Can Kyle Larson defend his Pennzoil 400 victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway? (Photo: Jordan Anders-McClain | The Podium Finish)
While happenings in Las Vegas typically stay in “The Sin City,” it’s hard to contain the noise from the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
That’s not a pun with the burly, powerful Next Gen cars piloted by today’s NASCAR Cup Series stars. In fact, it’s more about the incredible on track action from stock car’s premier division this year.
Although Austin Cindric kicked off this year with a surprising Daytona 500 win, Kyle Larson, the reigning Cup champion, provided more of the usual with a victory last Sunday at Fontana, California.
Now, Larson looks to continue his winning ways although pole winner Christopher Bell may have something to say about that. After all, Larson’s dirt track rival hopes to bring some optimism for his Joe Gibbs Racing comrades.
Then again, predicting how Sunday’s latest race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway may prove as entertaining as the shows along the strip. At the very least, the entertainment factor promises to not be as pricey as a residence concert by some of today’s legendary musicians.
This weekend, Ashley Hobbs, Cody Shoppe, Jasmine Sharpe, Kobe Lambeth, Luis Torres, Matt Sisoler, Michelle Raynor, Molly Gastineau, Nathan Solomon, Sam Draiss, Sean Folsom, Stephen Conley, Taylor Kitchen and yours truly think over Larson’s triumph at Auto Club Speedway and the progress of Daniel Suárez!
Podium Preview: Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas
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Question 1
Will the familiar No. 5 colors of Kyle Larson get off to another hot start in 2022? (Photo: Jordan Anders-McClain | The Podium Finish)
Following Kyle Larson’s victory last Sunday at Fontana, is this a sign of things to come for the No. 5 team heading into Las Vegas?
Lambeth : Yes, Kyle Larson is kicking off his title defense campaign in a strong way. While he didn’t necessarily have the fastest car last weekend in Fontana, Larson was in the right place at the right time and had enough speed in the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet when it mattered the most.
He’s the defending race winner of the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the site where he kicked off his breakout 2021 season which ended with a championship. Larson is locked and loaded so he’s likely to continue being the favorite to win each week all season long.
Tiongson : Kyle Larson and his No. 5 team seem to have this natural, winning chemistry similar to Jeff Gordon and the No. 24 team during their heydays. Larson and crew chief Cliff Daniels mesh so well and they’ve managed to score a pivotal regular season win just two races into the new, Nex Gen era. As the competition continues to resolve and work on their cars with more spare parts and cars at the ready, Larson and his team can leap ahead in these spring races.
Championships can’t be won in the regular season. However, momentum still counts in motorsports and knowing that Larson can win, even on a day when he and his No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevy did not have the dominant car at Fontana, spells trouble for the rest of the competition.
I said on our TPF Live! podcast that Larson will score about eight race wins, which seems attainable. Ultimately, I’d not be surprised if Larson equals his victory total from last year and we all know how that played out.
Kitchen : Kyle Larson is, perhaps, one of the best racers in the world at the moment. So, an early win for the No. 5 team does not surprise me in the slightest.
Larson is clearly the title favorite for the 2022 season and I would imagine he is one of the favorites heading to Las Vegas. However, I think we may need to keep an eye on teammate Chase Elliott after he and Larson tangled at Fontana.
Solomon : I think it could be, but with so much early parity in the Cup Series, it may be too soon to tell. He’s still one of the hottest drivers in NASCAR, winning five of the last seven Cup races, but we may not be able to tell after a few months.
Larson showed a lot of speed last week, but we don’t know how that will translate to other intermediate tracks and eventually short tracks and road courses. I think he could still easily win five to seven races this year, so I’ll lean towards a cautious yes that this is a sign of more success to come for Larson.
Torres : As we enter the third race of the young season, it’s no question Kyle Larson hasn’t skipped a beat. The biggest thing he has going after his Fontana win is returning back to the track where the dominance began last spring.
What we didn’t see out of his Fontana win is having the strongest car. That honor goes to Tyler Reddick and even Erik Jones. Larson found his way to make it count when it mattered most with some help on attrition. I don’t see that happening this weekend because I do feel he’ll be a strong contender for the win as soon as the 267-lap contest begins.
