Racing History: Carl Edwards Wins NASCAR Las Vegas

The third race of the NASCAR season Sprint Cup series rolled into Las Vegas this weekend for the Kobalt Tools 400, showing everyone that what happens here is going to carry over into next weekends outing in Bristol.

Las Vegas National Speedway has a track qualifying record with an average speed of 134.718, set back in 2000 on a hot and fast track, but today the mild 61 degree start time will add to a new twist in the valley. Racer have 267 laps to complete a 400 mile race on a track that show signs of age.

Today's top five starting spots belong to:

1. Matt Kenseth

2. Marcus Ambrose

3. Carl Edwards

4. Greg Biffle

5. Kyle Busch

Once again today, the cars were charged with the new E-15 Ethanol fuel mix on this mile and a half desert race track, as Gray Abercrombie (& Fitch) wore his own clothes in style, a girl on each arm, shouting "Gentleman, start your engines!"

The NASCAR Sprint Circuit has more Mile and Half track configurations than any other circuit.

Different from two weeks ago on the newly paved track of Daytona, Vegas challenges the drivers against each other, and the asphalt. This lap off the Las Vegas strip has bumps and cracks that will take hold of the driver's styles and could play on the outcome of today's race. Matt Regan experienced the ruthlessness of the track, spinning out during qualifying.

The one to beat this week, Matt Kenseth seemed to be the man to get, the pits expressed to their driver's. And for any driver to gain positions on, this Vegas track is one of the hardest.

Right away, fans knew they were in for a show.  Off the green flag, drivers started racing three wide, even around the bends.  In Vegas, dipping inside is permitted, no penalty is given to those who dip within the inside line.  The bumps of the track already showing obvious variables to deal with.  Trevor Bayne makes an early move, gaining five spots in the first 8 laps.

Lap 9 saw our first caution of the day as Robby Gordon's car took a long slide into turn 4, he powered the gas, and saved the car on the inside curtain with very little damage, only changing out all four tires, others stopping in for a little fuel.

Little action happened until the second yellow flag, shortly after the restart.  Robby Gordon catches back up with a free pass and settled in for another shot.

Into the first 20 Laps, Tony Stewart's car was running hot, leading out front during the race's lead laps, including the fastest lap on the day so far at 25.6 seconds.  David Regan gained 20 spots early in his very well equipped UPS car.  

Soon after, the horsepower of   car pulled him out in the lead, increasing distance fast, up to 3 seconds out in front.  Mark Biffle, Juan Montoya, and Marcos Ambrose mingled in the 3,4,5 spots.

Talking about his racing style, Ambrose announced ""I'm stubborn, stupid, and strong!"

With the first 50 laps down , only three racers haven't hit the pits yet.  Jeff Gordon, Montoya, and the race leader, Tony Stewart.  But with good pit crew decision, Greg Biffle hangs out on the race track and takes over the lead.  Most racers fueled up.

Tony Stewart drove strong and moved back into the lead.  

For the next 100 laps, it was all-out.  On lap 96, Kyle Busch blows a tire and plowed into the wall causing the third caution of the day.  Soon after the restart, Kurt Busch and Kasey Kahne found trouble and caused an immediate caution flag to drop again.

On lap 108, Trevor Bayne rubs against Jamie McMurray, sending him sparking into the wall and Kyle Busch's car had flames coming out the back end and the officials pulled out another caution.

All was good until lap 149 when David Gilliand cut his tire and slid into the wall with hard contact. On the caution, Tony Stewart was penalized for running pit row too fast letting Carl Edwards take over the lead as the green flag waived.

Mashing on the pedal, Carl Edwards got out with a 1.25 second lead, but Denny Hamlin started to make a push toward the front of the pack, the biggest mover of the day so far, Hamlin pressed up 32 positions from his starting point.

Meanwhile, Tony Stewart dropped in position after serving his severe pit row penalty. Carl Edwards increased his lead to 2.6 seconds ahead of second place, Martin Truex Jr studied Edwards lines for any hope to catch the fast moving driver who started in third position here in Las Vegas.

Brian Vickers moved into the Top 10 after a heated race from last week in Phoenix after he thought he was driven into the wall. Video proof showed different.

Carl Edwards continued to show little signs of slowing, increasing his lead to nearly 3 second ahead of the pace, the only thing that could slow him down now seemed to be another caution.

This time to the Veteran Jeff Gordon, cruising comfortably, his right front tire blows out on the heated asphalt and careened into the outer barrier, sending Gordon and his car into the Garage for another tough day at the races. The #24 car, sat on pit row spilling liquid and debris prohibited others from making a visit to their teams for fuel or repair. Soon reopening, a quick and populated trip to home base prepared for another run with everyone on a fresh set of tires.

Green Flag, 65 laps to go.  Drivers again raced 3 wide down the track, some even used the advantage of the inside curtain to catch pace.  Dale Earnhardt Jr. pulled into the fourth spot and when asked what they've done to make Earnhardt's car better, he replied, "I don't think I outta tell ya..!"

With driving skills and others car tuning to the pits, Tony Stewart finds himself in the lead again, this time chased by Juan Montoya who was in question of his fuel level at this point.  

with 49 laps to go, Stewart had a 2.4 second lead.  Denny Hamlin still made the moves and drove into 7th place, all this after having to replace his engine prior to the race.

At lap 35, in the lead all alone, Tony Stewart showed concern with his worn tires and fuel level.  Clean racing to this point provided a challenge for these pit crews and chiefs who crunch the numbers to find the best solutions.  Telling Stewart to roll in for a fresh set, he was followed by most of the pack.  Stewart got a 13.7 second stop and headed back on the track.  All this under green flag allowed Montoya to slip into the lead after waiving his decision to fill up.

But after the slew of racers received a fresh top off, Montoya then decided to pit at the tail end, hoping it'll pay off for the final run with 23 laps to go.  Carl Edwards settled back in as the race leader.

With 15 laps to go:  Edwards, Montoya, and Stewart led the top three, but with 13 to go, Edwards and gang had a lot of traffic to drive through as they continued to lap other teams on the field.  Still, a two second gap between first and second place.

With 5 laps to go, Tony Stewart passed Montoya, but the separation of Carl Edwards increased a little more through the white flag. Edwards efficiently flew across the finish line for the checkered flag for his fourth win of the season, and his 19th career win; the second victory in Las Vegas.

After his signature backflip from the window of his #99 car, he grabbed the flag and continued his very deserved victory lap into winner's circle for the glory.

"Can someone please explain to me how we lost this race today", questioned Tony Stewart."

The next event for the 2011 NASCAR season is the grinding battle in Bristol, TN.