Alright racing fans, who’s ready to beat the odds? We’re headed to Las Vegas this weekend for the Pennzoil 400. It’ll be hard to top the absolute masterclass we witnessed last week at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Plenty of action, crashes, and a three-wide photo finish to cap it all off! As far as our picks go, none of us saw Daniel Suarez coming through with a win. I unfortunately tied my horse to Joey Logano who wrecked late, and Corey Lajoie was relatively quiet. As far as my boss Chris, he called right on Christopher Bell for not making it through. While Chastain and Byron had solid days. But the chaos is over, sort of. Las Vegas is a traditional track, that should take a little more brain to judge than luck. So without further adieu, let’s pick ’em, boys!
Chris’s Picks: #5 Kyle Larson (+400) & #20 Christopher Bell (+900)
Embed from Getty ImagesIt’s amazing how much a week and a track can make a difference right? Last week, I wasn’t sold on C Bell. This week, though as Kaleb said is more of the type of track where luck shouldn’t play as big of a role in the race as these last two weeks. In the last six Vegas races, Bell has four top-ten finishes and has led over ninety laps collectively. Christopher is going to bounce back from the horrible Atlanta race and it’s going to start in Vegas I believe.
Picking Larson I know is kind of like a “gimme” style of pick. In the last six Vegas races, he’s been able to grab two victories and led almost 450 laps. Plus, Kyle didn’t have horrible showings in the first two races. The speed was definitely in the car if he could’ve avoided the accidents he probably would’ve grabbed some better finishes. So I think it’s safe to say Kyle will be competing for a good finish at the very least if not competing for the win in Las Vegas.
Kaleb’s Picks: #48 Alex Bowman (+2000) & #19 Martin Truex Jr (+1000)
Embed from Getty ImagesMove over, Truex, and give my boy Alex Bowman some time to shine. Allow me to vent just a little bit. 2023 was a rough year for being a first-year NASCAR fan and choosing to ride behind the #48 of Bowman. Starting the season hot, he was the points leader before a devastating back injury ahead of a race at Dover, a track he’s won before. After returning later in the season, he wasn’t the same. Bowman missed the playoffs. This year is where it all changes though. Lest we forget that Vegas is one of the Showman’s best tracks. In 13 races he’s posted a win in 2022, another top five, and a couple more in the top 10. I have faith that Alex Bowman can take another win at the Pennzoil 400. He’s simply due for a big bounce back, and this is the perfect track to do it.
Embed from Getty ImagesSorry Truex, let me give you your flowers. In both Las Vegas races in 2023, the 2018 Cup Series champion finished inside the top 10. Over 24 career races at Vegas, he’s got an average finish of 10th, with two wins and five additional top-fives. Truex is another driver due for a great showing after collapsing last post-season. He should get right here, and Truex fans should feel pretty good about it.
Chris’s Fade: #23 Bubba Wallace (+1900)
Embed from Getty ImagesLet me just say this early. I’m not a Bubba hater, actually a fan of Bubba. I loved seeing him grab two top-five finishes to start the season. With that being said though Bubba hasn’t been great in Vegas. He grabbed a 4th here last spring but then was only able to grab a 13th-place finish in the fall and before last season he only has one other top-fifteen finish and that came way back when he drove for Petty in 2020. I like Bubba but not this week, I think you have better options, to put some money on. Or if you play NASCAR Fantasy save Bubba’s useages for later on at his better tracks.
Kaleb’s Fade: #17 Chris Buescher (+2200)
Embed from Getty ImagesI’m usually a big Chris Buescher guy. I don’t think there are many tracks where you look at the #17 car and say “I don’t think he’ll be running at the front here”. Vegas though seems to be his kryptonite. He’s got just one career top-10 here and that was back in the 2020 fall race. At last year’s Pennzoil 400, he finished 21st after starting 18th. I think Buescher will get in victory lane at some point this season, but Las Vegas seems to be a track that he just can’t get around.
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