NASCAR
Stratta’s Six: Who Can Cash in Big with Las Vegas Win?
Sunday marks the first intermediate race of the NASCAR Cup Series season, from Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In week two of the West Coast Swing, who can score a major win and a Playoff berth? Even with the still-young 2023 season, a few drivers enter Vegas with some momentum. Here are some ones to watch out for in the Pennzoil 400.
Kyle Larson
The 2021 Pennzoil 400 winner, Las Vegas has proven to be one of Kyle Larson’s best tracks on the circuit. In 13 starts on the 1.5-mile oval, Larson has the one win, five top-fives, nine top-10s, and 251 laps led. Last fall’s trip to the desert ended a streak of three-straight Vegas races that saw Larson lead. Trying to defend his spring win a year ago, the 5 was a close runner-up to teammate Alex Bowman. After a disappointing day brought on by electrical issues in Auto Club, Larson hopes to return to familiar form in Las Vegas.
“Vegas is a track that I like,” Larson said. “It seems to be another one of those intermediate style tracks that suits my driving style because you can run different lanes. It has a lot of character with bumps and grip, so it’s been a place that I have enjoyed. I’ve led some laps, won a race and had a few other close shots. I look forward to going there again this weekend and hopefully getting another NASCAR Cup Series win.”
Larson’s lone Las Vegas victory kicked off his incredible 2021 season that ended with 10 wins and the Bill France Cup. If the 5 remains mistake-free this week, Young Money could cash in big again at Las Vegas.
Kyle Larson’s No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro on the grid ahead of the 65th Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19th. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Joey Logano
If one active driver has turned LVMS into a personal playground, it’s Joey Logano. The 22 has three career wins in Nevada, the 2019 and 2020 spring races and the Round of 8 Playoff event last fall. Alongside seven top-fives, 12 top-10s, and an 8.5 average start and finish in 18 starts, Vegas is statistically Logano’s best track on the circuit.
Las Vegas proved instrumental for Logano becoming the 2022 champion. By virtue of winning the all-important Round of 8 opener, the 22 team was solely focused on Phoenix perfection. Sporting a new look this weekend, Logano hopes that the Pennzoil car shines bright again in Las Vegas.
Joey Logano’s No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang on the grid ahead of the 65th Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19th. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Kyle Busch
If not for a poorly-timed caution last year, Kyle Busch was potentially in position for a hometown win. Despite 61 career victories, only one checkered flag for Busch has been at Las Vegas, coming all the way back in 2009. Since then, Rowdy has seen a best result of second on his home turf. However, Busch has finished no worse than sixth here since 2020. The time is appearing right for Rowdy to reign supreme again in his backyard.
“Vegas is a place that I always feel like I’m close, you know, but it sucks because it’s like close but no cigar,” Busch said. “It’s kind of frustrating with that just a little bit. I try to always run well there; do a good job and we have been able to do that. I just have been locked out of being able to win there. I feel like we had two wins there in the last two years that the finishes just turned into top-fives so that’s just a little frustrating. It’s nice to go to a track that you can run well and have confidence going into.”
“I don’t really put any extra emphasis on it to run well there. I’ve done that in years past and it’s always bit me because I’ve always tried too hard at the home track in order to win there and put too much emphasis on it that it gets me in trouble. So I just go in there and treat it like any other race just let the race kind of come to me. We work on the car and make it better throughout the day in order to be there at the end to be fast. I enjoy Vegas and it’s been a fun place over the years. I liked it a lot more when it was flatter but since it’s gotten some age on the banked track now it’s been pretty fun. You get to move around, and you can run all the way up to the wall and run that high line.”
As the most recent Cup Series winner, Busch seemingly enters his home track with all momentum possible. That momentum can only increase between now and Sunday, with Busch doing triple-duty between Trucks, Xfinity, and Cup. The two-time champion eyes a three race sweep at his home track, and has the confidence to leave no boxes unchecked this weekend.
