrett won the inaugural Pole
  • More Stat's Via NASCAR.com

More on Las Vegas:

Who will run up front? Who's going to win? Let me know what you think on Twitter! Anyone who lets me know on Twitter who is going to win and gets it right will find a spot on the Pit Road Review after Las Vegas!

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