The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers will betting on a win this weekend in the Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The 1.5-mile track can give drivers and teams the opportunity to cash in and just as quickly it can cause them to go bust. The track has room for side-by-side racing at high speeds, but it also provides the potential for disaster when mistakes are made.
With the advent of segment racing we are seeing less nose-to-tail racing in the middle sections of the races. The drivers want to be the leader or at least in the top 10 at the end of the first two segments to gain those valuable playoff bonus points. However, that has also opened the door for catastrophe as the drivers race more aggressively at the end of each stage of the race. The risk is worth the reward if you ask drivers like current Cup Series Point leader Kevin Harvick.
We have also seen that pit road is a place where mistakes can be more costly than ever before. Last week there were 13 pit road speeding penalties that included one for Kevin Harvick that cost him the chance to win the race. Teams and drivers will have to hedge their gambles during pit stops to make sure they don’t lose to the house and not have a chance at claiming the jackpot at the end of the race.
The NASCAR race will be in “Sin City” where odds are a way of life. So, let’s look at what active drivers have those odds in their favor.
Top 10 Active NASCAR Cup Series Drivers at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
- Kevin Harvick – 99.6
- Matt Kenseth – 96.9
- Joey Logano – 94.8
- Kasey Kahne – 89.1
- Brad Keselowski – 86.6
- Martin Truex Jr. – 85.7
- Ryan Blaney – 83.0
- Chase Elliott – 82.2
- Kurt Busch – 81.9
- Kyle Larson – 77.4
NOTE: Based on last 12 races (2005-2016) at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Last week in Atlanta Brad Keselowski was able to overcome a mistake and be there to take advantage of the door Kevin Harvick opened with his late race mistake to claim the victory. Brad won this race last season and could make it back-to-back wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and in the 2017 NASCAR season if he plays his cards right this week.
Kevin won this race two years ago and after last week’s mistake you can bet he will be looking for redemption this week.
Jimmie Johnson has the most wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway among all drivers with a total of four. He is trying to score his first win of the 2017 season in defense of his 2016 NASCAR Cup Series Championship.
Matt Kenseth has three wins in Las Vegas and you can bet that he will be doing everything he can to bring his total to a tie with Jimmie.
Kyle Busch is the only other active driver to have a win at the track with his single win that came in 2009.
The remaining drivers in the field will be the Wild Cards as they try to score that all important win to get in the NASCAR Playoffs at the end of the season. Their gambles could pay off or could not only take them out of the race, but also take others out in the process.
We will all see what bets are made, who is dealt the best hand for the race and what driver goes all-in at the end to score the win in the Kobalt 400 live from Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sunday. March 12th starting at 2:30 PM central time (3:30 PM eastern time) for 267 laps of racing (400.5 miles).
By: Buck Stevens
