Track Update
Roush Racing had five drivers finish in the top-10 in the inaugural Las Vegas 400 in 1998. Roush Racing drivers have won five of the seven races at Las Vegas: Mark Martin (1998), Jeff Burton (1999 and 2000), and Matt Kenseth (2003 and 2004). Martin is the only driver that has posted six top-10 finishes there.

Manufacturer Update
Each of the three active manufacturers have posted at least one victory at Las Vegas in the past four years. Ford won the first three races there (1998-2000) then returned to victory lane in 2003 and 2004. All five Ford victories were posted by Jack Roush Racing drivers. Chevrolet won there in 2001 and Dodge in 2002.

Bud Pole Qualifying Note
There have been five different Bud Pole winners in the seven NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races at Las Vegas: Dale Jarrett (1998 and 2001), Bobby Labonte (1999 and 2003), Ricky Rudd (2000), Todd Bodine (2002) and Kasey Kahne (2004)

Qualifying Update
Robert Yates Racing has won three of the seven Bud Poles at Las Vegas but none since 2000: Dale Jarrett (1998 and 2001) and Ricky Rudd (2000). The best start by a Yates driver since their last pole was posted by Elliott Sadler when he started 11th in this race one year ago.

Tire/Fuel Data
Goodyear Tire Codes: Left-side -- D-6826; Right-side -- 6828
Other NEXTEL Cup Tracks With This Same Tire Combination: Bristol Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Estimated Pit Window: Every 60-65 laps, based on fuel mileage.
Pace Car Speeds: Pit Road - 45 mph; Track 55 mph

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Racing in Nevada
Prior to the 1998 Las Vegas 400, there had been only one NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series (Grand National) race held at Las Vegas. The 43rd race of 1955 was a 200-lap event on the one-mile dirt track at Las Vegas Park Speedway. It was run concurrent to an event held at Martinsville Speedway on the same day and was won by Norm Nelson, who started on the pole. Nelson averaged 44.449 mph in the victory. The race was shortened to 111 laps after a 12-car accident on lap 74 required an extended red-flag period and the race could not be completed before darkness set in.

Manufacturer Milestone
Mark Martin's 1998 victory in the inaugural race at Las Vegas was the first win for the new Taurus in its third event. The new Taurus captured the top seven spots, nine of the top 10 and 13 of the first 14 positions.

Track Tidbits

Would You Believe?
Mark Martin won the inaugural race at Las Vegas in 1998. He also was the only driver to post a top-10 finish in each of the first four races there and completed every NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series lap raced there through 2002 (1,216 laps). In 2003, Martin finished 43rd, completing just 114 of 267 laps. Martin completed all 267 laps in 2004.

Update of the Week
Matt Kenseth has led 221 laps of the 1,750 laps raced at Las Vegas, more than any other driver. He has competed in just five races there. Jeff Burton has led 205. Mark Martin (186), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (144) and Tony Stewart (125) are the only other drivers that have led more than 100 laps at Las Vegas.

Drivers at Las Vegas

Bud Pole Winners
Bobby Labonte and Dale Jarrett lead all drivers, each with two Bud Poles at Las Vegas.

Starting Up Front

Ford Dominates
A Ford has won five of the seven NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Las Vegas.

Roush Racing Rules
Roush Racing has won five of the seven races at Las Vegas. Matt Kenseth, Jeff Burton and Mark Martin have dominated at Las Vegas over the seven races held at the Nevada Superspeedway. Kenseth (competing in only five races) and Burton (then driving for Roush) are the only drivers to score multiple victories there (two each). Martin (six) and Burton (five) lead all other drivers in top-10 finishes in seven races at Las Vegas. Kenseth, Burton and Martin rank 1-2-3 in laps led at Las Vegas. Kenseth leads the way with 221 laps led there. Of the 17 drivers that have competed in five or more races at Las Vegas, Kenseth has the best average finish (9.4) followed by Martin (10.1).

