Micah Roberts’ Top 10 Driver Ratings
Kobalt Tools 400
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Sunday, March 11, 2012 - 12:16 pm (PDT)
Rating Driver Odds Practice 1 Qualified Practice 2 Practice 3
1. Kasey Kahne 10/1 8th 1st 2nd 8th
2004 runner-up with 14.9 average finish in 8 starts; had strongest overall practices.
2. Tony Stewart 8/1 3rd 7th 10th 13th
Two-time runner-up, one of only three tracks yet to win at; using winning ‘11 Chicago chassis.
3. Kevin Harvick 10/1 10th 3rd 12th 2nd
2010 runner-up with a 13.2 average finish in 11 starts. Fastest average speeds in final practice.
4. Matt Kenseth 7/1 11th 11th 24th 7th
Two-time winner with 11.7 average finish in 12 starts; using ‘11 chassis that won two races.
5. Jimmie Johnson 8/1 1st 6th 4th 24th
Four-time winner with track best 10.6 average finish; using back-up car after wreck in practice.
6. Mark Martin 30/1 9th 13th 21st 3rd
1998 inaugural winner with 13.1 average finish; one of only four drivers to start every Vegas race.
7. Kyle Busch 8/1 20th 2nd 5th 19th
Won in 2009 starting from the rear (engine change); using back-up car and again starts from rear.
8. Dale Earnhardt Jr 30/1 6th 4th 1st 17th
Two-time runner-up with 16.8 average finish in 12 starts; using ‘11 Homestead chassis.
9. Marcos Ambrose 50/1 4th 15th 16th 4th
Using same chassis that finished fourth at Vegas and fifth at Charlotte; looked good in practice.
10. Greg Biffle 12/1 5th 9th 7th 15th
Best finish of third in 2008 with a 14.8 average finish; using Texas chassis that ran as No. 6 in ‘11.
Note: Two-time winner Carl Edwards was one of the favorites to win coming into the weekend, but poor practices revealed that he might struggle again like he did last week at Phoenix.
Odds courtesy of the Las Vegas Hilton Super Book.
Micah Roberts, a former sports book director, has been setting NASCAR lines in Las Vegas since 1995. For more Roberts insights and post-practice analysis on the race, go to VegasInsider.com, TheLinemakers.com or follow MicahRoberts7 on Twitter.
Practice Notes:
I’m a little gun shy with Kasey Kahne after taking a beating in backing him last week in Phoenix. It’s almost the exact same circumstances this week as Kahne comes in with the most impressive practice sessions. He’ll be starting from the pole and should contend for the win, but he’ll have to be careful carrying all that speed around turn four. Several drivers have found themselves in trouble there this weekend.
Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick haven’t been talked about much during the week, but they both have the look of a winner this week. A win at Las Vegas would be a first for each and also a first for Richard Childress Racing.
Dale Earnhardt Jr is an interesting look at 30-to-1 because he was so solid in all of the practices. It’s been quite a while since we saw Junior look so good during a practice on these kind of tracks, but he’s on par with all the other Hendrick drivers that should fare well Sunday.
Match-up of the week:
Matt Kenseth -110 vs. Carl Edwards: Based on what I saw in practice, Edwards looks to be a driver that will be 20th or worse all race. Kenseth should have a top-5 car and could contend for the win.
Final Practice Speeds - 10 Consecutive Lap Averages
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Las Vegas Practice Notes: Logano Fastest in Happy Hour, Johnson Wrecks
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| Kasey Kahne, again, looks the best in practice. (Getty) |
Mark Martin, Kevin Harvick, Marcos Ambrose and Martin Truex Jr. rounded out the top-five. Harvick led all drivers with the fastest average speeds. Ambrose spun off of turn 4 in the middle of practice, but was able to save the car with no damage.
Kurt Busch showed his No. 51 has found some speed with the sixth fastest lap. Matt Kenseth was able to improve upon the days first practice by finishing with the seventh fast single lap and Kasey Kahne continued his strong weekend with the eighth best lap. Kahne also had the second fastest average speeds while running 35 laps.
The big news of the day was Jimmie Johnson wrecking his awesome primary car at the beginning of the session forcing him into a back-up car. It may not all be bad news, though. Of course he would have loved to take the fast car into the race, but the back-up car actually has a better past history than the primary.
In four 2011 starts with Chassis No. 669, Johnson never finished worse than seventh. He was runner-up at Dover and Michigan, third at Kentucky and seventh at Kansas. The big question is how quickly they can transfer over all their great set-up notes from the wrecked car into the back-up.
Johnson got about 20 minutes of practice with the back-up and finished with the 24th fastest lap. Chances are he'll be just fine.
Other drivers that looked good were Aric Almirola, 11th fastest, and Regan Smith, 10th fastest. A.J. Allmendinger continued to look sharp as he ran 49 laps for an average speed of 178.769. Tony Stewart said his car was "good" after running a session high 52 laps and finishing with the 13th fastest lap.
The mystery on the day continues to be Carl Edwards showing no speed in either of Saturday's practices. Edwards was 29th fastest on the day in what looks very similar to what we saw last week at Phoenix.
