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Kurt and Kyle Busch are searching for their first victory at their home track in Las Vegas.By the Numbers: Las Vegas
Busch brothers hope roll of dice comes up lucky Sunday
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The week's By the Numbers focuses on the favorite NASCAR sons of Las Vegas -- Kurt and Kyle Busch. The brothers have combined to make nine starts at their hometown track, which also happens to be the number of Cup races held there since Las Vegas Motor Speedway opened in 1998.
Younger brother Kyle has had more success there, albeit in half the starts. He has two top-fives in three starts, finishing second and third, respectively, the past two years in the No. 5 Chevy.
Kurt Busch finished 16th last year, his first in the No. 2 Dodge. He garnered his only top-10s the previous two years driving the No. 97 Ford. In 2005 he finished third, right behind brother Kyle.
The 2005 event marked Kyle's ninth Cup Series start, while Kurt was the third race into a new season as the reigning Nextel Cup champion. The elder Busch led 40 laps that day, the most he has ever led in six LVMS starts.
Kurt has 15 career wins, but Vegas is among the unlucky 13 tracks where Victory Lane remains elusive.
"I want to win at all the tracks and hopefully I'll be around long enough to win at most of them. But Vegas is No. 1 on my hit list right now," Kurt said. "It's my hometown. I used to haul [rear] through that desert parking lot before the big track even existed. You know ... I saw it built from the ground up. With the track being completely redesigned now, it'd be extra special to win this weekend."
Interesting Fact
26.8Ken Schrader is one of 10 drivers to start all nine races at Las Vegas. During that time he has the same average starting and finishing positions.
Fun Fact
100:1Odds given for Robby Gordon, J.J. Yeley, Dave Blaney, Bobby Labonte, Brian Vickers, Reed Sorenson, Juan Montoya, Paul Menard, Michael Waltrip and Dale Jarrett to win the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400, the longest in the field.
All the Facts
0.045Margin of victory in seconds Jimmie Johnson beat Matt Kenseth to the finish line in 2006, the closest in track history that didn't end under caution.
1Number of laps led by 2006 winner Jimmie Johnson.
2Drivers entered in their first Nextel Cup race: Aric Amilora (No. 80 Chevy) and Jon Wood (No. 21 Ford).
2Number of drivers to win at Las Vegas in the past four years: Matt Kenseth (2003-4); Jimmie Johnson (2005-06).
3Races won from a top-10 starting position: Mark Martin, 7 (1998); Jimmie Johnson, 9 (2005) and 3 (2006).
4Consecutive top-10 finishes at LVMS by Matt Kenseth, the longest current streak.
4.3Average starting position for Greg Biffle and Kasey Kahne, best among all drivers with more than one start. Both have three starts at Vegas.
5Wins for team owner Jack Roush in nine Vegas starts: Mark Martin, 1 (1998); Jeff Burton, 2 (1999-2000); Matt Kenseth, 2 (2003-04).
7.0Jimmie Johnson's average finish in five LVMS starts, best of all time.
7Top-10s by Mark Martin at LVMS, more than any other driver.
7Most lead-lap finishes at Las Vegas: Mark Martin, Tony Stewart.
13Gallon-sized fuel cells to be used this year to combat possible tire problems a newly paved surface can have.
15Worst finish for Casey Mears in four LVMS starts, his first in 2003. He has three consecutive top-10s.
20Degrees in banking at the reconfigured LVMS, up from 12 degrees previously.
147Official car number for Ken Schrader per the entry list. Schrader's Ford will have the 47 on the side rather than the 21 he has driven the past 38 races. Jon Wood will race the 21.
174.904Qualifying speed for Kasey Kahne in 2004, a track record. Only three speeds came in under that mark during the two-day Preseason Thunder test.
179Laps led by Tony Stewart, the most of any driver without a Vegas win.
367Laps led by Matt Kenseth, most of any driver at Las Vegas
Stats at a Glance
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
| Year | Pole | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Dale Jarrett | Mark Martin |
| 1999 | Bobby Labonte | Jeff Burton |
| 2000 | Ricky Rudd | Jeff Burton |
| 2001 | Dale Jarrett | Jeff Gordon |
| 2002 | Todd Bodine | Sterling Marlin |
| 2003 | Bobby Labonte | Matt Kenseth |
| 2004 | Kasey Kahne | Matt Kenseth |
| 2005 | Ryan Newman | Jimmie Johnson |
| 2006 | Greg Biffle | Jimmie Johnson |
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