This past weekend at Las Vegas, Regan Smith did not have the race that he was looking for. Coming off a pair of solid finishes to start the year and the points lead, Smith had high hopes in possibly contending for the win.
When you can tout an average finish of 1.67, as in the case of Dale Earnhardt Jr, or Brad Keselowski’s 2.33 you know you are doing something right. Each has a win, with Junior having a pair of runner up finishes compared to the two third place runs put in by the 2012 champion.
Another week in the books for this year's talented rookie class - another week met by struggles for each of them to endure. The 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway produced some ill-handling cars that resulted in poor finishes for the class of talented drivers.
Earnhardt’s engine sputtered on the final lap at Las Vegas, allowing Brad Keselowski to pass for the win as fuel mileage cost the No. 88 its second win of the year. Still, Earnhardt has a win and two runner-ups, and leads Keselowski in the points standings by one.
Parker Kligerman and Swan Racing are entering Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend hoping to revive themselves from dismal finishes the past two weeks at Phoenix International Raceway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Now just a piece of dust to his big win on Sunday, Brad Keselowski also found himself victorious in Saturday's Nationwide Series Sam Boyd 300. For Keselowski, getting the win this year felt like redemption after the last couple of years. In his last two starts at Las Vegas prior to the win, he had come close - thought ended up finishing 23rd and 27th.
With already having locked in his Chase birth, there was a simple attitude going into Sunday's race at Las Vegas for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and crew chief Steve LeTarte - do what it takes to win, even if it takes trying out a game.
Ryan Preece, driver of the No. 60 RFK Racing Ford Mustang Dark Horse, is currently in a battle to qualify for the NASCAR Cup Series Chase, which will begin at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 6.
It was just three years ago that one of the sport’s most iconic venues, North Wilkesboro Speedway, was revived to welcome NASCAR back to its hallowed grounds.