Overall, the most impressive on the day looks to be Kahne. He is doing just about anything he wants on the track and is fast running high or low. He was in a similar situation last week at Phoenix, but that race didn't turn out so well.
Top-5 Practice Speeds from Saturday's Final Practice Session:
1. Joey Logano 182.970 mph (38 laps for 173.855 average)
2. Mark Martin 182.698 mph (41 laps for 178.976 average)
3. Kevin Harvick 182.698 mph (39 laps for 179.724 average - fastest overall)
4. Marcos Ambrose 182.618 mph (29 laps for 169.337 average)
5. Martin Truex Jr 182.618 mph (40 laps for 175.480 average
Notes: Johnson wrecked primary car, Kyle Busch ran practice in a back-up car and Greg Biffle’s team was working on an engine problem that occurred at the end of practice that might force them into an engine change. Juan Pablo Montoya will also join Busch and Johnson starting in the back of the field because they made an engine change on the No. 42.
Practice 3
Every Hendrick Car Makes Top-10 in Early Saturday Practice
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| Johnson had fastest 10 consecutive lap average (Getty) |
Dale Earnhardt, Jr., with a lap speed of 184.957 mph, posted the fastest lap Saturday afternoon during the second Kobalt Tools 400 practice session at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Sunday’s pole-sitter, Kasey Kahne, was second fastest with a lap speed of 184.754 mph, followed by AJ Allmendinger (184.666 mph), Jimmie Johnson (184.489) and Kyle Busch (184.187). Allmendinger and Kahne had the fastest average speeds among all drivers and Johnson finished with the best 10 consecutive lap average.
Rounding out the top-ten fastest during practice was Aric Almirola (184.099), Greg Biffle (184.049), Brad Keselowski (184.030), Jeff Gordon (183.886) and Tony Stewart (183.817).
Some surprises from the session was seeing Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards not finish with better speeds. We’ll see if they can make the necessary changes needed in the final practice scheduled to go off at 12:20 pm (PDT). One thing is for sure, the Hendrick cars are dialed in.
Top 5 Practice Speeds from Saturtday's early session:
1. Dale Earnhardt Jr 184.957 mph (27 laps for 181.656 mph average)
2. Kasey Kahne 184.754 mph (27 laps for 182.224 average)
3. A.J. Allmendinger 184.666 mph (25 laps for 182.266 average - fastest overall)
4. Jimmie Johnson 184.489 mph (31 laps for 181.503 average)
5. Kyle Busch 184.187 mph (45 laps for 181.892 average)
Note: Kyle Busch will have to use a back-up car this week due to banging his car hard against the wall in turn 4 during practice.
Jimmie Johnson had the fastest 10 consecutive lap average during the session followed by Kevin Harvick.
Practice 2
Practice 1
Friday, March 9, 2012
Kahne on Pole for Las Vegas Kobalt Tools 400
By Mark Anderson
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| Kahne is on the pole for the third time at Las Vegas (Getty) |
Fourteen other drivers followed to also break the previous mark, but only Kasey Kahne drove faster than the Las Vegan. Kahne went 190.456 mph to win the pole for Sunday's Kobalt Tools 400.
Busch turned in a speed of 190.040. Matt Kenseth's speed of 188.884 mph set last year was the record entering the day.
Kahne attributed the fast laps, three of which were better than 190 mph, to better racing equipment combined with an ideal surface.
"I was surprised we didn't beat the track record last week at Phoenix," Kahne said. "Same thing, just the track was a little too slick to do it. So I'd say at this point we'll probably break some records this year on tracks that are capable."
Kahne, who drives the No. 5 Chevrolet, has excelled at qualifying. He has 23 career poles, including three in Las Vegas. His first pole came at the track in 2004.
But Kahne is struggling to overcome a tough start to this season. He took strong cars to Daytona and Phoenix, but wrecked in both races to finish 29th and 34th, respectively.
"The way to dig out of that is to qualify well and run well and not make mistakes," Kahne said. "I feel like we can do that. Hopefully, Sunday will be the first day that we can put a full race together and leave Vegas with some momentum and feel good about ourselves again."
Busch, in his No. 18 Toyota, hopes qualifying is a good indication of what's to come Sunday. He won in Las Vegas in 2009, his only Sprint Cup victory at the speedway.
Las Vegas ranks only behind the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 on the list of races Busch most wants to win.
"Certainly, there's added pressure from myself feeling like you really want to run well in front of the hometown crowd and being able to go out there and be successful here," he said. "This is one of those places that you stack up on the win list where you want to be able to win like a Coke 600 or an all-star race."
Busch said he wasn't sure how well he would qualify after being loose in practice. He was 20th, averaging 186.303 mph over five laps, and Busch credited crew chief Dave Rogers and the team for making the proper adjustments.
"The car felt great," Busch said. "Wasn't sure it was going to be that good."
Busch's older brother Kurt qualified 12th in the No. 51 Chevy. He is coming off a 15th-place showing at Phoenix with low-funded Phoenix Racing.
"It's just neat seeing things come together this way," Kurt Busch said. "Now I'm getting more comfortable with how the car can get adjusted and what we can do in practice to make it better. The No. 51, we are still finding more speed with it."