Shut Out
Ken Schrader is the only driver that has competed in all seven races at Las Vegas that has never led there.

Staying at the Front
Jimmie Johnson is the only driver that has led at least one lap in every race in which he competed at Las Vegas. Johnson has competed in three races at the Nevada superspeedway. Dale Earnhardt Jr., has competed in five races at Las Vegas and has led in four.

Stewart Shines at Vegas
Tony Stewart has scored top-five finishes in four of his last five races at Las Vegas, including three straight.

Not So Brilliant

Jimmie Johnson is on a HOT streak
Jimmie Johnson has scored eight straight top-10 finishes, extending a streak that began at Charlotte last October.

Off To a Good Start in 2005
Defending NASCAR NEXTEL CUP Champion Kurt Busch has finished second and third in the first two races of the season. Jimmie Johnson is the only other driver to score top-five finishes in the first two races of the season. Busch is ranked first in the point standings, just five points ahead of second-place Johnson.

Streak Leaders
Ricky Rudd has competed in 754 conseuctive races, the all-time record for consecutive races. Jimmie Johnson has posted eight consecutive top-10 finishes. Mark Martin has been running at the finish in 24 consecutive races, the longest current streak. Tony Stewart has ranked in the top-10 of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series point standings for 47 consecutive races (since Dover - September 2003), the longest current streak.

Active Season Streaks
There has been at least one first time Bud Pole winner in each of the last 18 years (1987-2004).
There has been at least one Rookie-of-the-Year contender win a Bud Pole in each of the last nine years (1996-2004).
Jeff Gordon has won at least one Bud Pole in each season 1993-2004, 12 consecutive years.
Ryan Newman has won at least one Bud Pole in each season 2001-2004, four consecutive years.
Jimmie Johnson has won at least one Bud Pole in each season 2002-2004, three consecutive years.
Jeff Gordon has won at least one race in each season 1994-2005, 12 consecutive years.
Hendrick Motorsports has won at least one race each season 1986-2005, 20 consecutive years.
Roush Racing has won at least one race each season 1997-2005, nine consecutive years.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has won at least one race in each season 2000-2004 five consecutive years.
Greg Biffle has won at least one race each season 2003-2005, three consecutive years.
Jimmie Johnson has won at least one race each season 2002-2004, three consecutive years.
Matt Kenseth has won at least one race each season 2002-2004, three consecutive years.
Tony Stewart has won at least one race in each season 1999-2004, six consecutive years.
Matt Kenseth has won at least one race each season 2002-2004, three consecutive years.
Ryan Newman has won at least one race each season 2002-2004, three consecutive years.
Kurt Busch has won at least one race each season 2002-2004, three consecutive years.
Joe Nemechek has won at least one race each season 2003-2004, two consecutive years.
Robert Yates Racing has won at least one race each season 1989-2004, 16 consecutive years.
Penske Racing has won at least one race each season 1991-2004, 14 consecutive years.
Joe Gibbs Racing has won at least one race each season 1993-2004, 12 consecutive years.
Dale Earnhardt, Inc. has won at least one race each season 2000-2004, five consecutive years.
Evernham Motorsports has won at least one race each season 2001-2004, four consecutive years.
Jeff Gordon has finished in the top 10 in the points each season 1994-2004, 11 consecutive years.
Tony Stewart has finished in the top 10 in the points each season 1999-2004, six consecutive years.
Jimmie Johnson has finished in the top 10 in the points each season 2002-2004, three consecutive years.
Matt Kenseth has finished in the top 10 in the points each season 2002-2004, three consecutive years.
Ryan Newman has finished in the top 10 in the points each season 2002-2004, three consecutive years.