If he does deliver, then I don’t see Larson slowing down anytime soon.
Shoppe : This year, Kyle Larson has won earlier than he did last year! But will he win as often? I doubt we will see the level of dominance the No. 5 had last year, but will still be in my mind, the one to best for the win at any track this year. I predict a solid top five in Vegas while making sure to give plenty of room to his teammates!
Question 2
Will Daniel Suárez and his No. 99 Trackhouse Racing crewmates challenge for more wins this year? (Photo: Luis Torres | The Podium Finish)
Daniel Suárez looked prime for his first Cup race win before settling for fourth place at Fontana. Might we see the Trackhouse Racing driver score his first win in the near future?
Raynor : Daniel Suárez looked good in Fontana and I can see he will be a strong contender as we move through the season. I am not sure yet, at this stage, if he can pull out a win with all the competition in the field. Only time will tell. I expect them to continue to run better as the year progresses.
Sharpe : I believe there’s a great amount of potential with Trackhouse Racing. Both drivers are quite talented and have proven their skills in the other series. I would love to see either of them score a win this season for their organization. Both Suarez and Chastain are hard working individuals with humble backgrounds. In my eyes, both represent what the American dream is.
Draiss : It really did seem like Daniel Suárez was going to pull off his first win late in the running at Auto Club. However, he wasn’t the only person who looked golden for their first win that day. I think Trackhouse will have a good year, but they won’t see Victory Lane quite yet. They are only a few races into their second full time season. We may catch them with a checkered flag in hand later this season, but not in the coming weeks.
Gastineau : The race end at Fontana was so frustrating for me, so I can only imagine how frustrating it was for Daniel Suárez. Last year, it seemed like the Trackhouse guys were caught in so much bad luck, and a lot of car failures that caused them to never catch a break. So far this year, it seems like they are on the up and up. Suárez would have won the race in my opinion if he had just run the top, but at least now he knows what not to do! I can see them winning within the next year for sure, but probably more towards the end of the year.
Sisoler : I believe so. Trackhouse was one of two midpack teams that showed some really good speed at Fontana, along with Petty-GMS. Suarez’s familiarity with the team seems to be proving invaluable with these Next Gen cars. It will take a bit of time, so the next few races may be a bit of a stretch. But I think it’s more than possible that he can put that No. 99 Chevy in victory lane this season.
Hobbs : One race does a season not make. Or however that saying goes. Trackhouse Racing is still a young team and still learning. They do have experience with Daniel Suárez behind the wheel, and a full season under their belts, but I do not see a win in the “near future.” Could he break though later in the year? Absolutely! But, in the next few races – I do not believe we will see Trackhouse Racing in victory lane.
Folsom : I would say so far, so good for Daniel Suárez this season. He has really looked good so far with a good team and good sponsors behind him. I see him having a very successful season ahead of him.
Conley : I think this team has everything it needs to succeed, and I think the new car will be a benefit to Suárez a little more than maybe some others early in the season. Trackhouse has made continued gains every week and their performance last week on a 2 mile, worn out Fontana race track makes me think they can and will contend for wins. Almost makes you wish Atlanta was still the old worn out surface to see if they’ll have similar results in a couple of weeks. But, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Atlanta will be a telling stretch of races. Top five it through that stretch and I’ll say a win is inevitable.
Two laps around Las Vegas Motor Speedway has us thinking about an old Texas Hold ‘Em poker show’s saying of “Shuffle up and deal!” Before we delve further into Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas, let’s consider last Sunday’s WISE Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway with our latest race and points reports.
Larson made some panelists feel victorious at Fontana, California.
On the other hand, Lambeth took command of the points lead with yours truly lurking.
Next, Ashley Hobbs promised she didn’t count cards when she considered the latest “Crunching the Numbers: Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas” figures!
First, consider how your favorite team fares in the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Since 2004, the Pennzoil 400 race winner has an average starting spot of 8.7, led an average of 85.5 laps, started within the top five 55.56% of the time and started within the top 10 72.22% of the time.
