The third Sprint Cup race of the 2010 NASCAR season takes us to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Las Vegas 400 this Sunday, February 28th starting at 3:00 P.M. (EST). It did not take Jimmie Johnson very long to get back to his winning ways as he took the checkered flag last week at Fontana. He is once again the odds-on-favorite to win this week, but there are a few drivers that might have something to say about that. The following is a preview of who to watch for in this week’s race along with their current odds to win.
Martin is off to a good start in 2010, currently ranked 6th he is 34 points in back of current Sprint Cup points leader; Kevin Harvick. He actually won this race way back in 1999 after starting 7th. Last year he started from the #8 position and finished 40th after sustaining an engine failure on lap 121. He does have nine top 10 finishes at this track and will be one to watch.
Hamlin is not off to the start he expected, falling to 21st after the first two races putting him 133 points back. His best effort in the desert was a third place finish in 2007 after starting 17th. Last year he started back in the pack at 34th and finished 22nd one lap off the lead. In his four races here he does have three top 10 finishes.
NASCAR’s bad boy will look to make some noise this weekend to try and repeat as champion to improve upon his current 13th ranking that has him 79 points off the lead. In last year’s race he started first and finished first leaving little doubt as to which driver had the best car that day. In his six races at Las Vegas, he has four top 10 finishes.
Gordon has been relatively quite the first two races, currently ranked 22nd and 133 points back. He won this race back in 2001 after starting 24th. Last year he started 28th and finished 6th completing all 285 laps. He is also one to watch as he has six top 10 finishes out here in his illustrious career.
With a solid start to the 2010 season, Burton is currently 5th just 31 points back of Harvick. He has won this race twice in the past; in 1999 and 2000. Last year he started from the #14 position and ran a great race to finish a close 3rd. Las Vegas has always been lucky for him as he has eight top 10 finishes out here.
Despite not getting much credit from the odds makers, Boyer is definitely one to watch this Sunday as he is currently 2nd overall, 19 points back after his first two starts. He has only run this race four times in his career and his best finish was last year when he started #37 and finished second to Kyle Busch.
The defending four time Sprint Cup Champion bounced back from his disaster at Daytona with a win last week and is currently 12th in the standings, 78 points back. There is little wonder why he is the favorite here this week given the fact that he has won this race three consecutive years (2005, 2006, & 2007). Last year he started third and finished 24th, one lap off the lead.
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