Bud Pole Award
The Bud Pole Award is presented to the fastest eligible qualifier in each NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race, contigent upon the application of the Bud Pole Award decal. The Bud Pole winner for each race will receive $5,100. The driver who wins the most Bud Pole Awards during the season will receive $100,000. 2004 Bud Pole Award recipient: Ryan Newman (No. 12 ALLTEL Dodge)

Commit Lozenges “Commit To Win” Award
A $5,400 award will be presented by Commit Lozenges to the eligible driver who leads the first lap of the race. A $75,000 bonus will be presented to the driver at the end of the season that wins the most “Commit to Win” Awards. 2004 Commit to Win Award recipient: Award is new in 2005.

Goodyear Gatorback Fastest Lap Award
A $5,200 award will be presented to the eligible driver who turns the fastest lap while leading the race. A $75,000 bonus will be presented to the driver at the end of the season that wins the most Goodyear Gatorback Fastest Lap Awards. 2004 Goodyear Gatorback Fastest Lap Award recipient: Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Dupont Chevrolet)

MBNA Mid-Race Leader Award
A $10,000 award will be given to the eligible driver who leads the designated mid-race lap. There also is a $5,000 bonus if the MBNA Mid-Race Leader also wins the race. However, if the race winner is not the Mid-Race Leader, the bonus money will roll over to the next race. At the end of the year, any bonus money left over will be added into the year-end fund.
Additionally a year-end award will be presented based on accumulated MBNA Mid-Race Leader points. The MBNA Mid-Race Leader will receive two points. If the Mid-Race Leader also wins the race they will receive an additional point. At the end of the year, the driver with the most points will receive $75,000 plus any remaining rollover money.
2004 MBNA Mid-Race Leader Award recipient: Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet)

Mobil 1 Command Performance Driver Of The Race Award
The Mobil 1 Command Performance Driver of the Race will be awarded to the winner of each race or the next highest finishing eligible competitor. The recipient will receive $5,000 per race. The driver who wins the most Mobil 1 Command Performance Driver of the Race Awards at the end of the season will receive $100,000. 2004 Mobil 1 Command Performance Driver of the Race Award recipient: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet)

NEXTEL Leader Bonus
A $10,000 award will be presented to the winning driver of each race provided he is leading the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series point standings at the completion of the event. If the winning driver is not the leader of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series point standings, the money will roll over to the next NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Championship event. The posted award will continue to increase by $10,000 until a driver wins the award, at which time the process will start over again with a posting of $10,000.

USG Improving The Finish Award
This award will be presented to the car that picks up the most places (from qualifying position to race finish) at every NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event. For example, the car that started from the 25th position and finished the race in fifth position would have picked up 20 places. The car that picks up the most places in each event wins $5,000 and the number of places it picks up are converted to Picking Up Places Points. At the end of the season, the driver who receives the most Picking Up Places Pointswill receive $100,000. 2004 USG Improving the Finish: Award is new in 2005

Wix Lap Leader Award Program
The eligible driver who leads the most laps during the race will receive $5,100. At the end of the season, the driver who wins the most WIX Lap Leader Awards will receive $75,000. 2004 WIX Lap Leader Award Program recipient: Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)

Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge
This $10,000 weekly award goes to the eligible driver who spent the least amount of time on pit road and finished on the lead lap. In the event of a tie the highest finishing position will break the tie.

Gillette Mach 3 Turbo Award
A $4,900 award presented to the winning driver of each race by Gillette

EA Sports Move of the Race
This $4,300 is awarded to a driver, chosen by a special panel, that displays the most exciting, distinctive ontrack move during the race.

Sunoco Diamond Performance Award
A $1,250 award presented to the winning driver of each race by Sunoco.

Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award
The season will be spilt into four quarters. At the end of each quarter, the winning crew will be determined by a vote from each team's crew chief. The four quarterly winners will then be eligible for the Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award and a check for $75,000. This award will once again be determined by a vote from each team's crew chief and be awarded at the seasons final race at Homestead. 2004 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award recipient: No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet team

Clevite Engine Builder Of The Year Award
This award is presented at 23 designated races to eligible teams based on qualifying and finishing position. Qualifying points will be awarded as follows: 1st - five points, 2nd - three points and 3rd - two points. If an ineligible team qualifies among the top three, that team will not receive the qualifying points, and the qualifying points will not roll over to any other eligible team.
Finishing points will be awarded for each of the top-15 finishing teams as follows: 1st - 15 points, 2nd - 14 points, 3rd - 13 points and so on, down to 15th place - 1 point. In the event an engine builder prepares engines for more than one team, the points will be accrued by the team and may not be combined. In the event an ineligible team finishes among the top 15 positions, such team will not receive the finishing points, and the finishing points will not roll over to any other team.
At the conclusion of the season, the top three engine builders who have accumulated the most Clevite Points will be awarded the following: 1st place - $77,000, 2nd place - $20,000 and 3rd place - $10,000. If there is a tie, the engine builder whose team has won the greatest number of the 23 designated events will receive the award. 2004 Clevite Engine Builder of the Year Award recipient: Randy Dorton, Hendrick Motorsports (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)

Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year Race
Raybestos, the official brake of NASCAR, presents a $50,000 Award to the eligible driver finishing first in the final NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year point standings. In order to remain eligible for the Rookie-of-the-Year Award, rookie drivers must qualify for eight of the first 20 races of the season. Beginning in 2000, a driver could participate in no more than seven NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races in a single season to maintain his rookie status. Prior to 2000, the maximum number of races per season was five. Raybestos Rookieof- the-Year points are awarded as follows, based upon each rookie candidate's best 17 race finishes:

The Standards
There has been a first-time Bud Pole winner in each of the last 18 years (1987-2004). A Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year candidate has won a Bud Pole in each of the last 10 years (1996-2005). Kyle Busch won the Bud Pole for the Auto Club and became the youngest Bud Pole winner in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series history. He replaced Donald Thomas, who was 20 years old, when he won the pole at Lakewood (GA) Speedway on Nov. 16, 1952. Thomas went on to win that race and remains the youngest race winner in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series history.
Mark Martin (1981), Ryan Newman (2001) and Kasey Kahne (2004) all posted their first career Bud Pole in just three races – the quickest that a driver has won a Bud Pole in the modern era. The most recent driver to win a Bud Pole in his first start was Dick Hutcherson at Greenville- Pickens Speedway in March 1964.
There were 19 different race winners in 2001, the modern era record.
There was a first-time race winner in each of the 10 seasons (1994-2003).
There have been 15 first-time race winners in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series since the 2000 Daytona 500. There were only 15 first-time winners in the entire 10-year period of the 1990s.
A Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year candidate had posted his career-first victory in five of the past six seasons (1999-2004): Tony Stewart (1999), Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Matt Kenseth (2000), Kevin Harvick (2001), Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Newman (2002) and Greg Biffle (2003).
A Rookie-of-the-Year candidate had posted multiple victories five times in NASCAR history: Davey Allison (two - 1987), Tony Stewart (three – 1999), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (two – 2000), Kevin Harvick (two – 2001) and Jimmie Johnson (three – 2002).
More than one Rookie-of-the-Year candidate had posted victories in their rookie season in only three seasons: Morgan Shepherd and Ron Bouchard (one each) - 1981; Dale Earnhardt Jr., (two) and Matt Kenseth (one) – 2000; Jimmie Johnson (three) and Ryan Newman (one) – 2002.
Dick Hutcherson posted nine victories in 1965 in what was his first full-time season in NASCAR Grand National racing but he was not eligible for Rookie-of-the-Year since he was a former champion of another series. Hutcherson also ran four races in 1964.
Jeff Burton led all 300 laps of the 2000 Dura-Lube 300 at New Hampshire, the last time a driver led all the laps in a race.
The last time there were no lead changes in a race was March 25, 1973 at Bristol when Cale Yarbrough won the Bud Pole and led the 30-car field for the entire race. Yarborough finsihed two laps ahead of second-place Richard Petty.
Tony Stewart posted his 10th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victory earlier in his career than any driver in the modern era. His 10th victory came at Richmond on May 5, 2001, in his 79th career race. It was the quickest that a driver had posted 10 victories since Dick Hutcherson posted his 10th win on March 20, 1966, in his 61st career race.
Jimmie Johnson scored his career first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victory in his 13th race, the fourth quickest at that point in the modern era for a driver to score his first victory. Kevin Harvick won in his third career race, Ron Bouchard won in his 11th start and Dale Earnhardt Jr., won in his 12th.
Jamie McMurray posted his first career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victory in just his second race when he won the 2002 UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe's Motor speedway - prior to his official rookie season (2003). This was the earliest in a career that a driver had won in the modern era.
Qualifying was canceled in 2002 due to weather five times, the most cancellations in a single season in the modern era and the most times the field was set by other than timed trials since 1959 when the field was set by alternative methods nine times (qualifying rained out or field set by draw by design).
Dale Earnhardt Jr., won his fourth consecutive race at Talladega with his victory in the 2003 Aaron's 449. He became the first driver since Bill Elliott (Michigan - 1985-86) to win four consecutive races at a track.

