NASCAR’s version of ‘follow the leader’ featuring NASCAR Preseason Thunder testing continues at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Jan. 30-31. Drivers and teams from the NASCAR Nationwide Series will descend on the track in the Nevada desert one day after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series completes its two-day test session there.
As NASCAR’s premier series moves to California Speedway for its final round of NASCAR Preseason Thunder. Wednesday’s travel day affords double-duty drivers the opportunity to test their NASCAR Nationwide Series cars at Las Vegas. More than 40 drivers representing more than 30 NASCAR Nationwide Series teams are expected to participate. Double-duty drivers who continue to California will share their rides with teammates or substitute drivers so the preparation process can keep going for the seven 1.5-mile tracks on the 2008 series schedule.
The Las Vegas test will feature seven former series driver and owner champions and some drivers who did not take part in the NASCAR Preseason Thunder sessions at Daytona, including regulars Mike Bliss (No. 22 Supercuts/Family Dollar Dodge) and Bobby Hamilton Jr. (No. 25 Smithfield Foods Ford).
LAS VEGAS (March 11, 2007) – Despite new banking, a new tire, a brush with the wall and even a pit road penalty, when the 400-mile NASCAR Nextel Cup race ended late Sunday it was Jimmie Johnson standing in Victory Lane at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the third consecutive year. "Today was all about overcoming adversity," said Johnson, who notched the 24th victory of his six-year career, giving him sole possession of 24th place in all time Nextel Cup victories. "We had a couple of different things going on today. I got in the wall and tore the right side up. I thought that I had hurt the race car. We overcame that and started adjusting on the car. I thought we had a third- or fourth-place car, but Chad (Knaus, crew chief) started working on it and got the car right."
The victory marked the 150th since 1984 for Hendrick Motorsports. Although Rick Hendrick couldn't attend the celebration, drivers Jeff Gordon, Casey Mears, and Kyle Busch joined Johnson. "We wish the boss could have been here," said Johnson. "For us to get the 150th victory for Hendrick Motorsports is phenomenal," said Knaus. Johnson's performance Sunday didn't reach the drama of his last-lap finish of 2006 when he passed Matt Kenseth just yards from the checkered flag, but it was equally impressive.
Marcos Ambrose has again shown his class by earning a second-consecutive top 10 finish in the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series in the Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Nevada. Ambrose was 10th in the #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion, finishing as the top rookie and the second-highest non-Nextel Cup driver. The next best rookie was Juan Pablo Montoya in 20th position, four laps down. The Australian maintains his fifth position in the NASCAR Busch Series points and his lead in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings. Ambrose also maintained an incredible feat for a rookie, having completed every lap of each of the four races held so far this season, the only rookie to do so.
Ambrose earned US$35,875 (A$45,964) for finishing 10th in today’s race, which carried a total prize pool of US$1,626,139 (A$2,068,090). The #59 Kingsford Charcoal crew also earned an accolade today, winning the Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge Award for the best Busch Series pit crew. Ambrose also picked up his second Raybestos Rookie of the Race Award and the WIX Filters Lap Leader Award. Nextel Cup drivers in the Top 35 in Cup points are ineligible for Busch Series awards. Ambrose was one of 12 drivers to lead a lap in today’s race, making him the first Australian to lead a lap in NASCAR Busch Series competition and earning him five bonus points as a result of leading lap 159 during the pit stop sequence.
Marcos Ambrose – #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion
“It was a really long day out there and I couldn’t have asked for a better finish.
“This is a big day for me."
“It was a really tough race. The tyres were hard and the track was greasy. If you could run well in any groove you just had to run with it."
“I really have to thank Kingsford Charcoal and all of the team’s sponsors for this day. For them to put a rookie in their car and to support an Australian driver is a massive thing and I appreciate everything they have done for me so much."
“My team, friends and family have made a lot of sacrifices for me to get to this stage and it’s days like this one that make you appreciate everything and make it all worthwhile. It’s not just me out there – I have a lot of people to thank for this."
Mark Martin claimed his third straight top-five finish with a fifth-place result in Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The finish continued Martin's best career start in 20-plus years of Cup racing. The U.S. Army driver, who is in his first season with Ginn Racing, maintained his lead in the driver point standings. He holds a six-point margin over second place Jeff Gordon. Jeff Burton is third, 42 points behind Martin.
"A dream, just a dream," said Martin when asked to explain his hot start to the 2007 season. I was just telling Ryan Pemberton that he is one of the best I have ever worked with -- what a strong crew chief." "The U.S. Army Chevy was fantastic," continued Martin. "We were looking like a third place car but then on the (final) restart the car picked up a real bad push. It was a great run -- I am so proud of this team. I am having the time of my life driving this car. It's going to be hard to get out of it.
Martin started the race 14th and dropped back to 19th early as he worked to feel out the track's newly repaved surface. However, with a fast racecar and sound pit strategy, Martin drove to the front and was in second place by Lap 24 of 267. He would virtually run in the top 10 for the remainder of the race.
"We had a better car than fifth," explained Martin. "I couldn't run with those first two -- (Jeff) Gordon and (Jimmie) Johnson. I'm thrilled to get a top five when we weren't at our best at the end. It's really a privilege to work with these guys and represent our brave soldiers. I am just loving life."
Carl Edwards finished in sixth but wasn’t overly excited about the tire situation. “The tires were very difficult. Goodyear’s doing they’re best, I guess, to come out here and be safe, but that’s kind of a mess we’ve got here with the tires. We’ll just fight through it,” said Edwards.
Many comments were made prior to and after yesterday's Busch race, some giving a warning to how today's Cup race might fare. The speedway wanted to improve competition, but the new banking and the repaving have not been a big hit. Goodyear had to come up with harder compound tires for the event due to the new surface and many drivers commented on how hard it was to come to grips with the track as they ended up doing quite a bit of sliding.
Carl Edwards increased his lead in the NASCAR Busch Series Championship points after yesterday's at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Edwards started the Roush Fenway #60 Dish Network Ford 19th in the lineup. He now leads the standings by 68 points over Denny Hamlin who finished 12th in Saturday's event.
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