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Jimmie Johnson has won the last three Las Vegas races. Kyle Busch is 0-for-4.By the Numbers: Las Vegas
Cup: Johnson hoping for fourth; Busch hoping for better
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One grew up 337 miles from the site of Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the other grew up on a three-eighths-mile tract of land adjacent to Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
One is 32, the other is 22.
One traveled 2,391 miles to join Hendrick Motorsports, the other traveled 2,233 miles to work for Hendrick before packing up after four years and moving to Joe Gibbs Racing.
There are miles of differences between Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch, but their roads have brought them to Busch's hometown this weekend -- one seeking to extend a streak, the other seeking to break one.
Johnson has won three consecutive races at Las Vegas heading into Sunday's UAW-Dodge 400 (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX) and aims to make it four in a row (listen to more). But it's been 33 races since Busch celebrated the first victory in the new car (Bristol, March 25, 2007). Johnson is the defending champion; Busch is the current points leader.
Although not a sure bet, seeing either of them in Victory Lane Sunday night isn't a high-stakes gamble -- the numbers line up.
4Consecutive victories by Jimmie Johnson at Lowe's Motor Speedway between 2004-2005, the last time a Cup driver won at the same track four consecutive times.
4Consecutive victories by Jeff Gordon in the fall event at Darlington Raceway between 1995-1998, the last time a Cup driver won the same event four consecutive times.
4Consecutive victories by Jimmie Johnson in 2007 between Oct. 21-Nov. 11, the last time a Cup driver won four consecutive races on the schedule.
4Finishing position of Kyle Busch in the season's first two races. Busch has three consecutive top-10 finishes at his home track of Las Vegas (second, third, ninth).
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
How the points leader has fared
| Year | Points Leader | Finish | Race Winner | Season Champ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Rusty Wallace | 3 | Mark Martin | Jeff Gordon |
| 1999 | Mike Skinner | 4 | Jeff Burton | Dale Jarrett |
| 2000 | Dale Jarrett | 7 | Jeff Burton | Bobby Labonte |
| 2001 | Rusty Wallace | 43 | Jeff Gordon | Jeff Gordon |
| 2002 | Sterling Marlin | 1 | Sterling Marlin | Tony Stewart |
| 2003 | Kurt Busch | 38 | Matt Kenseth | Matt Kenseth |
| 2004 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 35 | Matt Kenseth | Kurt Busch |
| 2005 | Kurt Busch | 3 | Jimmie Johnson | Tony Stewart |
| 2006 | Jimmie Johnson | 1 | Jimmie Johnson | Jimmie Johnson |
| 2007 | Mark Martin | 5 | Jimmie Johnson | Jimmie Johnson |
Back in Time
Oct. 16, 1955Norm Nelson won the 111-lap Grand National event at the mile dirt track of Las Vegas Park Speedway, the only Cup-level event held in Nevada outside of the current Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The race was scheduled for 200 laps but shortened due to darkness. Twenty-seven drivers entered but only 13 finished with Nelson lapping the field twice in the 43rd of 45 races that season.
10 Key Facts
1Driver who was running at the finish of all 10 Las Vegas races: Jeff Burton. He finished on the lead lap in all but one race (2001).
2Races in which Mark Martin did not record a top-10 finish at Las Vegas. He was 43rd in 2003 and 30th in 2005.
3Drivers who account for seven of the 10 victories at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: Jeff Burton (2), Matt Kenseth (2) and Jimmie Johnson (3). They are the only multiple winners.
5Las Vegas races that have been won by a Roush Fenway Ford: 1998 (Mark Martin), 1999 (Jeff Burton), 2000 (Jeff Burton), 2003 (Matt Kenseth), 2004 (Matt Kenseth).
6.0Average finish for Jimmie Johnson at Las Vegas, the only driver ranked in the top 12 with an average finish of 10th or better.
7Drivers who have started all 10 Cup races at Las Vegas: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, Mark Martin, Sterling Marlin, Joe Nemechek.
7Races of the 10 held at Las Vegas that have been won from a starting position outside of the top 10. The average starting position of winners is 16.2.
9.951 mphSpeed by which Kasey Kahne broke the old track qualifying record last year when he ran 184.855 mph on the newly configured surface. The previous track record was 174.904 set by Kahne in 2004.
19Drivers that have completed all 450 laps this season. Casey Mears has completed 214 laps, the fewest among drivers who started both races.
179Laps led by Tony Stewart in his nine races at Las Vegas, more than any other driver without a victory at the track.
1,396Points scored by Mark Martin in the 10 races held at Las Vegas, seven more than Jeff Burton, who ranks second.
Also
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- Sprint Experience winner part of title celebration
- Designs by Darenda has special date close to heart
- Hall of Fame now offering holiday-season incentives
- Sound & Speed festival to feature events on Jan. 8-9
- Busch, Hornaday honored as 2009 series champions
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Johnson vs. Busch
Las Vegas numbers, last three races
| Category | Johnson | Busch |
|---|---|---|
| Avg. Position | 5.1 (1st) | 7.1 (2nd) |
| Fastest Laps | 149 (1st) | 49 (3rd) |
| Green-Flag Speed | 163.075 (1st) | 162.170 (3rd) |
| Laps in Top 15 | 749 (1st) | 746 (3rd) |
| Laps Led | 197 (1st) | 5 (13th) |
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Active drivers based on victories
| Driver | Starts | Wins | Top-5 | Top-10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmie Johnson | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Jeff Burton | 10 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Matt Kenseth | 8 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Jeff Gordon | 10 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Mark Martin | 10 | 1 | 5 | 8 |
| Sterling Marlin | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Active drivers based on average finish
| Driver | Starts | Avg. Start | Avg. Finish | Led |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmie Johnson | 6 | 13.7 | 6.0 | 210 |
| Denny Hamlin | 2 | 16.5 | 6.5 | 0 |
| Matt Kenseth | 8 | 18.4 | 7.6 | 368 |
| Jeff Burton | 10 | 18.4 | 11.0 | 209 |
| Mark Martin | 10 | 15.3 | 11.2 | 258 |
Cup Series News
- Victory has Hamlin ready to fight for Cup title in 2010
- Martin can't mount charge needed to push Johnson
- Montoya, Stewart let anger get best of them in finale
- For four drivers, '09 finale more than end to season
- Johnson eases to record fourth consecutive title
- Evernham trying to clear way for return to garage
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