LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 03: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Pennzoil Ford, crosses the finish line to take the checkered flag and win thethe Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil Oil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 3, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images
Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was the first ‘West Coast Swing’ race of the season for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. After an exciting start to the season, drivers are beginning to settle down and go to work for another long season. The series will race two more weeks on the west coast before returning home for some short track racing.
LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 03: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Pennzoil Ford, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil Oil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 3, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS – It was a victory for Joey Logano.
It was a victory for Team Penske.
It was a victory for NASCAR’s new higher-downforce, lower-horsepower competition package, which debuted in full flower on Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
HAMPTON, Ga. – Too sick to start practice on Saturday, Brad Keselowski found the cure to what ailed him in Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 14: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Beer Car2Can Ford, leads during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Gander RV Duel At DAYTONA #1 at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Photo – Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway covers ten days and encompasses many different events leading up to the Great American Race, the Daytona 500. On the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series side of racing, the first focus is a week before the main event with Pole Qualifying followed by the Advanced Auto Parts Clash featuring select drivers. Then in the week leading up to the biggest event in racing, the Gander RV Duel set the starting lineup for the prestigious race this Sunday.
Sure, Ryan Blaney would have preferred to have qualified better than 17th in Sunday’s knockout time trials for the Daytona 500, but he’ll have plenty of time to redeem himself in Thursday night’s Gander RV Duel and the race that follows on Sunday.