Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Kevin Harvick dominates at Las Vegas

2018 NASCAR Season, , , , Leave a comment

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Photo by: Matt Sullivan

Another driver hit a milestone during the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon. Kevin Harvick parked it in victory lane for his 100th career victory across the national series, leading 214 of 267 laps for back-to-back wins this season.

Like Martin Truex Jr. did one year ago, Harvick won Stage 1 and Stage 2 before taking the checkered by almost three seconds to Kyle Busch.

“I think as you look back and you look at all the different wins and the wins that we have had here and at KHI and Richard Childress Racing and Junior Motorsports. All the different vehicles I have been fortunate to drive, and there have been a lot of good ones,” Harvick said. “I know how hard it is to get to Victory Lane and to know we have been there 100 times is something I almost can’t fathom.”

The Stewart-Haas Racing driver gained the series points standing lead after his dominance at the 1.5-mile track, taking over from Joey Logano by three points and Ryan Blaney, who sits third, by four.

Kyle Larson finished third, coming off his Xfinity win on Saturday, while Truex and Blaney rounded out the top-5.

Blaney’s teammates finished behind him, with Brad Keselowski finishing sixth and Logano earning seventh place. Logano led 25 laps in the second half of the race.

Erik Jones, Paul Menard, and Aric Almirola rounded out the top-10.

Chase Elliott and Kurt Busch finished 34th and 35th, respectively, after the No. 41 Ford got loose on Lap 183. Busch came up the track and into Elliott, who had nowhere else to go.

Jimmie Johnson came from behind to finish 12th after starting in the back due to failing inspection three times before the start of the race. Johnson went two laps down early in the race, but recovered for his first top-15 of the season.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series head to ISM Raceway on Sunday, March 11, 2018.

Ryan Newman scored the victory over Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch in 2017. Can the RCR driver repeat?

Will Harvick win three straight or will someone else earn their first victory of the season? Find out March 11th at 3:30 p.m ET on FOX.

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Martin Truex Jr. victorious in Las Vegas

2017 NASCAR Season, , , , , , Leave a comment
NASCAR Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Kobalt 400

Photo by: Jared C. Tilton

Martin Truex Jr. and Brad Keselowski controlled much of the Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The two combined for 239 laps led, but when Keselowski decelerated for a potential problem, the win was Truex’s for the taking.

Truex captured the win, but it was overshadowed by a post-race scuffle on pit road. After exiting his vehicle, 2015 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch went straight to the No. 22 pit stall of Joey Logano.

It is unclear if Logano was struck by the Joe Gibbs Racing driver, but after NASCAR officials broke up the exchange Busch emerged with blood on his forehead.

Logano and Busch made slight contact in the final two laps after dodging an off the pace Keselowski. Nevertheless, the contact sent the No. 18 sliding toward the entrance of pit lane. Busch avoided further damage and finished 22nd because of the incident.

“I got dumped,” Busch said afterward, “Flat-out just drove straight into the corner and wrecked us. That’s how Joey races, so he’s gonna get it.”

Logano didn’t seem phased by Busch’s reaction.

“We were just racing hard there at the end,” Logano said, “I was underneath him on the backstretch and he tried to crash me into the corner getting underneath Brad (Keselowski) there and at that point I was just trying get through the corner. I was sideways all the way through and got into him. Nothing intentional.”

“I’ve never had an issue with Kyle,” Logano continued. “Kyle and I have always raced really well together. We’ve never had an issue, but I guess that’s over.”

If Busch sticks to his word, what happens in Vegas may not stay in Vegas.

There was much to be celebrated for however, as Truex became the first driver to claim all three stages in a single event.

“We definitely had our share of races where we’ve dominated and gave one away, and it looked like today was going to be another one of those,” Truex said, “The runs just didn’t work out the way we needed them. We were struggling on the really long runs.”

The struggles turned into triumphant in the remaining laps for Truex, who earned his eight career Cup Series victory.

Truex may not have received all the glory despite a dominating performance, but he will take it for what it’s worth. After all, he knows all too well what it feels like to come short of reaching Victory Lane.

“It feels good to come out on the good end for once.”