Qualifying was rained out on Friday for both the Nationwide series and the Sprint Cup series, so both series lined up based on owner’s points. The rain stopped on Saturday long enough for the drivers to get in both scheduled Sprint Cup practice sessions and the full Nationwide race. Congratulations Sam Hornish on your second NASCAR Nationwide Series win!
Race Day dawns sunny and beautiful in Las Vegas (and in the Atlanta metro area), temperature in the mid 60’s. The FOX logo is now displayed all over the SpeedTV broadcast now that the Fox Sports One announcement has been made. Part of me hopes the change will result in an improvement in talent – no more Clueless Clark, Petty Kyle, Rubbish Rutledge Wood, and that Desperate Danielle Trotta.
Bradley K leads them to the green flag for 267 laps of racing. After an immediate blab attack by Larry McReynolds it’s time for me to tune in to the PRN broadcast on my laptop for a ‘McReynolds free zone’ (and ‘Michale Waltrip free zone’). Truly, I enjoy listening to Mike Joy and Darrell Waltrip, but I’ve heard entirely too much Larry McReynolds this weekend to tolerate anymore. By the end of practice yesterday afternoon I was yelling at the television as a result of him and his “I’ll need to dig into that” while they were discussing the speed measures in the cars and Steve Byrnes was relaying what Steve Letarte said about the objects.
Clint Bowyer challenges BK for the lead early, then gets out of the gas and proceeds to fall through the field. After an unscheduled pit stop, Clint is two laps down; less than 30 laps into the race. Kasey Kahne has easily claimed the lead.
57 laps into the race there are only 19 cars on the lead lap. Several cars have been busted for speeding on pit road including Kyle Busch and J.J. Yeley. Kyle has gotten back onto the lead lap after serving his penalty. Lots of loose cars and big track bar adjustments.
Caution lap 65 for debris. Looks like everybody is coming in though they’ve all recently completed green flag pit stops.
75 laps in Jimmie Johnson takes over the lead from Kasey Kahne who has led 59 laps.
117 laps in green flag pit stops underway again. Denny Hamlin got busted for speeding upon entry.
Just past the halfway point Jimmie has now led 59 laps as Kasey Kahne is challenging him for the lead. Kasey finally regains the lead on lap 127.
Caution on lap 140 for a spin by Marcos Ambrose.
Kyle Busch blasted to the front of the field, three-wide past Kasey Kahne, on the restart on lap 165. He streaks away from the field. Chad has told Jimmie to save fuel and not chase Kyle Busch. Ricky Stenhouse kisses the wall in the Zestfully Clean 17, but continues racing.
The top five at the moment, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth – JGR, HMS, HMS, HMS, JGR.
With 85 laps to go Kasey passes Kyle Busch for the lead. Jimmie has been told to save gas, he’s four laps short. Kasey has been told he was on the edge fuel wise. KyBu was told to save fuel, the told don’t worry about it, but he’s lost the handling on the car and is now battling Jimmie Johnson for second position with 77 laps to go.
Caution is out on lap 195 for a spin by Bobby Labonte.
Kasey wins the race off pit road, followed by Kyles Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards. Denny Hamlin stayed out on the track for track position. They recently got their lap back after a speeding penalty. Clint Bowyer is taking the wave around and he will remain one lap down. Kasey takes the lead immediately as Kyle Busch quickly follows Kasey, then passes Kasey. Hamlin stops Jimmie’s forward progress as Matt Kenseth takes the third position on the inside of Denny Hamlin. Jimmie battles past Matt for third on lap 204.
Kasey Kahne has led 100 laps at lap 212. No sell-out at LVMS but a healthy crowd in the stands – not a lot of empty seats. On lap 214 Jimmie is battling KyBu for the second position.
Caution is out on lap 224 for Travis Kvapil blowing up. Denny Hamlin seems to have pitted just before the caution and is now in 18th position. Denny will probably have to stay out on the restart. Matt Kenseth leads the race off pit road followed by Bradley K, Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kasey Kahne. Kasey got slowed down on pit exit by an incoming Tony Stewart. Kasey’s spotter told him to watch out for the 14, he delayed his exit causing him to lose a few spots. Kenseth got fuel only and wants to know if they are good to the end. Ratcliff says they are calculating. KyBu was seventh off the pit lane.
Kenseth will lead the field to the green flag for the restart. Kenseth seems to have spun the tires which accordianed the field, then something weird happened on the bottom lane (looks like Dale Jr might have struggled on the restart) and Kenseth ended up with the lead followed by Brad Keselowski.
Caution is out with 32 to go as Ryan Newman blows up. JPM gets the free pass.
Kenseth is angry about the previous restart but he thinks people jumped the restart though he was supposed to lead it. Newman says he missed a shift on the restart. Carl Edwards got into the back of Kenseth. More restart protocol discussion. Kenseth has been told he’s right on it as far as fuel. Denny Hamlin has come in for a pit stop. They were a little bit short. Biffle is also on pit road. More speedy dry is down on the track for Newman’s engine issue.
Paul Wolfe says he has enough tire to race with the leaders.
19 cars on the lead lap as Kenseth, on the outside, once again leads them to the green flag with 26 to go. Bradley K gets a jump on the field, but Kenseth beats him out, followed quickly by Kasey Kahne, and Kyle Busch. Brad hangs onto fourth followed by Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards and Dale Jr.
Kenseth wins followed closely by Kasey. They battled hard for the last 20 laps, but Kasey could never get past him. Kenseth gets a win on his 41st birthday. Kasey led 114 laps. He said he drove so hard every single laps. He says he “had the car to beat and lost”. He says he “caught him, but” he “just couldn’t pass him” regarding the final battle with Matt.
Kyle Busch finishes fourth. Carl Edwards finished fifth passing Jimmie with a couple laps to go. Jimmie Johnson finishes sixth. Dale Jr. finishes seventh.
Only four times has a driver won on his birthday: Cale Yarbrough did it twice, KyBu did it once and now Kenseth.
Next Race: Bristol
GO 48!!!!
10/03/2013 6:12:28 PM