Another Las Vegan, Brendan Gaughan, qualified 23rd in the No. 33 Chevy. He started 40th in his season debut at Phoenix but drove to a 27th-place finish.
"From last week to this week, I'm feeling like a whole different person," Gaughan said.
Scott Riggs and Robby Gordon failed to qualify.
Qualifying for today's Nationwide Series Sam's Town 300 is at 10:35 a.m. The race is at 2 p.m.
Starting Lineup
Practice 1 Results
Kenseth Should be Considered Favorite Sunday
By Micah Roberts
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Betting for Sunday's Sprint Cup Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will double the handle of the season-opening Daytona 500, NASCAR's biggest race of the year and one that was on the board for more than six weeks.
Here's a look at the top drivers expected to contend, with odds posted by the LVH:
■ Matt Kenseth (12-1): Although Kenseth's two Las Vegas wins came in 2003 and 2004 with a flatter configuration, he proved to be one of the series' toughest drivers on high-banked, 1.5-mile tracks last season, winning at Texas and Charlotte. He'll be using the same chassis from those races this week and should be considered the driver to beat.
■ Carl Edwards (10-1): He finished 17th Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway, a track at which he had dominant cars in his previous three starts, but he gets a mulligan because it was a new chassis.
He hasn't won a race since last year in Las Vegas, but the car he'll drive this week suggests he'll be fine. He used it in last year's Sprint Cup Chase to finish second at Homestead and Texas and third at Charlotte, tracks that translate well to LVMS.
■ Jimmie Johnson (7-1): He struggled on the high-banked, 1.5-mile tracks last season -- tracks at which he used to dominate -- and it cost him a sixth straight title. They have the best crew chief, driver and money in the series to make a quick turnaround, but it might be wise to see how Johnson fares in a few races before laying a favorite's price on him.
■ Tony Stewart (7-1): He didn't win in his first 26 races last year, then took five of the 10 Chase races, with three on 1.5-mile tracks. This week he'll be using the winning chassis from Chicago that got his great Chase run started. His practice times aren't always telling, so don't discount him should he run outside the top 15.
■ Kyle Busch (8-1): He didn't fare well on this type of track last season, but he's always a wild card. He has won at Las Vegas (2009), but also has lows of 41st (2004) and 38th (2011) for an average finish of 15th in eight starts. He'll be running a new chassis this week, which could offer some optimism for a new beginning on the 1.5-mile tracks.
■ Kurt Busch (60-1): This will be a major test for the Phoenix Racing program. Busch can use his driving skills to the fullest in plate races or short tracks with an underfunded team, but without great horsepower on these type of tracks, half the field will pass him by. The hope here is that there is more Hendrick Motorsports influence in 2012 than in previous years.
■ Jeff Gordon (8-1): His drive for five championships starts this week in Las Vegas. His last title came in 2001, the same year he won his only Vegas race. At the last two 1.5-mile tracks Gordon raced on in 2011, he finished strong (fifth and sixth), which should carry some momentum this week.
A few drivers that could fare well with longer odds include Greg Biffle (20-1), Martin Truex Jr. (30-1) and, surprisingly, Marcos Ambrose (75-1). Ambrose had one of his five top-5 finishes last season at LVMS and will be using the same chassis this week.
After the race, take what you saw at LVMS and make a wager on a driver or two to win the championship. The betting equation should include a good Saturday practice that translated into a great run Sunday.
In the previous 14 races in Las Vegas, five of the winning drivers -- Johnson (three times), Kenseth and Gordon -- went on to win the Cup championship. So if you bet Sunday's winner, you'll have a 36 percent chance of cashing your ticket at the end of the season.
Micah Roberts, a former sports book director, has been setting NASCAR lines in Las Vegas since 1995. For more insights and post-practice analysis on the race, go to VegasInsider.com, TheLinemakers.com or follow MicahRoberts7 on Twitter.
Las Vegas Review-Journal
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| Kenseth has a lot going for him coming into Vegas (Getty) |
Here's a look at the top drivers expected to contend, with odds posted by the LVH:
■ Matt Kenseth (12-1): Although Kenseth's two Las Vegas wins came in 2003 and 2004 with a flatter configuration, he proved to be one of the series' toughest drivers on high-banked, 1.5-mile tracks last season, winning at Texas and Charlotte. He'll be using the same chassis from those races this week and should be considered the driver to beat.
■ Carl Edwards (10-1): He finished 17th Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway, a track at which he had dominant cars in his previous three starts, but he gets a mulligan because it was a new chassis.
He hasn't won a race since last year in Las Vegas, but the car he'll drive this week suggests he'll be fine. He used it in last year's Sprint Cup Chase to finish second at Homestead and Texas and third at Charlotte, tracks that translate well to LVMS.
■ Jimmie Johnson (7-1): He struggled on the high-banked, 1.5-mile tracks last season -- tracks at which he used to dominate -- and it cost him a sixth straight title. They have the best crew chief, driver and money in the series to make a quick turnaround, but it might be wise to see how Johnson fares in a few races before laying a favorite's price on him.
