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[/media-credit]Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Kobalt Tools 400
Some people just can’t handle Vegas…
We stay out west this week in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and where else to hang out for a week than Sin City…
If you’ve been following some of the drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this week on Twitter, you may have noticed that many of them have chosen to stay west this week, rather than make the trek back to North Carolina. 5-time Sprint Cup Series Champ Jimmie Johnson chose to spend his week in Aspen, Colorado skiing with his family, tweeting on Wednesday; “I was back on skis over the last three days and had a blast. Thanks to @aspensnowmass for the fun today. #NoBrokenBones.” Kyle Busch, wife Samantha, and Greg Biffle all tweeted about spending their week in the western sand dunes. And, Paul Menard took his own off-road ride with Regan Smith on Wednesday near Evergreen, Colorado when Smith lost control of his truck on patch of ice and crashed into a bank of trees. Smith later tweeted “Thank you to everybody for the well wishes, everybody is doing fine, shaken up but healthy. Had somebody looking out for us this morning.”
So just like many college students this week, it seems like many NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers chose to take a bit of a Spring Break this week. I know if it was on me, I would have no trouble showing up a bit early for work this week…
Phoenix Recap
Due to technical difficulties and my lack of success last week in Phoenix, this will be a rather quick recap and pick this week.
My winner pick last week lasted 24 laps before he ended my hopes last week of a strong finish. Kasey Kahne started 10th and quickly moved to the runner-up spot, but couldn’t keep his No.5 Farmers Insurance Chevy under control on lap 24, hitting the wall and putting the kaibash on my hopes of a strong pick. Kahne came come 34th.
As for my Dark Horse pick, he ran more than 250 laps in the top 15 last week but also ran into some misfortune late in the 312 lap stanza. Jeff Burton stared juat behind Kahne in the 11th spot and hung around the 10th spot all day before he radioed in that his engine was about to expire. Burton lasted 3 more laps before retiring to the garage in 33rd place.
Vegas Picks
Because my laptop happens to be about 200 miles away from me right now, the research is rather shotty for this week of Matty’s Picks.
My winner pick this week currently has 12 to 1 odds to win Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 400 (according to Vegasinsider.com). He had a rather shotty qualifying effort, but is an absolute beast on the intermediate tracks. “Showtime” Carl Edwards is my guy this week, despite Jimmie Johnson being a 4 to 1 favorite to win on Sunday.
Sticking with the Vegas theme, my Dark Horse is a ling shot at 30 to 1 this week. He was fastest in Happy Hour earlier today, and his followers are desperate for a W ASAP. Dale Earnhardt Jr may have been looked past coming into the weekend, but has shown over the course of the past two days that he may have the car to beat on Sunday.
Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead tonight, and until next time….You stay classy NASCAR NATION!
