Las Vegas stacked the chips in favor of the house, but it was Bard Keselowski that went all-in with NASCAR to cash in with the win in the Kobalt 400 Sunday (3/6).

The day began with a slight delay in the start of the race (about 25 minutes) as light rain and high winds took over the track. However, the gusting winds of near 50 MPH also helped NASCAR dry the little bit of rain that fell to get the drivers in their cars and racing in the third Sprint Cup points event of the season. Later in the race a caution period would be extended by a few laps when the desert weather threw a light sandstorm at the track for a few minutes.

When the race got started it was pole sitter, and Las Vegas Motor Speedway home track racer, Kurt Busch that would take the lead and hold it for the first 30 laps. That is when the first of six caution periods would take place. This first yellow flag was a competition caution issued by NASCAR as a result of rain at the track the night before and early in the morning prior to the start of the race. During his first trip to his pits, Kurt would be one of many drivers during the race that would get caught speeding on pit row. On that first restart of the race Denny Hamlin would be the driver to lead the field to the green flag while Kurt would have to start back in the field as a penalty for his speed infraction.

There would be a total of 11 drivers lead the race with 20 lead changes throughout the Kobalt 400. Those race leaders would include Jimmie Johnson who managed to edge out Joey Logano by two laps for the most laps led bonus point as Jimmie was out front for 76 of the 267 lap race. However, those laps led would not include the most important one of the race.

With Kyle Busch leading the race and just six laps left it was Brad Keselowski that made the pass to go all-in for the win. Not only did he hold that lead, he raced forward to a somewhat comfortable lead to take the checkered flag. Joey Logano and Jimmie Johnson were able to advance in those final few laps to finish second and third respectively. Kyle Busch held on to end in the fourth position with Austin Dillon rounding out the top five. See the complete race results for the Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway here.

While he was not able to hold on for the win in Las Vegas, defending Sprint Cup Champion Kyle Busch was able to hold on at the top of the point standings. Jimmie Johnson moved up three spots to take over second in the standings. Kevin Harvick slipped a spot to third while Joey Logano jumped up three spots to fourth place. Kurt Busch moved up a spot to fifth place. See the complete NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings here.

While Brad’s win did not move him even into the top five in the points (he is in sixth place), it does put his name next to Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson’s as the three drivers this season with wins and therefore the only three drivers that are all but locked into the 2016 Chase. See the 2016 Chase Grid as it looks right now here.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers head to another desert track next week as they will race in the Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway Sunday, March 13th.

By: Buck Stevens