From the March, 2007 issue of Stock Car Insider

UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Recap

The newly revamped Las Vegas Motor Speedway made for dicey racing conditions on Sunday in the UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400. As Tony Stewart predicted after Saturday nights Busch race, the Sam's Town 300, the UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400 would claim many cars by race end.

During the off-season, Speedway Motor sports Inc, owners of Vegas, spent millions of dollars raising the banking in the turns from 12 degrees to 20 and resurfaced the entire track. Always one to make the safe bet, Goodyear specified a harder left side compound to guard against tire failure. Ask any driver, and they will tell you that a harder left side tire on a newly paved track is extremely slick!

And slick it was yesterday. In the first 40 laps, there were 4 cautions that claimed numerous cars. One team, Hendrick Motor sports, was seemingly immune to the track conditions. Two of their drivers, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon finished 1 & 2 respectively while Kyle Busch finished in 9th. The win was the 150th in Hendrick Motor sports history!

For Jimmie Johnson, the win at Vegas was his 3rd consecutive victory at the same track, and bolstered him to 4th in the standings. Johnson's win didn't come easy though. Jimmy had to overcome a pit road penalty and a small scrape with the wall. The reigning champion bounced back by leading 89 laps and winning the race.

Jeff Gordon, meanwhile, bumped up to 2nd in the standings still trailing the leader Mark Martin. The 4-time champion led 111 laps in the race only to falter after a late race tire problem. Gordon still trails Dale Earnhardt by one win in NASCAR all time victories.

Jeff Burton seemed poised to make a sweep of Las Vegas after winning the Busch race on Saturday. The South Boston, VA native lead late in the race before engine trouble doomed his chances of a sweep. Burton finished 15th.

Other top drivers faired as follows:

Tony Stewart followed up his 8th place finish at California with a 7th in Vegas. The former champion now sits in 13th place.

The darling of NASCAR, Kasey Kahne, was involved in a late race wreck and finished 35th. The 35th place dropped Kahne to 36th in points. It seems the #9 Dodge team is still reeling from the suspensions handed out at Daytona.

Carl Edwards had a strong 7th place finish to help correct a 2007 season that has completely started off on the wrong foot. The finish boosted Edwards to 17th in the standings.

Juan Montoya is learning his way around the oval tracks. The former F1 star finished the race in 22nd.

See complete 2007 NASCAR Schedule