History
The 0.002-second margin of victory posted by Ricky Craven at Darlington in March 2003, is the closest margin of victory since the implementation of the current electronic scoring system at Sears Point in 1993. There were 20 caution periods in the 2003 Sharpie 500 at Bristol, tying the all-time record for the most cautions. It was the third time that there have been 20 cautions – all at Bristol (April 1989, April 1997 and August 2003).
October 11, 2003 was the first time that all three the NASCAR major series competed on the same day: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and NASCAR Busch Series (rain-delayed) at Charlotte and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Texas Motor Speedway.
Kasey Kahne posted his third NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Bud Pole in just his 10th career start. Only Dick Hutcherson reached his third pole in fewer races.
Jeff Gordon won the Auto Club 500 at California by 12.871 seconds, posting the largest margin of victory since Bobby Labonte beat Gordon to the line by 22.071 seconds at Dover on June 6, 1999.
The Modern Era record for consecutive Bud Poles is five: Cale Yarborough (May 10, 1980 - Nashville through June 8, 1980 - Riverside) and Bobby Allison (Aug. 27, 1972 - Nashville through Sept. 24, 1972 - Martinsville). Bill Elliott also won Bud Poles in five consecutive qualifying sessions - but one session was rained-out during the streak. Elliott won the Bud Pole at Pocono on June 9, 1985 and then qualifying was canceled at Michigan the following race. Elliott then won four consecutive Bud Poles at Daytona, Pocono, Talladega and Michigan. To further complicate the matter, Darrell Waltrip actually won the Bud Pole at Pocono on July 21, 1985 but his time was disallowed and the pole was awarded to Elliott some weeks later.

First-Time race Winners
The first five races in (Grand National) history were all won by different drivers: Jim Roper (6/19/49), Red Byron (7/10/49), Bob Flock (8/7/49), Curtis Turner (9/11/49) and Jack White (9/18/49). The last time that (Grand National) racing had three consecutive first-time winners was: Johnny Mantz (Darlington - 9/4/50), Fonty Flock (Langhorne - 9/17/50) and Leon Sales (North Wilkesboro - 9/24/50). There were also three consecutive first-time winners earlier in 1950: Bill Rexford (Canfield (OH) Motor Speedway - 5/30/50), Bill Blair (Vernon (NY) Fairgrounds - 6/18/50) and Jimmy Florian (Dayton (OH) Speedway - 6/25/50).
Tony Stewart (Richmond - 9/11/99) and Joe Nemechek (New Hampshire - 9/19/99) became the first drivers

When the Championship was Won
(Based upon points system established 1975)