NASCAR - Las Vegas - Kobalt Tools

Happy 41st Birthday Matt Kenseth and Congratulations on your Kobalt Tools 400 win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Only 1 of 2 drivers who have ever won on their birthdays, following Cale Yarlborough, twice, 1977 and 1983 and Kyle Busch in 2009.

Las Vegas provide some racing this week. There was passing including for the lead. One time during the race TV coverage did show the drivers get 4 wide for a few seconds going into a corner. Kasey Kahne dominated the first part of the race, leading the most laps, but with great pit strategy Kenseth and his new Joe Gibbs Racing crew led the most of final 40 laps, keeping Kasey at bay for the win. This was Matt's 3rd Las Vegas win and his 3rd race for Joe Gibbs Race.
Top Ten Recap:
1. Matt Kenseth - started 18 - up 11 positions to 7th
2. Kasey Kahne - started 4th - up 17 positions to 14th
3. Brad Keslowski - started 1 - up 1 position to 2nd
4. Kyle Busch - started 13 - up 16 positions to 17th
5. Carl Edwards - started 16 - up 6 positions to 5th
6. Jimmie Johnson - started 3 - remain in 1st
7. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - started 12 - down 1 positions to 3rd
8. Martin Truex Jr. - started 11 - up 12 positions to 22nd
9 Kevin Harvick - started 8 - up 11 positions to 19th
10. Paul Menard - started - up 5 positions to 12th

Race for the Chase:
1. Jimmie Johnson - finished 6th
2. Brad Keslowski - finished 3rd - up 1 position
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - finished 7th - down 1 position
4. Denny Hamlin - finished 15th
5. Carl Edwards - finished 5th - up 6 positions
6. Mark Martin - finished 14th - up 1 position
7. Matt Kenseth - WINNER - up 11 positions
8. Greg Biffle - finished 17th - down 2 positions
9. Clint Bowyer - finished 27th - down 4 positions
10. Aric Almirola - finished 16th
11. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - finished 18th - down 2 positions
12. Paul Menard - finished 10th - up 5 positions

Biggest movers up this race were
Kasey Kahne up 17 positions to 14th - finishing 2nd
Kyle Busch up 16 positions to 17th - finishing 4th
Kevin Harvick - up 11 positions to 19th - finishing 9th
Matt Kenseth - up 11 positions to 7th - WINNER
Biggest mover down was:
Ryan Newman - down 11 positions - finishing 38th after blowing an engine

Next Race - Bristol Motor Speedway - Food City 500 - Sunday March 17, 2013 - 1 pm est

Have a Wonderful Week
Take Care

Barbara