Kyle Busch Jumps to NASCAR Cup Standings Lead for the First-Time Since Joining RCR

Two races into the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season and two-time series champion Kyle Busch is back on top of the driver points standings for the first time since joining Richard Childress Racing. Busch holds a scant one point lead over Hendrick Motorsports’ driver William Byron in second and Team Penske’s Austin Cindric after opening the season with 12th-place finish at Daytona and a third-place result last weekend at Atlanta.

Prior to this week, the highest Busch had ranked in the points since joining RCR was third following the July Atlanta race last season. This is actually the first time he has led the points since winning his second title in 2019 (145 races ago). Now, the Las Vegas native heads back to his old stomping grounds to earn his first win of the 2024 season. Busch has made 25 Cup Series starts at Las Vegas, collecting one win (2009), 12 top fives, 15 top 10s and an average finish of 10.6. He has also led 311 laps at the 1.5-mile facility.

Watch for Busch to be contender at his home track of Las Vegas this weekend, he has finished in the top-five in five of his last six starts at the speedway.

NASCAR Cup Series

Next Race: Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube

The Place: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

The Date: Sunday, March 3

The Time: 3:30 p.m. ET

The Purse: $9,386,054

TV: FOX, 3 p.m. ET

Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 400.5 miles (267 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 80),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 165), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 267)

Suarez wins three-wide finish in Atlanta, becomes second driver to lock into the Playoffs

Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez, from Monterrey, Mexico, managed to win in a three-wide photo finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway last Sunday claiming his second career NASCAR Cup Series victory (Sonoma, 2022 and Atlanta, 2024). With the win, Suarez not only tied Juan Pablo Montoya (Sonoma, 2007 and Watkins Glen, 2010) and Marcos Ambrose (Watkins Glen 2001 and 2012) for the most Cup wins by a driver not born in the United States, but also is the second driver this season to lock themselves into the Playoffs, joining Hendrick Motorsports’ driver William Byron, who won the season-opening DAYTONA 500.

This weekend, Suarez will look to keep his winning ways going at Las Vegas, a track he has made 13 series starts at putting up two top-10 finishes and has led 84 laps.

Next Gen is off to another super-hot start statistically

On Sunday, fans witnessed the third-closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history when Daniel Suárez captured his second NASCAR Cup Series victory, narrowly beating reigning champion Ryan Blaney to the Atlanta Motor Speedway finish line by .003 seconds. The historic three-wide photo finish included Suárez, Blaney and two-time series champion Kyle Busch, who finished .007 seconds behind Suárez – marking the closest final margin between first and third in NASCAR Cup Series history.

Select this link for a high-res photo of the finish from Atlanta on NASCARMedia.com – Photo Link

With the 2024 season already off to a fast start here are some statistical highlights the NASCAR Next Gen car has produced through the first two races of the year.

• The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season has produced 377 Green Flag Passes for the Lead – the most through the first two races of the year since the inception of the stat in 2005, surpassing the previous record of 277 Green Flag Passes for the Lead through the first two races set last season.

• The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season has produced 18,458 Total Green Flag Passes – the most through the first two races of the year since the inception of the stat in 2005, surpassing the previous record of 17,579 Total Green Flag Passes through the first two races set last season.

• This is the 15th consecutive year (2010-2024) in the NASCAR Cup Series the season has opened with two different winners at the first two tracks on the schedule. 2024: William Byron (Daytona), Daniel Suarez (Atlanta).

• This season the NASCAR Cup Series has produced 23 different lap leaders in the first two races of the year – tied with 2008 and 2014 for the third-most lap leaders through two races behind the 2011 (28), 2010 and 2023 (25 each) seasons.

Atlanta Motor Speedway specific stat highlights:

• The NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway set a new track record for lead changes with 48, surpassing the previous record of 46 set in the Atlanta-1 race of 2022.

• The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Atlanta Motor Speedway-1 race produced 110 Green Flag Passes for the Lead – the second-most for the Atlanta-1 race since the inception of the stat in 2005; behind only the 2022 Atlanta-1 race with 141 Green Flag Passes for the Lead.

• The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Atlanta Motor Speedway-1 race produced 6,536 Total Green Flag Passes – the series-most for the Atlanta-1 race since the inception of the stat in 2005; surpassing the previous record of 6,439 Green Flag Passes set in 2022.

Outside front row is the qualifying spot to have at Vegas

A total of 19 different drivers have won a pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but the most proficient starting spot in the field is the outside front row a.k.a. the second starting position as it has won six of the 32 total NASCAR Cup Series races at the 1.5-mile track, double that of the next best starting position. The second starting position has a winning percentage of 18.75% and was the starting position of the last two Cup winners at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – William Byron (March 5, 2023) and Kyle Larson (Oct. 15, 2023).