■ Tony Stewart (7-1): He didn't win in his first 26 races last year, then took five of the 10 Chase races, with three on 1.5-mile tracks. This week he'll be using the winning chassis from Chicago that got his great Chase run started. His practice times aren't always telling, so don't discount him should he run outside the top 15.
■ Kyle Busch (8-1): He didn't fare well on this type of track last season, but he's always a wild card. He has won at Las Vegas (2009), but also has lows of 41st (2004) and 38th (2011) for an average finish of 15th in eight starts. He'll be running a new chassis this week, which could offer some optimism for a new beginning on the 1.5-mile tracks.
■ Kurt Busch (60-1): This will be a major test for the Phoenix Racing program. Busch can use his driving skills to the fullest in plate races or short tracks with an underfunded team, but without great horsepower on these type of tracks, half the field will pass him by. The hope here is that there is more Hendrick Motorsports influence in 2012 than in previous years.
■ Jeff Gordon (8-1): His drive for five championships starts this week in Las Vegas. His last title came in 2001, the same year he won his only Vegas race. At the last two 1.5-mile tracks Gordon raced on in 2011, he finished strong (fifth and sixth), which should carry some momentum this week.
A few drivers that could fare well with longer odds include Greg Biffle (20-1), Martin Truex Jr. (30-1) and, surprisingly, Marcos Ambrose (75-1). Ambrose had one of his five top-5 finishes last season at LVMS and will be using the same chassis this week.
After the race, take what you saw at LVMS and make a wager on a driver or two to win the championship. The betting equation should include a good Saturday practice that translated into a great run Sunday.
In the previous 14 races in Las Vegas, five of the winning drivers -- Johnson (three times), Kenseth and Gordon -- went on to win the Cup championship. So if you bet Sunday's winner, you'll have a 36 percent chance of cashing your ticket at the end of the season.
Micah Roberts, a former sports book director, has been setting NASCAR lines in Las Vegas since 1995. For more insights and post-practice analysis on the race, go to VegasInsider.com, TheLinemakers.com or follow MicahRoberts7 on Twitter.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Las Vegas Success Parlays into NASCAR Championships
By Micah Roberts
Gaming Today
As with every Las Vegas race, it’s the NASCAR Sprint Cup teams first chance to see what their program on these type of tracks has in store for them. There was no official pre-season testing and the first two races run at Daytona or Phoenix aren’t a good barometer to get a read on what will work here which requires lots of horsepower and great handling.
The teams also have to combat the unknown of the new electronic fuel injection which is a work in progress as crew chiefs try to figure out what to do with all the great data now at their fingertips that they never had before.
Whoever gets the jump on their program this week will have an early head start at winning the championship because it’s this type of track that matters most in the overall equation. Do well in Las Vegas and the quality information gained here will carry over into at least 12 other races.
The perfect example of Las Vegas being a prelude to success is last season where Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart finished 1-2, a race that Stewart gave away in the pits during his final stop. Fast forward to November in Homestead and it was the same two finishing 1-2 for the Championship, except it was Stewart finishing on top to win his third title.
We can take it step further with five other Cup Championships that got their campaign started by winning in Las Vegas. Three of Jimmie Johnson’s four Vegas wins resulted in titles. Matt Kenseth had only one win in 2003, Las Vegas, but did so consistently well on the similar tracks for the remainder of the season that he had accumulated enough points to win it all. Jeff Gordon also managed to parlay his only Vegas win into a Championship in 2001, the final of his four trophies.
So before departing Las Vegas, take what you saw over the weekend and make a wager on a driver or two to win the Cup Championship. The betting equation should include a good Saturday practice that translated into a great run in Sunday’s race. Just going by what has transpired in the previous 14 Las Vegas races, you’ll have a 36% chance of winning by simply betting on whoever wins the race Sunday.
Here's a look at the current odds to win the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship from the LVH Super Book:
2012 SPRINT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP
JIMMIE JOHNSON 5
CARL EDWARDS 5
KYLE BUSCH 7
MATT KENSETH 10
JEFF GORDON 8
KASEY KAHNE 15
TONY STEWART 12
KEVIN HARVICK 6
DENNY HAMLIN 8
GREG BIFFLE 18
BRAD KESELOWSKI 15
CLINT BOWYER 60
DALE EARNHARDT JR 25
RYAN NEWMAN 60
KURT BUSCH 200
MARTIN TRUEX JR 60
JEFF BURTON 60
JOEY LOGANO 60
JUAN MONTOYA 100
JAMIE McMURRAY 100
AJ ALLMENDINGER 60
PAUL MENARD 100
MARCOS AMBROSE 100
FIELD 60
Gaming Today
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| The top-2 finishers at Vegas last year were 1-2 in season points (Getty) |
The teams also have to combat the unknown of the new electronic fuel injection which is a work in progress as crew chiefs try to figure out what to do with all the great data now at their fingertips that they never had before.
Whoever gets the jump on their program this week will have an early head start at winning the championship because it’s this type of track that matters most in the overall equation. Do well in Las Vegas and the quality information gained here will carry over into at least 12 other races.
The perfect example of Las Vegas being a prelude to success is last season where Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart finished 1-2, a race that Stewart gave away in the pits during his final stop. Fast forward to November in Homestead and it was the same two finishing 1-2 for the Championship, except it was Stewart finishing on top to win his third title.
