Flag Drop is scheduled for 4:00 PM ET (1:00 PM PT / 12:00 PM MT)
Venue: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Nevada (1.5-mile D-shaped oval in the heart of the Entertainment Capital)
Broadcast: FS1 (TV), PRN (Radio), SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)
The fifth race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season heads to one of the most action-packed intermediate tracks on the schedule. Las Vegas has produced wild racing in recent years, including a record 32 lead changes in the 2025 spring event. This marks the first 1.5-mile oval of the year, where tire management, track position, and stage points will be critical under the new body configurations.
Track Details
- Length & Configuration: 1.5-mile asphalt D-shaped oval (tri-oval frontstretch). Total race distance: 267 laps / 400.5 miles.
- Banking: Turns 1-4: 12°; Frontstretch: 9°; Backstretch: 3°.
- Straights: Frontstretch 2,275 ft; Backstretch 1,572 ft.
- Type: Intermediate speedway – high-banked turns promote side-by-side racing and multiple grooves, with the unique D-shape creating a “backstretch drag race” feel. Stages: 80/165/267 laps.
- Key Characteristics: Progressive banking and long straights reward setup balance; tire wear can spike in heat, and cautions often bunch the field for late-race drama.
Weather Conditions
Expect dry, warm-to-hot conditions ideal for full-speed racing. Highs during green-flag runs: 85–90°F (peaking around 4:00 PM ET race start). Low around 80°F overnight. Winds 7–10 MPH (possible gusts affecting aero). 0–10% chance of precipitation – no rain delays anticipated. Partly cloudy to clear skies; track temps should stay in the optimal 110–130°F range for tire grip without excessive blistering.
Current 2026 Cup Series Standings (after 4 races)
- Tyler Reddick (No. 45, 23XI Racing Toyota) – 225 points
- Ryan Blaney (No. 12, Team Penske Ford) – ~165 points
- Bubba Wallace (No. 23, 23XI Racing Toyota) – 153 points
- Chase Elliott (No. 9, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
- Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing) – strong road-course boost
Reddick dominated early with multiple wins but saw his streak end at Phoenix. Volatility has been the theme – multiple drivers have climbed 10+ spots in points with one strong run.
Recent Driver Forms (Last 4 Races + Vegas-Specific)
- Kyle Larson (No. 5 Hendrick Chevy): Red-hot at Vegas historically; multiple top-5s and wins in recent visits. Strong practice/qualifying speed expected.
- Christopher Bell (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota): 2nd at Phoenix; four top-5s in last six Vegas starts. Momentum building.
- Denny Hamlin (No. 11 JGR Toyota): Two-time Vegas winner; consistent top-10 machine on 1.5-milers.
- Tyler Reddick: Three early-season wins but average finish slipped slightly; still the points leader and Vegas contender.
- Ryan Blaney: Phoenix winner (snapped Reddick streak); Penske Fords have shown speed on intermediates.
- William Byron (No. 24 Hendrick): Former Vegas winner; Hendrick cars historically excel here.
- Bubba Wallace: Best career start to a season (8.8 avg. finish); starting near the front this weekend.
Other notables: Joey Logano (+1100) loves Vegas (multiple wins); Josh Berry (defending 2025 winner) is a longshot at +5000 but could repeat magic.
Race History at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Pennzoil 400 Era)
The spring Pennzoil 400 has been held since 1998 (originally Las Vegas 400). Recent winners:
- 2025: Josh Berry (Wood Brothers Ford) – first career Cup win
- 2024: Kyle Larson (Hendrick Chevy)
- 2023: William Byron (Hendrick Chevy)
- 2022: Alex Bowman (Hendrick Chevy)
- 2021: Kyle Larson
- 2020: Joey Logano
Larson has three career Vegas Cup wins and leads active drivers in laps led. The track has seen Hendrick dominance lately, but Joe Gibbs Racing and Penske have multiple triumphs. Average race speed ~130–135 mph; cautions average 7–9 per event.
Key Driver Matchups
- Larson vs. Bell: Larson owns the track statistically (highest driver rating); Bell has the hot hand recently and JGR Toyotas were dominant last fall at Vegas.
- Reddick vs. Wallace (23XI teammates): Both Toyotas running up front; Wallace’s qualifying edge could help in the draft.
- Hendrick Quartet (Larson, Byron, Elliott, Bowman?): Deep speed expected; Byron and Larson are Vegas specialists.
- Blaney vs. Logano (Penske Fords): Penske has won multiple Vegas races; Blaney’s Phoenix form carries over.
- X-Factor: Bubba Wallace and Chase Briscoe (+1200) for upset potential – both have shown flashes in 2026.
Stage points will be huge – expect aggressive early racing in Stage 1 (80 laps).
Betting Trends
- Larson Vegas Dominance: 3 wins + multiple top-5s; overshot his expected finish in recent simulations. Hendrick cars have won 4 of last 6 spring races here.
- Toyota Strength: Four of top-5 finishers in fall 2025; JGR drivers (Bell/Hamlin) excel in clean air.
- Stage Betting Gold: Overs on lead changes (32 last year) and high stage-point totals.
- Underdog Value: Wallace and Blaney have covered + odds in recent 1.5-milers; Berry’s defending win makes him a live +5000 longshot for repeat.
- Historical Trends: Favorites win ~40% of Vegas races, but chaos (cautions, tire wear) creates value on top-5 props for mid-tier drivers like Briscoe or Preece.
DRIVER ODDS
Kyle Larson + 330
Christopher Bell + 450
Denny Hamlin + 550
William Byron + 800
Tyler Reddick + 1000
Ty Gibbs + 1200
Ryan Blaney + 1200
Bubba Wallace + 1200
Carson Hocevar + 1600
Joey Logano + 1800
Chase Briscoe + 2000
Chase Elliott + 2200
Ross Chastain + 2800
Ryan Preece + 3500
Kyle Busch + 4000
Daniel Suarez + 4500
Brad Keselowski + 4500
Chris Buescher + 5000
Austin Cindric + 5500
Josh Berry + 6500
Connor Zilisch + 9000
Justin Allgaier + 10000
Austin Dillon + 12000
Shane Van Gisbergen + 13000
Erik Jones + 13000
Zane Smith + 15000
Michael McDowell + 20000
John Hunter Nemechek + 25000
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. + 30000
AJ Allmendinger + 30000
Riley Herbst + 40000
Noah Gragson + 40000
Cole Custer + 45000
Ty Dillon + 50000
Todd Gilliland + 50000
Cody Ware + 50000
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, March 14, 2026
