Snapshot: Las Vegas

Fastest in practice
First practice: Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 Chevrolet (191.646 mph). | Full results
Second practice: Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet (191.891 mph). | Full results
Final practice: Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet (187.637 mph). | Full results

To the rear: Jeff Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet (backup car); David Ragan, Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota (backup car)
 
Last year's winner:
Brad Keselowski, Team Penske No. 2 Ford.
 
Driver rating (Best driver rating average at Las Vegas based in the past 10 years):
Jimmie Johnson, 113.6
Jeff Gordon, 103.7
Kyle Busch, 103.4
Matt Kenseth, 98.1
Greg Biffle, 97.9
 
V for Vickers
Brian Vickers will make his first start this year after missing the opening two races of 2015 following offseason heart surgery. The driver of the No. 55 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota will start 28th in Sunday's race. This weekend was the first time Vickers had been in a race car since the 2014 season finale in November.
 
Feels like the first time
Given the nature of his illustrious 23-year premier series NASCAR career, it's hard to believe Jeff Gordon is still accomplishing things for the first time. But that's the case at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where he won his first career Coors Light Pole Award at the 1.5-mile track in the desert. Of the 23 tracks currently on the Sprint Cup Series circuit, Gordon now has won a pole at 21 of them -- only Kansas and Kentucky remain. The feeling of that accomplishment may have been somewhat blunted on Saturday, however, when Gordon was forced to a backup car. He'll still get credit for the pole, but will start in the back. In Gordon's honor, the track has given white towels to fans to wave at Lap 24.
 
Mr. 200
Sunday will be Brad Keselowski's 200th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start. Three drivers have won in their 200th Cup start -- Bobby Allison in 1970, Terry Labonte in 1985 and Kevin Harvick in 2006.

Show of power
Hendrick Motorsports (four cars), Team Penske (two cars) and Chip Ganassi Racing (two cars) sent every one of their respective rides to the final round of group qualifying Friday. Hendrick cars comprised three of the top four spots on the leaderboard in Jeff Gordon (first), Kasey Kahne (third) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (fourth).

Magic number: 2
Following Joey Logano's win in the Daytona 500, his primary sponsor Pennzoil donated $22,222 to the Paralyzed Veterans of America. The number represented Logano's car (22) winning the Daytona 500 on Feb. 22 (2/22). If Logano wins Sunday's race, Pennzoil will donate an additional $222,222 to the organization.
 
He said it: "I've learned that my love for racing has only increased -- my love for what I do and how much I appreciate it -- but I've also learned that it's not who I am. It's something I do." -- Brian Vickers, on how his mindset changed following another health scare.
 
He said it II: "I used to play a lot of blackjack and I still play a little bit of blackjack. Then I really started playing a lot of poker. I realized, like most things that I do outside of racing, that I don't get near enough time to practice them and build a real skill for it. I'm a better gambler on the race track." -- Jeff Gordon, after being presented with a personalized blackjack table from Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
 
He said it III: "I'm just really, really happy, man. It's two weeks in a row we have done great on the 1.5-miles. I hope it's a sign of things to come." -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
 
He said it IV: "Who wouldn't? And I don't just mean the track." -- Clint Bowyer, when asked if he liked going to Las Vegas.
 
Former Las Vegas winners in the field: Jimmie Johnson (4), Matt Kenseth (3), Carl Edwards (2), Jeff Gordon (1), Brad Keselowski (1), Tony Stewart (1).

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