2012 Kobalt Tools 400 Predictions
Written by Steve Janus - Google +
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Las Vegas, Nevada for the 2012 Kobalt Tools 400. Last week it was Denny Hamlin who was able to bring home the checkered flag at the Subway Fresh Fit 500. It was a big win for Hamlin, who never really seemed to get on track in 2011. Kevin Harvick and Greg Biffle rounded out the top 3 , while Jimmie Johnson returned from a wreck at Daytona to finish 4th.
The Kobalt Tools 400 is one of the fans favorite events to attend, which really makes for an exciting weekend of racing. The race is scheduled for 2:30 ET on Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This will be the first race of the season ran on a 1.5 mile track.
While Jimmie Johnson is the odds on favorite to win the race, who has four career wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The other guy getting a lot of attention this week is defending champ Carl Edwards, who won for the second time in four starts at this event. While Edwards will be a popular pick, I still have my concerns with the No. 99 car early in the season. Edwards usually races extremely well at Phoenix, but last week he finished just 17th overall.
For those of you looking to place a bet while you are out in Vegas for the race this weekend, here is a quick look at the three drivers I feel have a great shot at making their way to victory lane on Sunday.
Jimmie Johnson – Johnson is the favorite to win this race for a reason, when he races well at Las Vegas he usually ends up winning the race. Johnson’s four wins on this track have come in his last seven starts here. I was impressed with how well he raced last week at Phoenix, despite the fact that he didn’t win the race. With Edwards, arguably his biggest competition at this venue, not looking all that great to start the season, my money is on the 48 car to get on the board with his first win of 2012.
Kyle Busch – Busch has been relatively quite so far this season. He finished 17th at Daytona and 6th last week at Phoenix. My gut tells me it won’t be long before the No. 18 car gets things going this season. Busch has won here before, taking home the checkered flag at this event back in 2009. He also has two other finishes inside the top 3. Busch will be motivated to race well at Las Vegas after engine troubles ended his run here early in 2011.
Matt Kenseth- Kenseth ended up finishing 13th last week at Phoenix after that huge win to start the season at the Daytona 500. I personally thought the No. 17 car would have a poor showing last week, as there is just so much that goes with winning at Daytona. Kenseth has a pretty good track record in Las Vegas. He won back-to-back races here in 2003 and 2004. He will be driving that same chassis that he won with before, and I look for him to be towards the front of the pack all day on Sunday.
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