What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas? Let’s hope not, because once again, Vegas was great racing.
Where weekend before where it was all rain, all day — Las Vegas was far from rainy. It was very much a typical race weekend.
Qualifying was Friday, as usual. The Cup drivers and fans got their first taste of the new way of qualifying (that is if you haven’t been watching Truck or Nationwide qualifying).
The top 35 in owner’s points qualified first and then all those who weren’t in the top 35 qualified at the end together. It makes it more fair for the teams who may or may not make it in, they say.
I agree with this. I think it gives all the “go or go-home” cars the same advantage (or disadvantage) — but that’s just my opinion.
During the first practice session, which took place a few hours before qualifying, a few cars hit the wall. Most of the cars were not damaged enough that the only choice was to go the back up car.
Saturday, however, was just a tad bit different. A few cars were hitting the wall again, but not as many as the day before. One car hit the wall hard enough and had enough damage that the back up car was the only option — Clint Bowyer in the No. 07 Jack Daniels Chevrolet. (He’d have to start at the back of the pack Sunday.)
The Nationwide race was, let’s say, a possible clue as to how the Cup race would go the next day. The race was filled with cautions — a new record of 13 for Las Vegas — and several drivers, mostly big names, would end up in the wall with DNFs (did not finish).
The front runner to win the race was, of course, Tony Stewart. He had won the first two Nationwide races and was dominant at the beginning of the race. That was until David Reutimann, No. 99 Aaron’s Toyota, got into him and sent both of them spinning into the wall.
Also, wrecking were the dominant cars of Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards (with accidental help from the eventual race winner, Mark Martin). (Edwards finished on the lead lap.) Jeff Burton’s No. 29 Holiday Inn Express Chevrolet engine blew before the conclusion of the race.
Martin, driving the JR Motorsports’ No. 5 Delphi Chevrolet, for the first of five times this season (I believe) won, extending his 47 all-time wins to 48 in the Nationwide series (formally Busch) — the most of any driver.
I think the Cup race Sunday proved to be just as eventful.
Just like the Nationwide race, the Cup race had a record setting amount of cautions — 11 (the previous record was 10). And, many of the favorites were out of commission by the end of the race.
The beginning of the race was dominated by pole winner, Kyle Busch, who faded back toward the middle of the race.
Busch’s teammate, Stewart, once again, got into the wall. This time it was due to a right front tire going down. Stewart also, needed a little bit of help getting out of the car and to the infield car center. He was a little sore and bruised, but OK.
Tires were not as much of an issue for the second half of the race as they were for the first. Most of the cautions that followed after Stewart’s tire issue (and Robby Gordon’s 30 laps later) were due to the cars getting loose or getting into a fellow driver.
The last tire issue caution was brought about by Kurt Busch on lap 256 with Carl Edwards out front. This now left 11 laps in the race, and once all the cautions laps were ran, there were only five green flag laps to go. The restart was single-file. Edwards, Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth all lined up behind each other.
Earnhardt Jr apparently jumped the restart and Kenseth and Gordon tried to get around him. When they did, and with the field so tight together, Gordon got into the back of Kenseth. Both cars went spinning. Gordon’s car, out of control, spins down the track and into the inside wall. His car stoped short from entering the opening of the infield — where many, many fans were located.
Although Gordon’s car looked horrible, Gordon got out of the car on his own and appeared to be ok. He did have slight pain in his chest, but after being checked out he, like Stewart, was OK. The only concern that he had was that there was an opening as opposed to a soft wall that should have been there.
(On Monday, track officials announced that they were going to look into the situation and attempt to fix the problem.)
The race restarted with three laps left — a green, white, checkered — a situation I like.
Edwards, still leading Earnhardt Jr pulled away at the drop of the flag and much like the weekend before (or Monday, Feb. 25) Edwards never looked back. He took the checked flag for the second time in a row, ninth in his career, and first time at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Edwards’ only problem was after post-race inspection. His No. 99 Dish Network Ford was missing the lid on the oil tank box. As of right now, NASCAR, has not announced the penalties, if any. What this could mean though, is that Edwards’ reign as leader of the points could be short-lived.
I have to say, for the third, no make that fourth, week in a row I have been pleased with the racing. The new car (CoT) or the drivers’ attitudes or whatever it may be is really helping the racing, thus far.
I also am enjoying it because, once again, my driver (still remaining nameless) has had a top 10 finish and has continued to maintain his top 10 points position. I just hope the momentum is consistent and not a fluke. I would much rather him be consistently good than consistently inconsistent.
Onward to Atlanta — the fastest race track on the circuit — my home track!
Don’t miss:
From Atlanta
- Sprint Cup qualifying, Friday at 6:30 p.m. on SPEED
- American Commercial Lines 200 (Craftsman truck race), Friday night at 8:30 on SPEED
- Nicorette 300 (Nationwide race), Saturday at 1:30 on ESPN2
- Kobalt Tools 500 (Sprint Cup race), Sunday at 1:30 p.m. on FOX
all times are eastern times
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