Only once a driver won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway from the pole or first starting position, and it was Las Vegas native Kyle Busch who accomplished the feat in 2009.

Seven of the 19 NASCAR Cup Series Las Vegas Motor Speedway pole winners are active this weekend. Kasey Kahne leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with three poles (2004, 2007, 2012). Christopher Bell (2022, 2023), Joey Logano (2014, 2023), Kyle Busch (2008, 2009) lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in poles at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with two each.

Team Penske can tie Joe Gibbs Racing for the series-most poles at Las Vegas

A total of nine different organizations have won the pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and this weekend the Team Penske organization could tie the Joe Gibbs Racing organization for the series-most poles at the 1.5-mile track. Currently, Joe Gibbs Racing holds the record for the most poles at Las Vegas in the Cup Series with seven poles among four drivers – Bobby Labonte (1999, 2003), Kyle Busch (2008, 2009), Erik Jones (2018), and Christopher Bell (2022, 2023).

Team Penske currently has six Cup poles at Las Vegas among five drivers – Ryan Newman (2005), Kurt Busch (2010), Joey Logano (2014, 2023), Brad Keselowski (2017), Ryan Blaney (2018).

Both organizations won a pole last season at Las Vegas.

Who has been lucky enough to visit Victory Lane at Las Vegas?

The NASCAR Cup Series is ready for some high-speed action at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this Sunday, March 3 for the Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio); the second race on a 1.5-mile track, but the first time without the superspeedway package this season.

A total of 18 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. NASCAR hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with four victories (2005, 2006, 2007, 2010).

RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski (2014, 2016, 2018) and Team Penske’s Joey Logano (2019, 2020, 2022) lead all active Cup drivers this weekend in wins at Las Vegas with three victories each.

Eight of the 18 NASCAR Cup Series Las Vegas Motor Speedway winners are active this weekend.

Larson looks to become fourth driver all-time to win consecutive Vegas Cup races

Hendrick Motorsports’ driver Kyle Larson became the ninth different driver to win multiple races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with his victory at the 1.5-mile track in the Playoff race last October. Now, the 31-year-old, Larson, is looking to become the fourth different driver to win consecutive Cup races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway; joining Jeff Burton (1999-2000), Matt Kenseth (2003, 2004) and Jimmie Johnson (2005-2007).

Larson has made 15 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway posting one pole, two wins (2021, 2023), seven top fives and 11 top 10s. He has also led 447 and has put up an average finish of 9.9 – series-best among active drivers and second all-time to NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt with a 7.7.

Larson also leads the series in runner-up finishes at Las Vegas with four.

Five different winners in last five races at Vegas

Las Vegas loves winners, and this weekend 37 different drivers will compete for the NASCAR Cup Series win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube on Sunday, March 3 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Las Vegas has produced five different winners in the last five Cup races – Denny Hamlin (Sept. 2021), Alex Bowman (Mar. 2022), Joey Logano (Oct. 2022), William Byron (Mar. 2023) and Kyle Larson (Oct. 2023). Will we see a sixth different winner this weekend?

A total of 18 different drivers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and eight of the 18 are active this weekend, led by RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski (2014, 2016, 2018) and Team Penske’s Joey Logano (2019, 2020, 2022) with three wins each.

No driver has ever won their first NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but 14 drivers this weekend will be attempting to get their first career victory – Josh Berry, Harrison Burton, Ty Gibbs, Todd Gilliland, Noah Gragson, Kaz Grala, Daniel Hemric, Carson Hocevar, Derek Kraus, Corey LaJoie, John Hunter Nemechek, Ryan Preece, Zane Smith and J.J. Yeley.

NASCAR Cup Series, Etc.

Las Vegas Raider A.J. Cole named Grand Marshal for the Pennzoil 400 – Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube will kick off in style as Las Vegas Raiders’ two-time All-Pro punter A.J. Cole has been named grand marshal for the 27th annual event. The three-time Pro Bowler will deliver the command to start engines before a massive crowd at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“This is going to be a thrill of a lifetime to get to do this,” Cole said. “I know it’s pretty special to be the person chosen to do this, so I promise I will make it memorable. On top of that, I’m looking forward to spending the day taking in all of the excitement of a NASCAR event.”

Since joining the Raiders organization in 2019, Cole has been named to the All-Pro First-Team twice and selected for the Pro Bowl three times. For the 2023-2024 season, Cole led the NFL in net punting average and had the most punts stopped inside the 20. Cole was the Raiders nominee for the 2022 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, recognizing outstanding excellence on and off the field through exceptional community service.