We can take it step further with five other Cup Championships that got their campaign started by winning in Las Vegas. Three of Jimmie Johnson’s four Vegas wins resulted in titles. Matt Kenseth had only one win in 2003, Las Vegas, but did so consistently well on the similar tracks for the remainder of the season that he had accumulated enough points to win it all. Jeff Gordon also managed to parlay his only Vegas win into a Championship in 2001, the final of his four trophies.
So before departing Las Vegas, take what you saw over the weekend and make a wager on a driver or two to win the Cup Championship. The betting equation should include a good Saturday practice that translated into a great run in Sunday’s race. Just going by what has transpired in the previous 14 Las Vegas races, you’ll have a 36% chance of winning by simply betting on whoever wins the race Sunday.
Here's a look at the current odds to win the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship from the LVH Super Book:
2012 SPRINT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP
JIMMIE JOHNSON 5
CARL EDWARDS 5
KYLE BUSCH 7
MATT KENSETH 10
JEFF GORDON 8
KASEY KAHNE 15
TONY STEWART 12
KEVIN HARVICK 6
DENNY HAMLIN 8
GREG BIFFLE 18
BRAD KESELOWSKI 15
CLINT BOWYER 60
DALE EARNHARDT JR 25
RYAN NEWMAN 60
KURT BUSCH 200
MARTIN TRUEX JR 60
JEFF BURTON 60
JOEY LOGANO 60
JUAN MONTOYA 100
JAMIE McMURRAY 100
AJ ALLMENDINGER 60
PAUL MENARD 100
MARCOS AMBROSE 100
FIELD 60
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
PAUL TEUTUL, JR. IN DAYTONA BEACH ON MARCH 17
PAULTEUTUL, JR., OF THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL’S HIT SERIES AMERICAN CHOPPER: SENIOR VS. JUNIOR, WILL HOST A HIGHLY ANTICIPATEDREVEAL IN DAYTONA BEACH ON MARCH 17 AT PROGRESSIVE INTERNATIONAL MOTORCYCLESHOWS
-- American ChopperCast Will Be Onsite to Sign Autographs Throughout the Show --
DAYTONABEACH, Fla. (Feb. 29, 2012) – The Progressive®International Motorcycle Shows® is excited toannounce that Paul Teutul, Jr., and the cast of the widely popular realitytelevision show American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior will be in attendanceat the upcoming UltimateBuilder Custom Bike United States Championship inDaytona Beach, as part of greater Bike Week festivities. In addition toshowcasing a variety of his well-known custom bikes, such as the “Anti-Venom”,“Jared Allen”, “Black Widow”, “Gears of War” and “Build-Off Bike”, Paul Jr. Designswill be debuting an all-new and much-kept-secret project for enthusiasts andfans of the hit show. Cast members of AmericanChopper: Senior vs. Junior willbe onsite throughout the week to sign autographs and take photos with fans. TheUltimate Builder Custom Bike United States Championship will be held at theOcean Center Daytona Beach March 14-17, 2012.
“With the 12-city 2011-2012 Progressive InternationalMotorcycle Shows coming to a very successful close here in Daytona Beach, wecouldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the Tour than by hosting theultimate builder of custom bikes, Paul Teutul, Jr., at our show. His latestcustom creation is sure to thrill fans and we’re honored to be a part of it,”said Kerry Graeber, Brand Director, Advanstar Communications. “In addition toPaul and his cast bringing excitement to the show, we’ve got a full four daysof excitement planned with the highly anticipated awards ceremony for theUltimate Builder Custom Bike United States Championship and finale performancesfrom the Smage Bros Stunt Show.”
“We are honored to be a part of the Daytona Beach UltimateBuilder Custom Bike United States Championship Show. In addition to showcasinga variety of our most popular custom bikes for fans, Paul Jr. Designs will beunveiling an all-new custom creation at the show,” said Paul Teutul, Jr., starof American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior and creator of PaulJr. Designs. “This show gives us a great opportunity to connect with our fans,by hosting autograph signings and even giving them an opportunity to be in theaudience for filming of American Chopperand we’re looking forward to it.”
Attendees to the show on Saturday, March 17, 2012, willhave the unique experience to be present during live filming on an episode of American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior, set to air the following week, on March 26 at 9p.m. EST, on the Discovery Channel. The Paul Jr. Designs unveil will take placeat 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 17, inside the show at the Ocean Center DaytonaBeach. Autograph signings by cast members Paul Jr. and his crew will be heldthroughout the week. Paul Jr. Designs apparel and merchandise will be availablefor purchase at their booth, #811. Please visit www.motorcycleshows.com/daytona formore information about the autograph signing schedule.
AmericanChopper: Senior vs. Junioris a reality television show that chronicles the family rivalry between PaulTeutul, Jr., and his custom motorcycle business Paul Jr. Designs and hisfather, Paul Teutul, Sr. and his custommotorcycle shop Orange County Choppers. Currently in its third season, American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior, airs on the Discovery Channel, Mondays at 9 p.m.Eastern. Check your local listings for more information.
