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Everything you need to know about Sunday’s 12th round opening race and the 30th NASCAR Cup Series point-paying event of the 2021 season.
Where: Las Vegas, Nevada
Green Flag: 7:19 p.m. ET
Grand Marshal: Dana White, UFC President
TV / Radio: NBCSN / NBC Sports App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Forecast: Sunny, with a high near 93 degrees. South-southeast wind 5-9 mph, according to NOAA.gov
Race distance: 267 laps, 400.5 miles
Stages: 80 | 160 | 267
Pit road speed: 45 mph
Warning car speed: 55 mph
Las Vegas 101: Get the full facts
Starting grid: See the full grid
Pit lane assignments: See who is using where pit lanes | Expert breaks box selection
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Five to see
Here are five big storylines we’ll follow on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
1. The start of the Round of 12 sets the stage for the rest of the playoffs, particularly with a trip to Talladega Superspeedway coming up in a week’s time. With a bad result in Las Vegas, any of the playoff drivers can be on the elimination line – even the favorites. Whichever driver wins this race has the luxury of knowing that they are only one lap away from fighting for a championship in Phoenix. Based on the story on the track, Team Penske drivers Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney could have an advantage. Since 2014, drivers with the organization have finished in the top 10 in 86% of races (25 out of 29) and managed to win five of the last 11. The usual favorites, viz Kyle Larson, will probably have their say. But don’t sleep on Penske’s horses trying to sneak back into the title hunt.
2. Is that? Kevin Harvick vs. Chase Elliott Saga over? Or is it just getting started? Only time can tell. After a run-in at the end of the race led to an argument in the pit lane, the two title contenders could be careful on the track this weekend in Las Vegas. Neither driver can really afford to lose valuable points in the playoffs at this point, with Elliott in sixth and Harvick in twelfth below the elimination line. But if tensions boom again this weekend, we could see someone roll the dice. Prepare your popcorn.
3. Has Hendrick Motorsports regained playoff momentum? After Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. broke out in the opening round with victories on two of the three tracks, the questions came up with the HMS group. Alex Bowman and William Byron fought valiantly for elimination in the Bristol Night Race, each in impressive ways. Now the focus is again on a 1.5 mile, a super speedway and a street course. Each track should prove beneficial to the bowties at HMS, led by the front runner Kyle Larson. All eight drivers from both organizations compete in the round of the last 12. Will a team with just eight places leave Las Vegas with a clear lead in the next round?
4. All but one Las Vegas race since 2014 has been won by a driver who is currently in the round of 16. Kurt Busch – who was eliminated in the round of 16 this year – shocked the field with an unlikely victory in front of his home crowd last season. Behind him? Matt DiBenedetto, who completely missed this year’s playoffs, finished second. A non-playoff winner robs a playoff driver the chance to advance to the next round, which means a more difficult challenge for drivers near the elimination line to lead the way. Erik Jones was the highest-finishing non-playoff driver in the March race. He finished 10th. Keep an eye out for the underdogs who are still battling for track trophies and momentum for next season.
5. After a roller coaster opening round to the NASCAR playoffs – finishing fourth on Richmond Raceway sandwiched between two placements of 25 or worse – the question must be asked. to be allowed to Chase Elliott repeat as Cup Series champions this season? He is currently in sixth place in the round of 16, eight points above the elimination line. The concern is that we are heading down one of its worst paths. He has finished 13th or worse three times in a row and a trio of DNFs in nine career starts in Las Vegas. We haven’t seen back-to-back champions in the Premier Series since Jimmie Johnson reeled five straight times from 2006 to 2010. The good news for Elliott fans is that we’ve seen the # 9 Wheelman with his back to the wall several times. And there is a street circuit this lap. Full playoff schedule.
Race day staple food
Our biggest pieces of the week – covered from all angles for race day.
