(Florida Sports Wire) – This weekend marks the 35th running of a NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (1998-2025).
Christopher Bell is the fourth driver to win three of the first four races of the season, the only driver to win four of the first five races was Bill Elliott in 1992. Bell is the first driver to win three straight races in the Next Gen car and the first since Kyle Larson three consecutive races in 2021. The last to win four straight races was Jimmie Johnson in 2007.
In NASCAR’s modern era (from 1972 to present), only eight drivers—Cale Yarborough (1976), Darrell Waltrip (1981), Dale Earnhardt Sr. (1987), Harry Gant (1991), Bill Elliott (1992), Mark Martin (1993), Jeff Gordon (1998), and Jimmie Johnson (2007) —have won four straight races.
Bell, from Norman, Oklahoma, has given Joe Gibbs Racing it’s last five Cup wins. Bell’s three wins in 2025 are tied for his most in a season (2022, 2024). He won the pole for three of the last five 1.5-mile races; including the most recent Las Vegas race.
The Cup Series pole winner has won only once in Las Vegas Motor Speedway history – Kyle Busch in 2009 (he started in the rear due to an engine change).
The driver that led the first lap at Las Vegas is winless in all previous 34 Cup races. A total of 19 drivers have won the pole in the Cup Series at Las Vegas, and seven of the 19 are active this weekend; led by Bell and Joey Logano with three each.
Logano’s 207 laps led in 2025 is the most ever through four races by a driver without a top-10 finish (in those four races). Logano is the first defending champion to fail to earn a top-10 finish in the first four races of the following season.
A total of 18 different drivers have won in the Cup Series at Las Vegas, and this weekend eight of 18 are active; led by Logano with four wins.
NASCAR Cup Series
Next Race: Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube
The Place: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Track Length: 1.5 Mile Asphalt Oval
The Date: Sunday, March 16
The Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
The Purse: $11,055,250
TV: FS1, 2 p.m. ET
Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 400 miles (267 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 80),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 165), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 267)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Next Race: The LiUNA!
The Place: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Track Length: 1.5 Mile Asphalt Oval
The Date: Saturday, March 15
The Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
The Purse: $1,651,939
TV: CW, 4 p.m. ET
Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 300 miles (200 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 45),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 200)
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Next Race: Ecosave 200
The Place: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Track Length: 1.5 Mile Asphalt Oval
The Date: Friday, March 14
The Time: 9 p.m. ET
The Purse: $782,900
TV: FS1, 9 p.m. ET
Radio: NRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 201.0 miles (134 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 30),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 60), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 134)
Storylines:
· With a voice that transcends the screen, echoes through generations and a presence that commands respect, Academy Award winner, actor, producer, director and narrator Morgan Freeman has been named grand marshal of this year’s Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube on March 16 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
· Freeman will join a list of distinguished guests who have also delivered the command at LVMS including Las Vegas Raider A.J. Cole, Vegas Golden Knight Adin Hill and former Vegas Golden Knight William Carrier, legendary car builder Carroll Shelby, actor Mark Wahlberg, comedian Tim Allen, former Raiders Marcus Allen and Derek Carr, actor Cole Hauser, socialite Kim Kardashian, country music group Rascal Flatts, noted broadcaster Brent Musburger, legendary musician John Fogerty and UFC President Dana White.
· Reigning WWE Women’s United States Champion Chelsea Green has been named the honorary pace car driver for the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube on Sunday, March 16 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Known for her showstopping presence inside and outside the ring, Green will take on a new role in her career at LVMS. She will ignite the atmosphere with her energy and flair right before she hops into the Toyota Supra pace car, leading a pack of drivers revving their engines in anticipation of 400 miles of action-packed racing.
· Ross Chastain took a pit stop from the racetrack and joined students for a special Nevada Reading Week event where he inspired young racers and readers. The NASCAR Cup Series driver visited Lucille S. Rogers Elementary School in Las Vegas, where he engaged with students through storytelling and interactive discussions about the importance of reading and education.
· Milestone starts this weekend at Las Vegas in the NASCAR Cup Series: Ty Dillon (250th career Cup start), Carson Hocevar (50th career Cup start), and Zane Smith (50th career Cup start).
