Tag Archives: Kobalt Tools 400

Kenseth Holds Off Kahne for Vegas Win

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Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 10, 2013 Photo - Todd Warshaw/Getty Images

Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 10, 2013
Photo – Todd Warshaw/Getty Images

Happy Birthday Matt Kenseth!

What better way to celebrate your birthday than in victory lane? Everything came together Sunday afternoon at Las Vegas for Kenseth and his crew. This win sends a huge statement throughout the garage that says Kenseth is already acquainted with his new team and he is ready to pounce on his competition. Kenseth’s crew chief Jason Ratcliff made the late strategy call by taking no tires on the final pit stop and that allowed Kenseth to be up front. Once Kenseth got to the lead, he never looked back. Kenseth gave Kasey Kahne a few glances in his rearview mirror in the closing laps since Kahne was so close, but other than that, Kenseth didn’t look back once he gained the lead.

The race played out fairly typical for Las Vegas and there were no major surprises. The Gen 6 car’s debut on an intermediate track went well and produced the fantastic race to the finish we witnessed. Continue reading →

Robin Pemberton’s Perspective Heading into Las Vegas

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Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Vice President of Competition, speaks with the media during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 7, 2013 Photo - Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Vice President of Competition, speaks with the media during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 7, 2013
Photo – Chris Graythen/Getty Images

After just two races into the season, NASCAR’s plate has already been filled with headlines surrounding the sport from many different directions, but the biggest news has been the introduction of the new generation six car giving more manufacturer identity on the track.

While everyone agrees this new car looks great, there are more questions about how well will it race – especially on the 1.5-mile tracks. The Kobalt Tools 400 in Las Vegas will give everyone their first chance to see this car in race conditions on the most common track on the circuit. And while many of us have our own perspective and point of view, it’s good to know the perspective of the executives at NASCAR as well.

NASCAR’s director of competition, Robin Pemberton met with the press this week and shared his perspective on a number of topics related to the generation six car, the tires, and the evaluation of fencing following the Nationwide series incident at Daytona. Continue reading →

Kobalt Tools 400 Preview

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Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard/Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet, lead the field to start the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 11, 2012 Photo - Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard/Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet, lead the field to start the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 11, 2012
Photo – Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The Sprint Cup Series continues their west coast swing this weekend at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. After a shaky first two races of the season, many teams will look for a rebound performance in “Sin City.” The Las Vegas Motor Speedway has been referred to as “Jimmie’s House” since the five-time champion always seems to run well at the track. Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards are the latest drivers to claim victory in Vegas but, anyone could come out of Vegas on-top this weekend.

The green flag for the Kobalt Tools 400 is set to wave on Sunday March 10th, 2013 at 3:16 PM EST (12:16 PM PT). The race will consist of 267 laps and 400.5 miles. The weather for race day at Las Vegas looks like great racing weather with sunny conditions and a high temperature of 69 F and a low of 45 F with a zero percent chance of rain. The race can be seen on TV on FOX and a radio broadcast of the race can be heard on PRN. Continue reading →

Drivers Behind in Points Look to Hit the Jackpot at Las Vegas

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Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota, and Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2013 Photo - Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota, and Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2013
Photo – Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Several of NASCAR’s top drivers in the Sprint Cup Series have found themselves behind in the point standings after two races in the 2013 season.

2012 Chasers, with disappointing results this season include, Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne, and Martin Truex Jr, along with Kyle Busch, although not a Chaser last year, did have a strong finish to his season. All four of these drivers currently sit 30th or worse in the point standings and will be chasing a good finish in the Kobalt Tools 400 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend. Continue reading →

Testing Gen6 Car is a Big Deal at Las Vegas

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Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite, in action during NASCAR Testing at Charlotte Motor Speedway on January 18, 2013 Photo - Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite, in action during NASCAR Testing at Charlotte Motor Speedway on January 18, 2013
Photo – Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

So far, the 2013 season has produced two Sprint Cup Series races on two entirely different tracks and this weekend the teams are in Las Vegas, with yet another different type of track for the drivers. Daytona is a super speedway and Phoenix is considered a one-mile short track.

But the most widely raced track on the Sprint Cup circuit is the 1.5-mile intermediate track, and that’s what drivers will race for the first time this season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with their new generation six cars. Although it’s not their first Gen6 test on a 1.5-mile track, Las Vegas does represent their first full race on an intermediate venue.

How important is the extra test time scheduled for Thursday?

“Without a doubt the 1.5, two-mile tracks can make your entire season. That test day is going to be huge,” said Steve Letarte, crew chief of the No. 88 driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finished in the top-ten in every 1.5- and two-mile race he ran in 2012. “As a crew chief, you are trying to figure out what area you should be working in.”

Rodney Childers, who oversees the No. 55 Toyota that Mark Martin put on the pole a week ago at Phoenix, agrees.

“With it being an intermediate track and a place that’s really fast, the aero part becomes the biggest thing that you fight and I think everybody in the garage needs to learn a little bit [more] about this new car and where the splitter needs to be compared to the race track,” Childers said.

Although teams tested the Gen6 car in Charlotte, also a 1.5-mile track, in January, there are some differences presented to drivers for their test at Las Vegas. The most obvious difference being weather conditions. But there’s more for drivers to consider as well. Continue reading →