Show Information
The UltimateBuilder Custom Bike United States Championship will be hosted at the Ocean CenterDaytona Beach, located at 101 North Atlantic Avenue. The show floor will be openWednesday, March 14, from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.; Thursday, March 15, 11 am – 7 pm;Friday, March 16, 11 am – 7 pm; Saturday, March 17, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. As part ofthe greater Bike Week 2012, there is no cost of admission for the Daytona BeachMotorcycle Show.
About Paul Jr. Designs
Although, Paul Jr. has always beenmechanically inclined, it wasn't until he was 25 that he realized the depth ofhis creativity. In 1999, he created the now world-famous logo for Orange CountyChoppers, a custom motorcycle business he co-founded in upstate New York. Withhis talent and eye for design, he went on to create some of the mostrecognizable theme choppers in the world, including the Black Widow Bike, theFire Bike and the Jet Bike, as well as working with some of the top companiesin the world such as Intel, NASA and Gillette. After ten years in the steelbusiness and ten years building custom motorcycles and a brand through OCC, heis taking all he has learned and applying it to his new company, Paul Jr.Designs. For more information, visit www.pauljrdesigns.com.
Although, Paul Jr. has always beenmechanically inclined, it wasn't until he was 25 that he realized the depth ofhis creativity. In 1999, he created the now world-famous logo for Orange CountyChoppers, a custom motorcycle business he co-founded in upstate New York. Withhis talent and eye for design, he went on to create some of the mostrecognizable theme choppers in the world, including the Black Widow Bike, theFire Bike and the Jet Bike, as well as working with some of the top companiesin the world such as Intel, NASA and Gillette. After ten years in the steelbusiness and ten years building custom motorcycles and a brand through OCC, heis taking all he has learned and applying it to his new company, Paul Jr.Designs. For more information, visit www.pauljrdesigns.com.
About Progressive®International Motorcycle Shows®
FromNew York to California, the 12-city nationwide tour of the Progressive®International Motorcycle Shows® offers more than 500,000 consumersand 900 exhibitors from all powersports lifestyle interests an all access passto the world of motorcycling. The world’s largest traveling powersports eventgives enthusiasts of all ages the opportunity to check out the latest gear andaftermarket accessories. The Show also offers hours of entertainment includinga thrilling trials stunt show from The Smage Bros, made famous by their top 10finish in a nationally televised talent competition; a custom bike competitionoffering over $90,000 in prize money and featuring $20 million worth ofmotorcycle machinery; information tailored for women riders, learningexperiences and more. Show attendees are nine times more likely than theaverage motorcyclist to purchase a new powersports vehicle and related parts,products, and accessories, offering exhibitors exclusive access to the largestaudience of potential buyers. For more information, visit: www.motorcycleshows.com.
FromNew York to California, the 12-city nationwide tour of the Progressive®International Motorcycle Shows® offers more than 500,000 consumersand 900 exhibitors from all powersports lifestyle interests an all access passto the world of motorcycling. The world’s largest traveling powersports eventgives enthusiasts of all ages the opportunity to check out the latest gear andaftermarket accessories. The Show also offers hours of entertainment includinga thrilling trials stunt show from The Smage Bros, made famous by their top 10finish in a nationally televised talent competition; a custom bike competitionoffering over $90,000 in prize money and featuring $20 million worth ofmotorcycle machinery; information tailored for women riders, learningexperiences and more. Show attendees are nine times more likely than theaverage motorcyclist to purchase a new powersports vehicle and related parts,products, and accessories, offering exhibitors exclusive access to the largestaudience of potential buyers. For more information, visit: www.motorcycleshows.com.
Torch
2012 Las Vegas Kobalt Tools 400 Preview: Stewart Looking for First Vegas Win
By Micah Roberts
VegasInsider.com
I’ve been to NASCAR races across the country with the sole purpose of being entertained, not so much by the race itself, but by the environment a race creates and I can say -- without any hint of hometown bias -- that Las Vegas tops them all.
When you look at all the elements that make a trip fun, Las Vegas is hard to top against any city in the world even without a NASCAR race.
There are places like Daytona and Bristol that capture more of a NASCAR feel, or historical places like Richmond, Darlington or Charlotte where you can almost feel the roots of the sport creeping into your soul, but after that, what are you going to do?
Are there hundreds of restaurants catering to all ends of a budget? Is there dozens of places that your kids can have the time of their life at? Or how about just a quality hotel to stay at with little fear of bed bugs invading your NASCAR weekend? Unlike anywhere else, Las Vegas answers all those questions with a resounding YES
It doesn’t matter whether you come with your family, buddies or by yourself, there is always something for everyone which is why over 150,000 people cram into the Las Vegas Motor Speedway every March while other tracks are seeing declines. Fans want to maximize their dollar on the few vacations they get over a year and Vegas gives them all an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.
We have another amenity here in Las Vegas that appeals to some. Gambling.
Casino tables with be jumping all night long with little fear of losing this type crowd to the plush clubs where the new generation seems to spend all their money and time at in Las Vegas. Gambling isn’t a new experience to people from all over the country with all the Indian casinos sprouting up, but there’s no place you can roll the dice in such style and luxury as Vegas.
