Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Track data
Race #: 3 of 36 (3-12-06)
Track Size: 1.5 Miles
Event: UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400
Number of Laps: 267
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Length of Event: 400.5 Miles
Length of Front Stretch: 2,275 Ft
Length of Back Stretch: 1,572 Ft
Degree of Banking on Straights: 9 degrees Front/3 degrees Back
Degree of Banking in Corners: 12 degrees
Qualifying/Race data
Last year's event pole winner: Ryan Newman 173.745 mph 3-11-05 31.080 seconds
Last year's race winner: Jimmie Johnson 121.038 mph 3-13-05 3 hrs, 18 min, 32 sec
Track qualifying record: Kasey Kahne 174.904 mph 3-5-04 30.874 seconds
Track race record: Mark Martin 146.554 mph 3-1-98 2 hrs, 43 min, 58 sec
Historical data:
Previous winners at Las Vegas:
Jeff Burton (2) Matt Kenseth (2) Mark Martin (1) Jeff Gordon (1) Sterling Marlin (1)
Jimmie Johnson (1)
Races won from the pole: 0 of 8 events (0%)
Races won from in top 10: 2 of 8 events (25%)
Races won from outside top 10: 6 of 8 events (75%)
Track Milestones
Dale Jarrett won the inaugural Bud Pole at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Feb. 27, 1998).
Mark Martin won the inaugural NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at the Las Vegas (March 1, 1998).
The 2000 Carsdirect.com 400 is the only Las Vegas race that has been rain-shortened. The race was called
complete after 148 laps; 222 miles.
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 eight 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
All 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 2005 while Dodge in 2002.
Qualifying Update
There have been six different Bud Pole winners in the six NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races at Las Vegas:
Dale Jarrett (1998 and 2001), Bobby Labonte (1999 and 2003), Ricky Rudd (2000), Todd Bodine (2002),
Kasey Kahne (2004) and Ryan Newman (2005).
Qualifying Note
Robert Yates Racing has won three of the eight Bud Poles at Las Vegas all in the first four races there: Dale
Jarrett (1998 and 2001) and Ricky Rudd (2000). Yates drivers posted six top-10 starts in the first four races there
but in the past four they have had only one top-10 start: Elliott Sadler (second–2005)
Track Tidbits
The field at Las Vegas will consist of the 43 cars. The 43rd starting position is available for a past NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup Series champion who did not otherwise qualify, if required. If not used by a past champion it
will be assigned the next eligible car owner.
One session with two qualifying laps will be run.
There have been eight NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Six different drivers have posted Bud Poles at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Ryan Newman is the defending Bud Pole winner for the UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400.
Dale Jarrett (1998 and 2001) and Bobby Labonte (1999 and 2003) are the only repeat Bud Pole winners at
Las Vegas.
Six different drivers have won NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Jimmie Johnson is the defending race winner of the UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400.
Jeff Burton (1999 and 2000) and Matt Kenseth (2003 and 2004) are the only repeat race winners at Las
Vegas.
Only two of the eight NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races at Las Vegas has been won from a top-10 starting
position: the inaugural race in 1998 and 2005.
Mark Martin won the inaugural race at Las Vegas from the seventh starting position, the best starting
position of a race winner there.
The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Las Vegas was 25th by Matt Kenseth in 2004.
Five of the eight NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races have been won from a starting position outside the top 15.
The Money
Purse $6,255,298
NASCAR NEXTEL Leader Bonus $30,000
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 but fell short of the lead lap again in 2005, completing only 243 laps.
Update of the Week
Matt Kenseth has led 221 laps of the 2,017 laps raced at Las Vegas, more than any other driver. He has
competed in just six races there. Jeff Burton has led 205. Mark Martin (186), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (144), Tony
Stewart (125) and Jimmie Johnson (120) are the only other drivers that have led more than 100 laps at Las
Vegas. Johnson is the only of those that led in 2005 – leading 107 of his laps en route to his victory at Las Vegas
last March.
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 top seven spots, nine of the top 10 and 13 of the first 14.
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.
Starting Up Front is Not Important at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Only two of the eight races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway have been won from a top-10 starting position:
the inaugural race in 1998 won by Mark Martin from seventh and last year's race won by Jimmie Johnson from a
ninth-place starting position.
Big Winner at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Jack Roush owned cars have won five of the eight races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: Jeff Burton (two),
Matt Kenseth (two) and Mark Martin (one).
Skunked at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Despite competing in all eight races at Las Vegas, Ken Schrader has yet to score a top-10 finish there.
Leading The Way at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Matt Kenseth has led 221 laps in six races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, more than any other driver. Despite
his lap-leader success, he has led in only three of his six races there.
Would you Believe?
Four of the last five races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway have been won from starting positions of 17th or
further back in the field.
Manufacturers at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Ford has five victories at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Chevrolet has two and Dodge has one.
Las Vegas Standouts
Twelve drivers have competed in all eight races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Six different drivers have scored one or more Bud Poles at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth lead all drivers, each with two victories at Las Vegas.
Mark Martin and Tony Stewart have each scored four top-five finishes in eight races at Las Vegas Motor
Speedway, the most among all drivers.
Mark Martin has scored six top-10 finishes in his eight races at Las Vegas, the most among all drivers.
Kurt Busch leads all drivers with more than two starts at Las Vegas with a 4.8 average start in five races
there.
Jimmie Johnson has an 8.5 average finish in his four races at Las Vegas, the best of all active drivers.
Tony Stewart has scored four straight top-10 finishes at Las Vegas, the longest current streak.
Kurt Busch has posted five straight top-10 starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the longest current streak.
