Scouting Report: Las Vegas
Don’t forget to check out my Las Vegas Fantasy Preview
Ten Drivers to watch at Las Vegas
- Jimmie Johnson – 4 career wins at Las Vegas.
- Carl Edwards – Last time the series visited an intermediate track he won.
- Kyle Busch – 2009 winner.
- Jeff Gordon – Led 219 laps last year.
- Matt Kenseth – When his engine functions properly he hasn’t finished lower than eighth since 2003.
- Mark Martin – Four top tens in the last five years.
- Kevin Harvick – Finished second last year.
- Greg Biffle – Five top tens in the last six races.
- Clint Bowyer – Finished 8th and 2nd the last two years.
- Jeff Burton – Bad lucks going to end soon and this is a good team.
Current Odds from the Spread.com: Jimmie Johnson 9/2, Kyle Busch 6/1, Jeff Gordon 7/1, Carl Edwards 8/1, Denny Hamlin 10/1
Last Years Race: Jeff Gordon absolutely dominated the race and led 82% of the laps. During the last caution Jeff Gordon took two tires and Jimmie Johnson took four. Johnson then made his move and took his fourth checkered flag at Las Vegas.
What’s important at Las Vegas: Practice, practice, practice. At Las Vegas if you pick a driver who struggled in practice then you’re in trouble. In last years race there was only seven cautions for 29 laps. One of them was for Sam Hornish Jr. and another was for a caution light malfunction. Don’t look for those elements to come into play. Since the race will be dictated by long runs it’s crucial you pick drivers who perform good in practice. It may not matter to the Pistons but it will matter in this race.
How important is qualifying at Las Vegas? Not that important, only five of thirteen races have been won by drivers who start in the top ten. Last years winner Jimmie Johnson started 20th, second place finisher Kevin Harvick started 34th and Jeff Gordon started second. This helps to further highlight that practice is what really counts at Vegas.
Las Vegas Fun Fact: In 2004 Kasey Kahne won his first pole and Kyle Busch made his first career start.
