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Keys to success at Las Vegas
It’s nowhere near the track it used to be after it underwent a facelift three years ago. Since the Cup drivers have a couple of races under their belts since the changes were made, their experience from the past couple of years should pay off on Sunday.
The banking on the frontstretch and backstretch is nine degrees, and the banking in the corners is 20 degrees. Expect speeds to climb, and the track to be faster as the banking should help the cars carry extra speed entering the corners. The racing should improve significantly, and look for side-by-side racing to increase.
I ran a truck series race at Las Vegas in the fall of 2006 — the first event held at the track after the banking was added and the resurfacing completed — and there was more side-by-side racing. That trend has continued.
With the length of the Cup race (400 miles), even though the surface is less than three years old, there will develop multiple grooves to run in. There certainly will be at least two-groove racing.
Fans attending this event get a treat as pit road has been moved much closer to the stands. This is unique not only for the fans — who really get a good look at all the excitement and pressure that comes with pitting — but for the drivers as well. The fans really enjoy the racing at Las Vegas as the track has a special kind of atmosphere.
What they didn't change about pit road is how tough it is to enter under a green flag. It's quite challenging as a sharp turn is needed to get off the track and into the pits. And with the banking that's been added, the speed of the cars will be faster. That only increases the difficulty of pitting under green. The transition between the banking on the track and pit road is fairly abrupt, and tough to deal with.
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