Kyle Busch’s No. 8 3CHI Chevrolet camaro on the grid ahead of the 65th Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19th. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Denny Hamlin
In recent years at Las Vegas, few have been more stout than Denny Hamlin. The last five Vegas races have seen a win and four top-fives for the FedEx 11. The only blemish in this streak was last year’s Pennzoil 400, where Hamlin made a late shifting mistake. After finishing sixth in Auto Club, Hamlin is eyeing bigger peaks in Las Vegas.
“Las Vegas used to be a track that I really didn’t like,” Hamlin said. “I just didn’t run well there. Since I’ve been paired up with Chris Gabehart, we’ve been really fast there and been in contention a lot. It’s obviously a great town to visit regardless, but I really do enjoy the track now that we’ve had some success. Last year, I felt like we had a car capable of winning in the spring and I made a mistake that cost us. Then, we were able to come back and get a good finish in the fall, so I feel confident about our chances this weekend.”
After wrecking out of the Daytona 500, Hamlin was sixth a week ago in Fontana. Should the 11 stay clean this week, momentum may continue to trend upwards for Hamlin in Las Vegas.
Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 FedEx 50 Toyota Camry on the grid ahead of the 65th Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19th. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Ryan Blaney
Closely following Logano for much of Las Vegas’ Playoff race last fall was teammate Ryan Blaney. While the 12 did not close out that strong run with a good result, LVMS is one of Blaney’s best venues. In 13 starts, driver 12 has five top-fives, eight top-10s, and has led in seven-straight races. With his winless streak now approaching 50 races, Blaney aims for a return to victory lane.
Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 Menards/Blue Def Ford Mustang on the grid ahead of the 65th Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19th. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Martin Truex Jr
Two-time Las Vegas winner Martin Truex Jr. was within eyesight of a hat trick 12 months ago. At the time of the last caution, Truex was battling Kyle Busch for the lead. Overtime relegated the 19 to eighth at the finish, a microcosm of his unlucky 2022 season. Still riding high with winning confidence from the Clash, Truex wants a points win on the west coast.
“Vegas is a great track that’s wide and you can run all over,” Truex said. “We saw a lot of guys run high there last year just with the bumps. I feel like the car has evolved and we’ve gotten better at being able to get through the bumps and move around. I expect it to be a great race out in Vegas, I love going out there and it’s a great racetrack. That’s one race where we were in contention right to the very end with our Bass Pro Shops Camry and were fighting for the lead and eventually the caution came out and the strategy didn’t work out.”
“It’s an interesting place, it’s fast and high-speed and has tire falloff but, for whatever reason, it’s a place that has unique asphalt, and when the tires cool off you can fire off and run one or two fast laps. These days, with these cars, if you can get that clean air and get those two to three car lengths out front of guys that are on better tires behind you and guys in between you and the four-tire guys, you have a huge advantage for a few laps. It’s all about what the other guy does. You can be the only guy on two tires and you are a sitting duck, but if you have four to five guys behind you on two tires, you have a bit of a buffer and so it just depends on what goes on around you.”
Much like Blaney, Truex is also riding an almost year-and-a-half losing drought. Despite running well so far this season the 19 has yet to score a top 10. Expect Truex to be in contention late and perhaps battle for a breakthrough victory.
Martin Truex Jr’s No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry on the grid ahead of the 65th Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19th. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
With a superspeedway and a two-mile oval already in the books for 2023, the first intermediate race will be a true showing of contenders and pretenders. After 400 miles on Sunday, the early season picture will become clearer of who’s sitting pretty and who has work to be done. Coverage of the Pennzoil 400 kicks off Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Don’t miss a lap of action in this pivotal race, as Las Vegas Motor Speedway has been a pathway to recent championships.
Written by Peter Stratta
Be sure to follow us on Twitter
Be sure to follow the writer on Twitter
Photo Credit to Dylan Buell/Getty Images for NASCAR
