Kevin Harvick, the driver of the #4 Jimmy John’s Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 4, 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

NASCAR begins its road trip out west with the first race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It was a perfect day for racing and it was satisfying to see the grandstands full of spectators. Hopefully, throughout the season, NASCAR ratings will improve compared to last year. Las Vegas Motor Speedway is always a fun race to watch as it is a super-fast track and holds a lot of action.

Friday qualifying results show two Fords starting in the front row, with another Ford in the second row. Ryan Blaney started alongside Kevin Harvick, and it felt like déjà vu because Fords were about to dominate another race in this young season. Also, four more Fords were starting in the top-ten.

Team Penske and Stewart-Haas Racing are showing some dominate speed in the season’s early goings. The pressure was off for Harvick as he solidified his playoff spot with a win last week in Atlanta. People tried to believe that Atlanta’s race was not indicative of what we could see this season. Well, the results of Vegas proved that belief as wrong.

This 400-mile race in Vegas backed up what we have seen so far and what we should plan to see the rest of this season. Harvick, Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, and Team Penske were all over the top-ten and the race lead. However, it was Harvick’s show as he led over 200 laps out of the 267 in the race. There was not a lot going on early in the race as Harvick swept the stages and kept a commanding lead for most of the afternoon.

The 41 of Kurt Busch got loose into Chase Elliot as they were battling to the front of the pack late in the race. This wreck had an impact the outcome as these two racers were consistently toward the front all afternoon. Blaney and Joey Logano tried to edge off Harvick on some of the later restarts, but Harvick was too fast. Harvick had a great final restart and stepped out in front of the field and took off. Kyle Busch, Larson, Martin Truex Jr., and Blaney all chased down Harvick as he took the checkered flag for the second straight week.

Now, are we on our way to have a very similar season as last year?

Last year, we saw the same names up front in every race. This season has been similar so far with the same people as last year. A lot of Fords, and a lot of Larson, Truex Jr., and Kyle Busch. In Daytona Blaney and the rest of the Team Penske Fords worked together to dominate most of that race until the variables of Daytona ruined their chances. Then Harvick out races everybody else in Atlanta and Las Vegas. Yes, Larson, Truex Jr., and Kyle Busch have not sealed out a win yet, but they all have had many chances to grab an early win.

For the rest of the season, expect to see Fords consistently up front. Team Penske is always fast, and after acquiring Blaney, they are that much faster. Stewart-Haas Racing is consistently good with Harvick at the head and Clint Bowyer could have a breakout season. He’s shown good speed last season, so expect to see him squeak a win out this season.

Hendrick Motorsports has had some bad luck, but Jimmie Johnson will come around. Johnson is having a similar start compared to the 2017 season. Hendrick’s team may have a down season this year, but Johnson will get his wins. Look out for the Hendrick group in the years to come. Jimmie Johnson always gets hot after the first Texas race, and that is right around the corner. Hendrick fans should stay patient as the season is still in the early stages.

As for Team Penske, and Toyota fans, the sky is limit because these drivers will be fast all season long.

Next week, NASCAR continues its road trip out west at ISM Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona. This race is always exciting and fans can expect another action-packed weekend.

Some favorites for that race are Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, and Kyle Busch. Alex Bowman is returning home and had a great race two years ago here. He finished third and started on the pole in his first start here. Expect him to get his slow season going this weekend. Joey Logano had success here last year until late in the race where he blew his tire. Kyle Busch would have won last years race if it was not for Joey Logano’s blown tire caution. Either way, expect a fun weekend at Phoenix.