Late-race crashes lead to exciting weekend in Vegas

By NASCAR.COM
March 3, 2008
02:20 PM EST

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A recap of the winners and losers in Las Vegas:

Figuratively speaking

11 -- Number of cautions in Sunday's Cup race at Las Vegas, a new track record. The Nationwide Series race on Saturday also had a record number of cautions at the track with 13.

Cup Series

Pit Crew of the Week

No 48. Chevrolet: Who else? Crew chief Chad Knaus called for a two-tire stop and air-pressure adjustment on Lap 200 and the 48 car was first out of the pits, marking a 12-spot improvement. Jimmie Johnson led his first laps of the race and from there coasted to the title.

Tip of the Week

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Race
Lineup | Results | Standings | Central

• For the first time in track history, Las Vegas Motor Speedway ran a race with the new car and it didn't disappoint. The UAW-Dodge 400 saw 15 lead changes among nine drivers with Carl Edwards leading 86 of the 267 laps run to win his second consecutive race in the Cup Series. Jeff Gordon, who had just one DNF all of 2007, crashed with four laps to go dropping him to a 35th-place finish and giving him two DNFs in the first three races of 2008.
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Qualifying
• Kyle Busch put up a blistering lap of 182.352 mph to win the pole on his home track. Carl Edwards qualified on the outside of Row 1 and some go-or-go-home drivers surprised many with their fast laps. Mike Skinner in the No. 27 Toyota qualified fifth and Patrick Carpentier put his No. 10 Dodge 12th. A.J. Allmendinger, Joe Nemechek, John Andretti and Johnny Sauter were the drivers to not make the starting grid.
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Also check out ...
Menzer: Despite complaints, new car accepted
Crash has Gordon wanting safety upgrades at LVMS
Caraviello: Busches know Vegas more than the Strip

Nationwide Series

Race
Lineup | Results | Standings | Central

Mark Martin took the checkered flag in the Sam's Town 300, his first win in the Nationwide Series since another Vegas win in 2005. The way Martin took the lead was out of character, however, as he spun Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski with five laps to go.
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Qualifying
Brian Vickers gave Toyota its second pole of the Nationwide Series season when he put up the fast lap in Saturday's qualifying session. The pole was Vickers' second in the Nationwide Series -- his first came at Rockingham in 2003.
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Survey says ...

Following the weekend events at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NASCAR.COM asked:
What was the biggest surprise in Saturday's Nationwide race?

Answer	Votes	Percent

Mark Martin causing an accident	27,421	48%
Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart getting DNFs	18,561	32%
Mark Martin winning the race	5,637	10%
The strong run of Brad Keselowski	5,519	10%
Total	57,138

Off the Marx

Bill Marx of the Sporting News Wire Service weighs in with his top 10:

Pos.	Driver	Need to know ...

1.	Carl Edwards	Is there any doubt?
2.	Kyle Busch	Led 56 laps despite finishing 11th.
3.	Kasey Kahne	Only Cup driver with three top 10s.
4.	Ryan Newman	If Edwards runs the table, he'll finish the season second in wins.
5.	Kevin Harvick	Quietly fifth in points.
6.	Greg Biffle	Two top 10s in first three races. Off to a great start.
7.	Jeff Burton	Steady. As always.
8.	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Finishes second for another top 10.
9.	Tony Stewart	Fortunately, he walked away from a hard crash.
10.	Martin Truex Jr.	Edges Elliott Sadler for final spot.