Kurt and Kyle Busch will be returning to their hometown track, but it will be a brand-new experience for them and 41 other NASCAR drivers at today’s UAW-Daimler Classic 400.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway underwent a complete renovation in the past year. The track now has higher banking in the turns, which makes it faster. And the new asphalt should lead to more grip on the tires.
“It’s all about the speed and having multiple grooves of banking to run on,” Kurt Busch said. “The old Las Vegas track was considered a flat track. It was tough to negotiate through the corners with any kind of speed. Now we carry that speed through the corners. It definitely puts more of an emphasis on engines and aerodynamics.”
Kurt, the 2004 Nextel Cup Champion, and Kyle each will be looking for his first win in Sin City. Neither has been able to bring home a victory since NASCAR started racing there in 1998.
“It seems like I put more pressure on myself to do well and race hard and go for that win,” said Kurt, who will start 10th. “But most teams face pressure in Vegas because it is one of those prestigious events that we race each year. It’s in the top five.”
Though the Busch brothers have failed to take the checkered flag, they have fared well on the 1.5-mile tri-oval. Kurt has earned three top 10 finishes in six races, and Kyle finished second in 2005 and third last year; he’ll start 12th today.
Jeff Burton, who has won twice in Vegas, said he has concerns about the condition of the new track and is worried the tires may have too much grip.
“This is a totally new race track as far as the drivers are concerned,” said Burton, who qualified fifth on Friday. “They have new asphalt which makes the grip better. The best races are on tracks that are actually slick.
“You go back and think about the best viewing races and they are not high-grip race tracks. New race [surfaces] tend to have a lot of grip and the quality of the race goes down.”
Burton said he does see a lot of positives with the track and it ultimately will be a success.
“It takes a while for the new race tracks to season and to have quality races,” Burton said. “But something that is very good is the track in Vegas already has a second groove. Most race tracks usually start with one. In the future it could be a three- or four-groove race track [which would allow drivers to race three- or four-wide].”
Despite all the adjustments, Jimmie Johnson is favored to continue his dominance at the Vegas track. Johnson, the two-time defending Vegas champion, qualified 23rd. Kasey Kahne took the pole with a speed of 184.855 mph.