The Round of 12 begins for the NASCAR Playoffs this week. Which drivers will go all-in for the win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the South Point 400?
If a NASCAR driver currently in championship contention in the post-season wins, that driver gets an automatic advance to the next round in the Playoffs. Las Vegas might be an easier place to get that win in this round since the other two races are at Talladega and on the ROVAL in Charlotte. Below are the 12 drivers that made it to the second round of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs this year. You can also see how they are ranked to start the round.
Don’t misunderstand my earlier statement that this weekend’s race might be an easier place to win than the next two weeks. That does not mean that winning in Las Vegas is easy. In fact, there are only seven active drivers that have won at Las Vegas in a Cup Series race.
Here is a look at the track and race data for this weekend’s race.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Data
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
South Point 400 Data
Season Race #: 30 of 36 (09-27-20)
Playoff Race #: 4 of 10
Race Length: 267 laps (400.5 miles)
Stage 1 & 2 Length: 80 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 107 laps
This is a look at the top overall active Cup Series drivers at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Top 10 Las Vegas Driver Ratings
Kevin Harvick……………………. 105.2
Joey Logano……………………… 104.8
Jimmie Johnson………………….. 102.8
Kyle Busch………………………… 100.4
Martin Truex Jr.………………….. 97.3
Chase Elliott………………………. 97.2
Matt Kenseth……………………….. 96.3
Brad Keselowski………………… 95.4
Ryan Blaney………………………… 94.8
Kurt Busch…………………………. 82.2
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2020 races (18 total) among active drivers at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Note: Driver names in red are currently in championship contention in Playoffs.
Here are the seven active NASCAR Cup Series drivers who have won at least one race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Active Cup Series Drivers with Las Vegas Win(s)
Jimmie Johnson – 4 Wins
Brad Keselowski – 3 Wins
Matt Kenseth – 3 Wins
Kevin Harvick – 2 Wins
Joey Logano – 2 Wins
Martin Truex Jr. – 2 Wins
Kyle Busch – 1 Win
Note: Driver names in red are currently in championship contention in Playoffs.
There are 12 drivers that want the win this weekend so they won’t have to worry about what could happen in the next two races. Will one of them get that Golden Ticket?
Kyle Busch has some added motivation for winning this weekend among the championship contenders. Las Vegas is his “home track” and he is the defending NASCAR Cup Series Champion and has yet to win this season. Will he be able to end his frustration of not winning this year this weekend?
Jimmie Johnson has the most wins among active drivers. He did not make the post-season. He has not won a race in years. This is his last full-time season in the Cup Series. Could he get a win to end his Hall of Fame career this weekend?
The answers to those questions and more will come lap-by-lap Sunday, September 22nd starting at 6 P.M. central time (7 P.M. eastern time) in the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
By: Buck Stevens