Milestones
Jeff Green is expected to make his 200th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Jimmie Johnson is expected to make his 150th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start at Las Vegas.
Season Nuggets
Jimmie Johnson and Casey Mears are the only drivers to score top-10 finishes in both races this season.
Four Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year contenders in the Auto Club 500 scored top-15 finishes at California
Speedway.
All seven Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year contenders have been running at the finish in both races in 2006.
Who's Hot
Jimmie Johnson finished 1-2 in the first two races in 2006. Johnson has ranked among the top-10 for 71
straight races, since Atlanta in March 2004.
Casey Mears has scored top-10 finishes in both races in 2006.
Mark Martin has scored six straight top-15 finishes; extending a streak that began at Atlanta last October.
Raybestos Rookie-of-the Year contender Clint Bowyer has scored top-15 finishes in each of the first two
races in 2006.
Top 10 in 2006 Points at This Track
First
Jimmie Johnson finished second in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway and remained the 2006
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point leader. Johnson has scored top-10 finishes in seven of the nine races since Kansas
City last October. One year ago he ranked second in the point standings. Johnson has ranked among the top-10
for 71 straight races, since Atlanta in March 2004. He has competed in four races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway,
scoring two top-10 finishes, including one victory (2005). Johnson has never finished worse than 16th (March
2004) and has led in all four of his races at Las Vegas. Johnson has an 8.5 average finish at Las Vegas Motor
Speedway, second only to the late Dale Earnhardt who had a 7.6 average finish in three races there.
Second
Casey Mears finished seventh in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway scoring his second top-10 finish
of the season. Mears joins Jimmie Johnson as the only drivers to start the season with top-10 finishes in both
races. Mears begins the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season with his career-best points ranking. One year
ago he ranked 28th in the point standings. Mears has scored top-10 finishes in four of the five races since Texas
last November. He finished fourth at Texas, fifth at Homestead, second in the 2006 Daytona 500 and seventh at
California. Mears has competed in three races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway posting top-15 finishes in all three.
Despite his good performance, he has yet to lead at lap there. Mears finished seventh in this race one year ago
duplicating his best Las Vegas finish set in 2004. Mears has a 9.67 average finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Third
Matt Kenseth finished first in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway scoring his first top-10 finish of the
season. Kenseth climbed from 15th to third in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. One year ago Kenseth
ranked 36th in the point standings. Kenseth has posted top-15 finishes in the first two races in 2006. He has
scored four top-five finishes in his last six races, since Atlanta last October. He has competed in six races at Las
Vegas Motor Speedway scoring top-10 finishes in his last three races there. Kenseth has scored two victories at
Las Vegas (2003 and 2004). His 9.2 finishing average is fourth among all drivers at Las Vegas. Kenseth finished
eighth in this race one year ago.
Fourth
Kasey Kahne finished fourth in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway and climbed from 12th to fourth in
the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings, tying his best points ranking set after Atlanta in March 2004.
Kahne has scored top-15 finishes in the first two races in 2006. One year ago he ranked 34th in the NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup point standings. Kahne has competed in two races at Las Vegas. He finished second in his first race
there in 2004 and 38th in this race one year ago.
Fifth
Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 11th in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway and climbed from sixth to fifth
in the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. One year ago he was 14th in the point standings. Earnhardt
returned to the top five for the first time since Daytona in February 2005 ending a 36-race absence. He has posted
two top-15 finishes in 2006. Earnhardt has competed in six races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway scoring just two
top- 10 finishes there. He has finished 35th or worse in his last two races there. He finished 42nd in this race one
year ago. Earnhardt has a 21.3 average finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Sixth
Mark Martin finished ninth in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway and climbed from 11th to sixth the
2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. One year ago he ranked third in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup
point standings. Martin has scored six straight top-15 finishes, since Atlanta last October. He has had only one
DNF (Talladega in October 2005 - Accident) in the 26 races since Dover in June 2005. Martin has competed in
eight races at Las Vegas scoring one victory (1998) and six top-10 finishes, the most among all drivers there.
Martin finished 30th in this race one year ago. Martin has a 12.6 average finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Seventh
Ryan Newman finished 20th in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway and dropped from third to seventh
in the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. One year ago he ranked 12th in the point standings.
Newman has ranked among the top-10 in 28 of the last 29 races, dropping to 11th after Fontana last September
for one race. Newman has competed in five races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway scoring three top-10 finishes.
His best Las Vegas finish, a fourth, came there in 2002. He has led in three of his five races at Las Vegas Motor
Speedway. Newman finished ninth in this race one year ago. He has a 16.0 average finish at Las Vegas Motor
Speedway.
Eighth
Clint Bowyer finished 14th in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway and remained eighth in the 2006
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings for the second straight week. He begins the 2006 season with two top-15
finishes, the best record among the 2006 Rookie-of-the-Year contenders. Bowyer's first start came at Phoenix last
April where he finished 22nd. Bowyer will attempt to compete in his first race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Ninth
Brian Vickers finished 18th in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway and dropped from seventh to ninth
in the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Vickers ranked 20th at this point one year ago. Vickers has
competed in two races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway finishing 23rd or worse in both races there. He finished 43rd
in this race one year ago. Vickers has a 33.0 average finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
10th
Elliott Sadler finished 23rd in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway and dropped from fourth to 10th in
the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Sadler ranked sixth in the point standings after this race one
year ago. Sadler has ranked 14th or better in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings since the 2004 Daytona
500, 74 straight races. Sadler has competed in seven races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway scoring just one top-10
finish, a sixth there in 2004. He finished 29th in this race one year ago. His other Las Vegas finishes have all been
20th or worse. Sadler has a 28.4 average finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