Best pay attention, Larson.
Here’s the trends in the past 10 editions of the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas since 2012.
Next, consider the trends for the past Pennzoil 400 races at Las Vegas since 2017.
Shock!
Now, here’s your top 10 starters for Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway!
Row 1
Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson (Photo: Jordan Anders-McClain | The Podium Finish)
Row 2
Austin Cindric and Chase Briscoe (Photo: Jordan Anders-McClain | The Podium Finish)
Row 3
Chase Elliott and Joey Logano (Photo: Jordan Anders-McClain | The Podium Finish)
Row 4
Tyler Reddick and Denny Hamlin (Photo: Jordan Anders-McClain | The Podium Finish)
Row 5
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Austin Dillon (Photo: Jordan Anders-McClain | The Podium Finish)
Last but not least, here’s our picks for Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas!
Quite a quartet for the Pennzoil 400! (Photo: Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images)
Tiongson : Based on a resilient win at Fontana, I look for Kyle Larson to replicate his victorious ways from last year’s Vegas spring race with his second triumph of 2022!
Torres : There’s a thing called momentum in racing. Kyle Larson has momentum which really favors him and the series is back at a familiar place — Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The track that really began Larson’s path towards NASCAR greatness. If he can deliver another win in this young season, it’s going to be another year where Larson owns the competition.
Folsom : With Kyle Larson’s win last weekend, I’m hoping he can keep the streak alive.
Kitchen : Kyle Larson captured the win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March of 2021. Larson also has a great average finishing position of 9.82. All this being said, I think Larson has a great change of winning this weekend, going back-to-back after a victory at Fontana.
Sisoler : My first couple of races have not gone well at all, points-wise, for me or the drivers I picked. I need a big rally, fast. Who else to help my points woes than the guy who won the title last year.
Kyle Larson is on the outside pole of Christopher Bell for Sunday’s race, but he’ll be the guy crossing the line first to make it back-to-back victories for the first time with these new cars.
Hobbs : Consistency is key and that is exactly what Joey Logano has been in Vegas. Logano has been in the top-10 every race since 2015, and that is a nice streak that include two (2) victories.
Raynor : Joey Logano is good at Las Vegas and I see him winning.
Lambeth : You know what’s the perfect dream for sponsor? The Pennzoil car winning the Pennzoil 400. Dreams can come true in Sin City so look for Joey Logano in victory lane!
Draiss : I’m a simple man. A car is running the same sponsor the race is named after? It just makes sense. Joey Logano will be in victory lane on Sunday.
Conley : With the speed the No. 8 car had throughout the day at Fontana and what Austin Dillon showed at the end, RCR is back and we’ll see Tyler Reddick finding victory lane in Vegas.
Solomon : Tyler Reddick showed a lot of promise last week at Fontana, but couldn’t get it done after some back luck with a blown tire. He qualified well at Las Vegas this week, so I think Reddick is finally due for a breakout victory.
Sharpe : After last week’s performance, Reddick is proving he is more than capable of taking the RCR No. 8 car to the checkered flag. Let’s just hope he isn’t wrecked the same way he was this past week at Fontana.
Shoppe : With the win and laps lead last year in Vegas, I’m going with Denny Hamlin to win the Pennzoil 400! The No. 11 is always fast at mile and a halfs and this will continue today.
TPF Stats : No matter how the formulas shake out, Kyle Busch will be victorious at home in Vegas.
We’re ready for some racing. How about you? What do you think are the biggest storylines heading into the race? Who are your favorites to win? Tweet us now @ThePodiumFinish and tell us now!
Thanks as always to the TPF team for their amazing efforts this week! Stay safe and wash your hands often. Help yourself, your family and friends by getting the COVID-19 vaccine!
The opinions and thoughts expressed in Podium Preview are solely of the authors. They do not reflect any organizations affiliated with the participants and author outside of TPF. This weekly feature is strictly for entertainment purposes. Ultimately, they are not indicative of TPF, the organization and its staff.
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