• Power ranking: Will Alex Bowman sneak through the round of 16? | Latest placements
• Preview of the color scheme: Sparkling plans for Sin City | See them here
• Playoff pulse: Round of 16 to Bristol | Full breakdown
• Debate: Steve Letarte Says Kyle Larson’s “Firepower” Will Do Denny Hamlin Best | Hear his case
• Bladder clock: Kevin Harvick Fired – With Work To Do | Take a look at the division of bubbles
• Fantasy fast lane: A Ryan Blaney bonanza in Las Vegas? | Top plays, sleeper
• Analysis: Round of 12 track-by-track breakdown | See it here
Take part in the action
Do you think you know NASCAR? Put your courage to the test with Gaming, Fantasy.
• What are the chances ?: Las Vegas betting odds | See them here
• NASCAR betting: Effects of Brad Keselowski’s departure | Continue reading
• Sports betting 101: Valuation on the betting market | Watch and learn how
• Talking playoffs: This is how the Fantasy Live game works for the postseason | Continue reading
• On the grid: Make Your Playoff Grid ™ Challenge Picks Before Las Vegas | Choose now
• No risk, great reward: Win cash prizes with the free Jackpot Races app | Hit the jackpot
• Play it LIVE: Full Guide to NASCAR Fantasy Live Game 2021 | Get the FAQ
Memories from Las Vegas
Before the Cup Series takes place in Las Vegas for the second time this season, take a look back at some important track history.
• All-time winners: Las Vegas Motor Speedway | See the list
• Top 10: Guided laps of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway | Who led the most?
• Do you remember as: Kyle Busch and Jeff Burton make a show for the ages | Watch the 2007 Las Vegas Xfinity Series rerun
• Last year: Kurt Busch is doing a show for the hometown audience | Full race review
• Unforgettable moments in Las Vegas: Dale Earnhardt Jr. runs out of fuel | Relive the moments
Brief information
Powerful, race-relevant statistics, presented by the experts at Racing Insights.
• Four drivers have made it into the top 10 in all three playoff races so far: Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Larson and Kevin Harvick.
• Kyle Larson‘s playoff points are more than the second and third combined.
• Every driver for Team Penske finished in the top 10 at the Las Vegas race in March.
• Matt DiBenedetto has finished second in two of the last three races in Las Vegas.
• The Las Vegas Stage 2 winner has won six of the last eight races with stages.
Catch the pack
Read all of the headlines from the week leading up to the Sunday race.
• To the moon: NASCAR launches on Discord | Join now
• Fine for five: Five teams hit Bristol with violations | Criminal report
• Happy, hardly: Kevin Harvick maintains his lead over his long list of rivals | Continue reading
• Directly at home: Crew chief Rodney Childers will stay with SHR | “for the years to come” More details
• luck or skill: Joey Logano explains why he believes luck comes into play in the round of 12 |Hear why
• Two are in tandem: William Byron benefits from his relationship with crew chief Randy Fugle | Continue reading
• Body: New body styles presented for season 22 of the Camping World Truck Series | Learn more about the changes
• Unfinished business: Brad Keselowski still in the cover picture on Team Penske | Continue reading
• Back in Charlotte: AJ Allmendinger will contest the Cup Series competition in the Charlotte Roval | Continue reading
• Root: Peyton Sellers Wins National Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Championship | See how
Say what?
Notable quotes from the stars of the sport are going into the race on Sunday.
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
“Las Vegas was amazing for us. We had a great run last fall and got shuffled on a restart and didn’t make it into the top 10, but otherwise we’ve been a solid competitor year after year. I think we finished second there in the spring and we seem to be able to do it there, so I’m hoping for big things. Of course we need a strong performance for this lap and the races in it. It’s a tough lap and I think we’re going to have a great chance to do just that. ”- Brad Keselowski, No. 2 Team Penske Ford driver
“This is the track where you can control your own destiny the most, so it’s the one that needs to be valued the most. If you do a good job as a driver and your car is fast and the team does its job, you can get your best result. The other two tracks are more likely to embed you in someone else’s problems. I’m sure the race will be the most nervous in the entire 12-car playoff field, hoping they’ll do a good job because after that there is just no handicap. ”- Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
“The round of 16 starts for me with a great race track. Vegas is a place I’ve always run well and I look forward to going there. It will be nice to have a good run in Vegas that leads into the unknown, Talladega. ”- Christopher Bell, driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