The one gambling equation that is purely unique to Las Vegas alone is actually being able to bet on the race. Sports books around town appeal to the masses by offering propositions on the race in Super Bowl-style propositions.
Most sports books offer odds to win on the weekly races with a small few offering head-head matchups. But when the Vegas race comes around, every book works diligently to put up as much as they can because the demand far outweighs the supply compared to the other races.
Las Vegas sports books can expect to do 95% more volume for this weekend’s Nationwide and Sprint Cup races than they’ll do for any other race this season, minus the Daytona 500. The only reason the Daytona 500 has so much volume is that the betting is open for almost six weeks before the green flags drops and they capture all the new daily visitors over that time.
Jimmie Johnson comes into this weekend’s Kobalt Tools 400 as the 7-to-1 favorite not just because he’s won at Las Vegas four times in the last seven years, but because his top competitor doesn’t look to be as strong.
Carl Edwards won at Las Vegas last year for the second time, but struggled last week at Phoenix, a track he had the best car at for three straight races prior. It’s not an indication that Edwards will do poorly, but it is a sign that his program might not be as good for the next few weeks which is why he is 10-to-1 and not the favorite.
However, this week Edwards is bringing a chassis to Las Vegas that makes it hard to believe it will run poorly like he ran last week when he ran a brand new car. Some of the great history includes runner-up finishes at Homestead and Texas along with a third-place finish at Charlotte. This car is a stud and should contend for the win.
“Last year was a huge weekend for us and I’m excited to go back," said Edwards. "I love racing at Vegas and it’s a fun place to go for the fans. This will be our first opportunity of the year to run on a 1.5-mile track and to try the things Bob Osborne and everyone at RFR have been working on over the winter. It’s a huge event for us strategically on the schedule to build our intermediate program, which is obviously very important in our quest for the championship.”
The fortunate part for bettors this week is that he did run poorly last week giving perhaps the best value on Edwards on this type of track in two years. Granted, his last win on the series was exactly a year ago at Las Vegas, but 10-to-1 is too hard to pass up. He should be included in all wagering equations this week.
Matt Kenseth is a two-time Las Vegas winner and finally might be able to take a breath of fresh air and enjoy his Daytona 500 victory after being paraded around the county on a publicity tour last week. He’s a great candidate this week just because of his success last season on these type of tracks where he won at Texas and Charlotte, the 1.5-mile sister tracks of Las Vegas. It's also a nice attraction with Kenseth that he's brought the exact same chassis that won both of those races.
“Las Vegas has been a good track for this team and organization, so I’m looking forward to racing there this weekend," said Kenseth's crew chief Jimmy Fennig. "It’s a racetrack I enjoy every year because I always look forward to having a fast race car there, and Matt (Kenseth) has had a lot of successful races at Las Vegas as well. We’re bringing a car that was a multiple race-winning car last year for us, so we’re hoping to have similar results out of it starting this weekend for our Zest team.”
Las Vegas remains one of the few tracks Tony Stewart has never won at, but he’s been real close with as runner-up twice. Last season he had the victory snatched out of his hand late with a lengthy final pit stop in car that was head and shoulders above everyone else. He won five races in last seasons Chase after not winning any in the first 26 and three of those wins came on 1.5-mile tracks.
It’s an entirely new season with changes to the car, electronic fuel injection and changes to Stewart's team with Steve Addington taking over as crew chief, but Stewart should be in goods hands this week. It was Addington who lead the way for Kyle Busch to win his Cup race in his home town in 2009.
Kevin Harvick has a 13.2 average finish in his 11 Vegas starts, the first of which was his very first Cup start after taking the ride over for Dale Earnhardt. The city is also a special place for the Bakersfield, CA native because it is where he and his wife Delana got married. The couple is expecting their first child this season with hopes adding to the excitement by finishing the year off with Harvick's first championship.
In order to get that championship it starts with tracks like this that dominate the schedule. Whoever does well in Las Vegas sets the tone to who will be good for the remainder of the season. Stewart and Edwards finished in the top-2 at Vegas last season as well as season points. In three of Johnson’s Vegas wins, he went on to win the Championship.
Other drivers we should expect to do well this week include Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Greg Biffle. Kahne looked to have the best car last week at Phoenix, but hit the wall early on to ruin a great opportunity at a win.
Enjoy the race weekend everyone and good luck with all your bets. Most of all, enjoy the city to it’s fullest and let it all hang out. Remember, there’s no last call in Las Vegas.
Top-5 Finish Prediction:
#14 Tony Stewart (8/1)
#48 Jimmie Johnson (7/1)
#99 Carl Edwards (10/1)
#18 Kyle Busch (8/1)
#17 Matt Kenseth (12/1)
Be sure to check back later during the week as I'll be posting some notes on how the cars performed in Friday and Saturday practices.
VegasInsider.com
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| Bad final pit stop cost Tony Stewart the Vegas win in 2011 (Getty) |
When you look at all the elements that make a trip fun, Las Vegas is hard to top against any city in the world even without a NASCAR race.
There are places like Daytona and Bristol that capture more of a NASCAR feel, or historical places like Richmond, Darlington or Charlotte where you can almost feel the roots of the sport creeping into your soul, but after that, what are you going to do?
