NASCAR Power Rankings: Las Vegas Kobalt Tools 400
Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth rank surprisingly well on the fast track. Burton is one of four drivers that has started all 13 races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway along with Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin. With temperatures expected to be in the low 70s the track will be slicker than years past but there will plenty of grip for this years race. The following are the top ten NASCAR driver power rankings.
No.10 Carl Edwards
Carl Edwards is a former winner on this track and it suits his style. If Edwards nails down a solid qualifying run he will have a great opportunity to take home the World Championship belt that adorns the winners stomach after the race. Edwards has looked great in the first two races but an incident with Kyle Busch knocked him out of a good points day in Phoenix. Top five or better for Carl Edwards in the Kobalt Tools 400.
No.9 Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick has never won in Las Vegas but he has three top fives in 10 races and he leads NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers in green flag passes on this track. Expect a top ten finish at worst for Harvick.
No.8 Matt Kenseth
Matt Kenseth has two wins on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway but both occurred before the track was repaved and progressive banking was introduced. Kenseth will be finishing out of the top ten this weekend.
No.7 Mark Martin
Mark Martin won the first race ever held in Las Vegas in 1998 and has not made his way back into Victory Lane since. Martin does have six top five finishes and 10 top tens since his first victory and he loves the Las Vegas track. It doesn't hurt that Martin will be behind the wheel of a Hendrick Motorsports car. Count Martin in for a top five finish.
No.6 Tony Stewart
Las Vegas is on Tony Stewart's list of races he has not won. The list is short but he is a favorite to knock this one out this week. Stewart has four top fives and seven top tens in Las Vegas and this may be his best opportunity to win. Stewart will be behind the wheel of a Stewart Haas Chevy but make no mistake, there is a Hendrick Motorsports engine under the hood. Stewart will be contending for the lead in the last 20 laps.
No.5 Jeff Burton
Jeff Burton ranks in the top five for the NASCAR power rankings based on past accomplishments more than anything else. Burton has two wins in Las Vegas but both came on the flatter version of the track. Burton does have an average finish of 9.9 in his 13 races on the Las Vegas track. Burton also has finished in the top five on five occasions and in the top 10 eight times. Burton has an outside chance at a top five finish Sunday.
No.4 Greg Biffle
Greg Biffle ranks fourth in the NASCAR power rankings for Las Vegas but has never driven his car into Victory Lane at the track. Biffle has only made the top five once and he has finished in the top 10 five times. Biffle is a good driver for the fast mile and a half track. He isn't afraid to drive it in deep and hold the pedal down. This is why Biffle is always dangerous on this track in more ways than one.
No.3 Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch has an average running position of 7.6 on Las Vegas Motor Speedway but he has only visited Victory Lane once in his NASCAR Sprint Cup career. Kyle Busch has an average finish of 11.7 in Las Vegas and he ramps it up a notch when arrives in his home town. How much more can Busch ramp it up? Busch is also the NASCAR points leader entering Las Vegas which may affect his decision making late in the race.
No.2 Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson ranks number two behind his owner and teammate Jeff Gordon in the NASCAR power rankings. Johnson has won four of the last six races and has been tough to beat since the progressive banking has been added in Las Vegas. Johnson will finish in the top five but Gordon is the hot driver coming into Las Vegas.
No.1 Jeff Gordon
Last week's winner Jeff Gordon is the highest rated driver on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway as well. The beginning of the 2011 season can be a memorable one for Gordon if he is hitting on all cylinders for this race. Gordon lost to Johnson last year in this race and he would love to return the favor this year.
Gordon has only one win in his 13 starts in Las Vegas, six top five and seven top tens. His average finishing position on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway is 13.3 and in race his average running position the best among all drivers at 6.4. The Las Vegas Kobalt 400 will come down to a battle between last weeks combatants Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch. This week Kyle want it more.
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Statistical sources:
NASCAR Statistical Advance (NASCAR media relations)
Published by Todd Jacobs
Todd Jacobs is from Anaheim, California and resides in the city of Las Vegas. Todd worked for Orange Coast Magazine as News Editor in the 80s and recently began writing for several online sites including:... View profile
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- Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth rank surprisingly well on the fast Las Vegas track.
- Carl Edwards is a former winner at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and it suits his style.
- Matt Kenseth has two wins on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.