Former MLB superstar and Las Vegas Lights FC Owner José Bautista named Honorary Pace Car Driver – Former Major League Baseball superstar and current owner of United Soccer League (USL) Championship team Las Vegas Lights FC, José Bautista, is shifting gears from the baseball diamond and soccer pitch to the racetrack as he takes on the role of honorary pace car driver for the Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube on March 3.

Bautista is best known for his impressive 15-season career in the MLB, primarily with the Toronto Blue Jays. He still is considered one of the most feared sluggers of his era, with 344 career home runs, three Silver Slugger Awards, two Hank Aaron Awards and a six-time MLB All-Star.

“I’m really looking forward to Sunday,” Bautista said. “I’ve been able to watch a few NASCAR races from afar, but to be the guy leading them to the green flag on Sunday is going to be something else. I can’t wait.”

Sunoco Rookie of the Year Spotlight: Spire Motorsports teammates 1-2 in rookie standings – Just two races into the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season and the battle for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors is already tight. Currently holding the top two spots in the Sunoco rookie standings are Zane Smith in first, driver of the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, and his teammate Carson Hocevar in second, driver of the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet. Smith is five points ahead of Hocevar.

Coming in third in the rookie points is Rick Ware Racing’s Kaz Grala and in fourth is Stewart-Haas Racing’s Josh Berry. Smith is seven points ahead of Grala and 11 points up on Berry after Atlanta.

Smith and Grala will be making their series track debuts at Las Vegas this weekend. Berry made his series track debut at Las Vegas last October, he started 29th and finished 32nd. Hocevar also made his series track debut last October, he started 25th and finished 36th.

Consistency counts in the quest for a Cup title – Through the first two races of the season several drivers have been off to a successful pace and here is a closer look at who has been hot out of the gate.

Two drives have visited Victory Lane this season – William Byron (Daytona) and Daniel Suarez (Atlanta).

Two drivers have finished runner-up this season – Alex Bowman (Daytona) and Ryan Blaney (Atlanta).

Nine drivers have finished in the top-five this season; 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace is the only driver this season to finish in the top-five in the first two races of the year, in fact, he is also the only driver to finish in the top-10 in both races as well.

19 different drivers have posted a top-10 finish in the first two races of the 2024 season. Bubba Wallace is the only driver to finish in the top-10 twice this season. The 19 drivers to post a top-10 finish in the first two races of the 2024 season are tied with 2022 for the most in last 10 season – 2023 (16 drivers), 2022 (19), 2021 (16), 2020 (18), 2019 (18), 2018 (18), 2017 (17), 2016 (15), 2015 (15), 2014 (16).

A total of 23 different drivers have led laps this season. Front Row Motorsports’ driver Todd Gilliand leads the series in laps led with 74 laps (16.09% of his laps completed); followed by Team Penske’s Joey Logano in second with 72 laps led (15.65% of his laps completed).

Through two races, 10 drivers have completed all 460 laps (100%) – Chase Elliott, Bubba Wallace, Chris Buescher, Ty Gibbs, Daniel Hemric, Corey LaJoie, John H. Nemechek, William Byron, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr.

NASCAR celebrates Wendell Scott at Las Vegas – This weekend the cars in all three NASCAR national series will have an opportunity to carry a tribute decal to honor NASCAR Hall of Famer Wendell Scott on their cars.

Wendell Scott was inducted into the 2015 class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Scott made his first start in NASCAR’s premier series on March 4, 1961 at Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds in Spartanburg, S.C. He made 23 starts that season, posting five top-five finishes. On Dec. 1, 1963 at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Fla., Scott became the first African American to win a NASCAR premier series event. Scott won the 100-mile feature race after starting 15th.

Over the next 13 years, Scott would make 495 starts. In his distinguished career, Scott accumulated 20 top-five finishes including eight of them in the same season he won his first career race, 1964.

Derek Kraus to make NASCAR Cup Series debut this weekend at Las Vegas – Kaulig Racing has tapped driver Derek Kraus to pilot the No. 16 Chevrolet this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Kraus will be making his NASCAR Cup Series career debut.

Kraus competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (eight starts) and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (three starts) last season. He last competed full-time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2022, where he posted seven top 10s and finished 11th the final standings.

Upcoming Milestone Starts in the NASCAR Cup Series – Below are some milestone starts drivers can achieve in the NASCAR Cup Series in the next few weekends.

Daniel Hemric will reach his 50th Cup start this weekend at Las Vegas, Tyler Reddick will reach his 150th Cup start at Phoenix-1, Christopher Bell will also reach 150 Cup starts at COTA.