The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series is heading to Las Vegas Motor Speedway this week for the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube. Who will gamble and shoot craps and who will claim the jackpot win?
So far we’ve seen Chevy drivers getting used to the new Camaro ZL1 being raced by the teams. We’ve seen teams getting used to uniform air guns and just five crew members over the wall during pit stops. We’ve seen one of the next generation of drivers win a race and a veteran driver win a race. What will we see in the third race of the 2018 NASCAR season?
Here’s a look at the facts for the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the Pennzoil 400 race.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Data
Season Race #: 3 of 36 (03-04-18)
Track Size: 1.5-miles
Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 20 degrees
Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 20 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 9 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 9 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 2,275 feet
Backstretch Length: 1,572 feet
Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube
Race Length: 267 laps / 400.5 Kilometers
Stage 1 & 2 Length: 80 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 107 laps
Here are the top drivers at the track based on their results at the track…
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Jimmie Johnson…………………… 112.0
Kyle Busch…………………………. 102.9
Chase Elliott…………………………. 99.3
Kevin Harvick……………………….. 96.8
Joey Logano…………………………. 96.3
Brad Keselowski……………………. 91.2
Martin Truex Jr……………………… 90.9
Erik Jones……………………………. 90.5
Ryan Blaney…………………………. 89.0
Kasey Kahne………………………… 88.3
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2017 races (13 total) among active drivers at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
As is the case at many tracks, Jimmie Johnson is the active driver in NASCAR’s top division with the most wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway claiming four checkered flags during his career.
Brad Keselowski is the only other active driver with multiple wins at the track having claimed two Las Vegas victories.
Last year’s winner of this race Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch and last week’s winner in Atlanta Kevin Harvick have all scored just a single win at Las Vegas.
Which teams will start to show improvement this week with the new guidelines for pit stops? Which drivers will show improvement in driving the cars that are harder to handle due to no ride height and smaller spoilers to create less down force? Will the top line against the wall be the faster grove or will painting the yellow line at the bottom of the track be the preferred route to get around the track faster like last week? Who will gamble by going “all-in” and who will play it conservative to just have a good day?
These and many more questions will be answered when the green flag waives to start the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube Sunday, March 4th starting at 2:30 PM central time (3:30 eastern time) at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
By: Buck Stevens