Are there hundreds of restaurants catering to all ends of a budget? Is there dozens of places that your kids can have the time of their life at? Or how about just a quality hotel to stay at with little fear of bed bugs invading your NASCAR weekend? Unlike anywhere else, Las Vegas answers all those questions with a resounding YES
It doesn’t matter whether you come with your family, buddies or by yourself, there is always something for everyone which is why over 150,000 people cram into the Las Vegas Motor Speedway every March while other tracks are seeing declines. Fans want to maximize their dollar on the few vacations they get over a year and Vegas gives them all an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.
We have another amenity here in Las Vegas that appeals to some. Gambling.
Casino tables with be jumping all night long with little fear of losing this type crowd to the plush clubs where the new generation seems to spend all their money and time at in Las Vegas. Gambling isn’t a new experience to people from all over the country with all the Indian casinos sprouting up, but there’s no place you can roll the dice in such style and luxury as Vegas.
The one gambling equation that is purely unique to Las Vegas alone is actually being able to bet on the race. Sports books around town appeal to the masses by offering propositions on the race in Super Bowl-style propositions.
Most sports books offer odds to win on the weekly races with a small few offering head-head matchups. But when the Vegas race comes around, every book works diligently to put up as much as they can because the demand far outweighs the supply compared to the other races.
Las Vegas sports books can expect to do 95% more volume for this weekend’s Nationwide and Sprint Cup races than they’ll do for any other race this season, minus the Daytona 500. The only reason the Daytona 500 has so much volume is that the betting is open for almost six weeks before the green flags drops and they capture all the new daily visitors over that time.
Jimmie Johnson comes into this weekend’s Kobalt Tools 400 as the 7-to-1 favorite not just because he’s won at Las Vegas four times in the last seven years, but because his top competitor doesn’t look to be as strong.
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| Carl Edwards has brought a strong chassis this week (Getty) |
However, this week Edwards is bringing a chassis to Las Vegas that makes it hard to believe it will run poorly like he ran last week when he ran a brand new car. Some of the great history includes runner-up finishes at Homestead and Texas along with a third-place finish at Charlotte. This car is a stud and should contend for the win.
“Last year was a huge weekend for us and I’m excited to go back," said Edwards. "I love racing at Vegas and it’s a fun place to go for the fans. This will be our first opportunity of the year to run on a 1.5-mile track and to try the things Bob Osborne and everyone at RFR have been working on over the winter. It’s a huge event for us strategically on the schedule to build our intermediate program, which is obviously very important in our quest for the championship.”
The fortunate part for bettors this week is that he did run poorly last week giving perhaps the best value on Edwards on this type of track in two years. Granted, his last win on the series was exactly a year ago at Las Vegas, but 10-to-1 is too hard to pass up. He should be included in all wagering equations this week.
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| Kenseth is using winning car from Texas and Charlotte |
“Las Vegas has been a good track for this team and organization, so I’m looking forward to racing there this weekend," said Kenseth's crew chief Jimmy Fennig. "It’s a racetrack I enjoy every year because I always look forward to having a fast race car there, and Matt (Kenseth) has had a lot of successful races at Las Vegas as well. We’re bringing a car that was a multiple race-winning car last year for us, so we’re hoping to have similar results out of it starting this weekend for our Zest team.”
Las Vegas remains one of the few tracks Tony Stewart has never won at, but he’s been real close with as runner-up twice. Last season he had the victory snatched out of his hand late with a lengthy final pit stop in car that was head and shoulders above everyone else. He won five races in last seasons Chase after not winning any in the first 26 and three of those wins came on 1.5-mile tracks.
It’s an entirely new season with changes to the car, electronic fuel injection and changes to Stewart's team with Steve Addington taking over as crew chief, but Stewart should be in goods hands this week. It was Addington who lead the way for Kyle Busch to win his Cup race in his home town in 2009.
Kevin Harvick has a 13.2 average finish in his 11 Vegas starts, the first of which was his very first Cup start after taking the ride over for Dale Earnhardt. The city is also a special place for the Bakersfield, CA native because it is where he and his wife Delana got married. The couple is expecting their first child this season with hopes adding to the excitement by finishing the year off with Harvick's first championship.
In order to get that championship it starts with tracks like this that dominate the schedule. Whoever does well in Las Vegas sets the tone to who will be good for the remainder of the season. Stewart and Edwards finished in the top-2 at Vegas last season as well as season points. In three of Johnson’s Vegas wins, he went on to win the Championship.
Other drivers we should expect to do well this week include Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Greg Biffle. Kahne looked to have the best car last week at Phoenix, but hit the wall early on to ruin a great opportunity at a win.
Enjoy the race weekend everyone and good luck with all your bets. Most of all, enjoy the city to it’s fullest and let it all hang out. Remember, there’s no last call in Las Vegas.
Top-5 Finish Prediction:
#14 Tony Stewart (8/1)
#48 Jimmie Johnson (7/1)
#99 Carl Edwards (10/1)
#18 Kyle Busch (8/1)
#17 Matt Kenseth (12/1)
Be sure to check back later during the week as I'll be posting some notes on how the cars performed in Friday and Saturday practices.
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