If anything can happen in Vegas, it certainly does. One night before the Sprint Cup Series took to the track, it was upset night at the nearby MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. Connor McGregor was stunned by Nate Diaz, then Holly Holm was submitted by Miesha Tate to lose her UFC title.
Move to the following day, and of all the crazy things to happen in Las Vegas, the weather threw a major hiccup into plans for the day.
Already entering the day, a wind advisory was put in effect for during the race, and it sure lived up to the reality of what happened.
Wind speeds were showing as holding at anywhere from 20-30 MPH, and even had gusts in some instances nearly doubling those speeds. Prior to the race just trying to uncover the cars with their tarps became a battle of control as the wind picked them up like a parachute. Even the pit crews themselves had to change their tactics, as the pit signs normally used to signal which stall is used for each car suddenly wouldn’t be of any use. Wind speed turned the signs into possible projectiles, and safety was at risk.
Even during the race, the wind calmed down but then during one of the later stages in the race, suddenly it picked up and created even more havoc. Just outside of the track, beyond the first and second turns, is the Nellis Air Force Base, which is surrounded by sand and dust.
The wind picked up, and suddenly the dust that came from the Base, it made it’s way to the track. It was so thick at one point, officials extended a caution that was already out because of a wreck to let the dust clear. Everyone in the grandstands could barely see anything from turn 2 all the way through turn 3 with the dust.
Yet at other points in the race, the sun was shining down as if it was a summer day more suited for July, but yet the temperatures reminded everyone it was indeed March, and to bundle up.
It was absolutely remarkable that everyone survived the day, especially with how the teams were concerned as to how the winds would effect the downforce on the cars with the new package. Somehow, only a few incidents happened on track, and none were due to the wind but instead cars just getting loose around the competition.
Welcome to Las Vegas, where neon lights shine all day long, and anything can and will happen.
RESULTS: 1-Keselowski 2-Logano 3-Johnson 4-Kyle Busch 5-Dillon 6-Blaney 7-Harvick 8-Earnhardt Jr. 9-Kurt Busch 10-Kahne
NOTABLE FINISHES: 18-Edwards 19-Hamlin 37-Kenseth
CAUTIONS: 6 for 36 laps. Lap 32-35 (Competition Caution); 100-104 (Debris-FS); 179-185 (Debris-T1); 199-203 (#42 And 47 Accident-T2); 216-223 (#7 And 42 Accident-T4); 226-232 (#19, 21, 24 And 41 Accident-T2).
LEAD CHANGES: 20 among 10 drivers. Ku. Busch 1-31, Logano 32, Smith 33, Hamlin 34-43, Logano 44-82, Harvick 83, Dillon 84-85, Keselowski 86-99, Logano 100, Johnson 101-131, Logano 132, Johnson 133-148, Logano 149-150, Keselowski 151-154, Johnson 155-176, Logano 177-199, Kenseth 200-209, Johnson 210-216, Logano 217-223, Ky. Busch 224-261, Keselowski 262-267.
TIME OF RACE: 2 Hrs, 53 Mins, 55 Secs.
AVERAGE SPEED: 138.170 MPH
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 0.675 Seconds
POINT STANDINGS: 1. Kyle Busch, 116 points; 2. Johnson, -6*; 3. Harvick, -7; 4. Logano, -12; 5. Kurt Busch, -14; 6. Keselowski, -18*; 7. Edwards, -20; 8. Hamlin, -23*; 9. Truex Jr, -26; 10. Dillon, -26.
*Chase Eligible