Drivers store mental notes for return trip

Las Vegas is first of 10 postseason races for Cup title

NASCAR’s annual early season trip to Las Vegas Motor Speedway is an understandable favorite for many teams and drivers. This year’s event, however, is about getting much more than a few hands of blackjack and the checkered flag.

For the first time, everybody is coming back to Vegas in six months for the opening race of the playoffs.

Each turn in the Monster Energy Cup Series race Sunday should provide experience and data to the drivers hoping to dominate the postseason this fall.

“There is definitely some added importance to this race with [Las Vegas] being in the playoffs,” said Kyle Larson, who excelled in practice this week at the track where he finished second to eventual Cup champion Martin Truex Jr. a year ago.

“Hopefully we have a strong race, and if not, you know what you need to go back and work on to be better when you come back later in the year to benefit your playoff run,” Larson added. “Not that this race when it was just a standalone event wasn’t important, but anytime you can race at a track that you are going to come back at in the final 10, it’s got some added importance to it.”

While other tracks have downsized their NASCAR ambitions when faced with smaller crowds in recent years, Las Vegas has been eager to have a second race for several years, confident in its local fan base and the visiting fans who plan a vacation weekend around the March race.

The track finally got a second date in 2017 when New Hampshire’s second race was given to Vegas, which was backed by sponsorship deals with the local Convention and Visitors Authority and with the South Point hotel-casino, owned by former race team owner Michael Gaughan.

Everybody already knows this track from NASCAR’s annual visits, but teams are paying particularly close attention this week.

“This race has more importance around it than it ever has before, just because of the playoff atmosphere that will be around it in September,” said Kurt Busch, who was born in this city. “This is big for Las Vegas.”

The winter weather in Las Vegas isn’t necessarily helping the teams to prepare for September, when temperatures are almost certain to be sizzling. The speedway has been chilly this week, with occasional 40 mph winds buffeting cars and possibly changing drivers’ tactics.

“It’s definitely an important weekend to make sure you have a firm understanding of this track and what you’re going to need when you come back for the playoffs,” said Kevin Harvick, who won last week in Atlanta.

The drivers could get a respite Sunday from the high desert winds, but they’re prepared for anything after being forced to steer through gales in practice. “It’s just like anything else, just the same for everybody,” Clint Bowyer said. “You get in the car and you’re worried about what it’s going to do. I guess it affects the balance of the car, where you pick up the headwind or where you lose it. You feel it as you change direction.”

Blaney steady so far

Ryan Blaney earned his third career pole Friday, and his Team Penske Ford will start alongside Harvick on the front row. Blaney has been impressive already this season, nearly winning at Daytona after leading 118 laps before late-race contact with Kurt Busch forced him to pit for repairs. Penske’s rising star gets another chance to earn his second career Cup victory in Vegas.

Fords earned the first three spots in qualifying, along with five of the first eight, and eight of the first 12. Fords also excelled last week in Atlanta, but the drivers and teams aren’t prepared to say they’ve got all the answers yet.

Larson takes Xfinity race

Kyle Larson overcame strong wind and two late restarts Saturday to win the Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas. Larson earned his ninth career Xfinity victory and his first in Vegas, where he finished second in the Xfinity and Cup series races a year. Christopher Bell finished second in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, and Justin Allgaier was third.

Gordon comeback?

Jeff Gordon hinted this week that he might not be done racing yet. In a question-and-answer session with fans, he said, “I always thought about maybe looking at an opportunity to drive a truck at Martinsville or a track like that. I like the short tracks. But to do it on part-time basis at a like mile-and-a-half or a superspeedway — no, I’m happy to be up in the booth and out of the car right now.” Gordon’s teaser comes just a month after Dale Earnhardt Jr., who retired from NASCAR in November, announced his plans to race in the Xfinity Series at Richmond. Gordon has never raced in the Camping World Truck Series, but his career Cup record at Martinsville suggests he might find luck in one of NASCAR’s lower levels, too. In 47 starts at Martinsville, Gordon posted nine wins, 29 finishes in the top five, and an average finish of 6.7.