UAW/Daimler Chrysler 400 at Las Vegas -- The Just Us Cupdate

The Race Report

Las Vegas Pre-race Facts and Figures

Kevin Harvick's Future...extended at RCR or Driving for his own Toyota Cup Team or in the #88 in 2007 replacing a retiring Dale Jarrett. Wherever he lands success won't be long in coming.

I see a new nickname coming...Ryan Newman: The Fireman

Dodge getting their act together.

Bo Duke (John Schneider) sang the national anthem before the Busch race. His first zinger: "This song belongs to all of us, so I invite everyone to sing." Then, mid-song: "Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave? You bet it does." He then drove one of the last remaining original General Lee Dodge Chargers (which he owns) around the start-finish line. He put the car's 725-horsepower Hemi to good use, doing burnouts afterward.

Did I miss this in Fox's Pre-race coverage? How could they not show something like this? Ah well.

Credit Where Credit is Due...I may not like Jimmie Johnson but Darian Grubb has impressed me. He's ready for the big time. Someone needs to find this guy a #1 job after Chad Knaus returns.

Race Review and Analysis

Newman's Troubles. Gordon Bashing Biffle. And the Busch Boys Going Home.

Margolis's Vegas Observations via Yahoo

Darian Grubb, Matt Kenseth, Tires vs. Tires, and Paul Menard

Lee Spencer's report on Buschwackers appearing in the Busch Series

Complete Finishing Order

1 Jimmie Johnson #48
2 Matt Kenseth #17
3 Kyle Busch #5
4 Kasey Kahne #9
5 Jeff Gordon #24
6 Mark Martin #6
7 Jeff Burton #31
8 Greg Biffle #16
9 Casey Mears #42
10 Denny Hamlin #11
11 Kevin Harvick #29
12 Robby Gordon #7
13 Joe Nemechek #01
14 Elliott Sadler #38
15 Clint Bowyer #07
16 Kurt Busch #2
17 J.J. Yeley #18
18 Jeff Green #66
19 Dale Jarrett #88
20 Martin Truex Jr. #1
21 Tony Stewart #20
22 Brian Vickers #25
23 Jamie McMurray #26
24 Terry Labonte #96
25 Jeremy Mayfield #19
26 Carl Edwards #99
27 Dale Earnhardt Jr. #8
28 Scott Riggs #10
29 Kyle Petty #45
30 Bobby Labonte #43
31 Dave Blaney #22
32 Scott Wimmer #4
33 David Stremme #40
34 Brent Sherman #49
35 Michael Waltrip #55
36 Sterling Marlin #14
37 Kevin Lepage #61
38 Kenny Wallace #178
39 Travis Kvapil #32
40 Reed Sorenson #41
41 Ken Schrader #21
42 Chad Chaffin #34
43 Ryan Newman #12

The Just Us Cup-date

Place - Driver
Finishing Points
Deduction (DNQ/Prov -5, DNF -5,
Bonus (Pole +5, Most Laps Led +5, Win +5)
TOTAL

1st - Jimmie Johnson #48
Finish - 65
Win - 5
TOTAL -- 70

5th - Jeff Gordon #24
Finish - 60
TOTAL -- 60

6th - Mark Martin #6
Finish - 55
TOTAL -- 55

8th - Greg Biffle #16
Finish - 50
Pole - 5
TOTAL -- 55

11th - Kevin Harvick #29
Finish - 45
TOTAL -- 45

14th - Elliott Sadler #38
Finish - 40
TOTAL -- 40

16th - Kurt Busch #2
Finish - 35
TOTAL -- 35

19th - Dale Jarrett #88
Finish - 30
TOTAL -- 30

23rd - Jamie McMurray #26
Finish - 25
TOTAL -- 25

26th - Carl Edwards #99
Finish - 20
TOTAL -- 20

27th - Dale Earnhardt Jr. #8
Finish - 15
Prov - -5
TOTAL -- 10

35th - Michael Waltrip #55
Finish - 10
TOTAL -- 10

41st - Ken Schrader #21
Finish - 5
DNF - -5
TOTAL -- 0

No one gets the Most Laps Led bonus this time. The award would have gone to Matt Kenseth...and no one claimed him. He's the only one of the Roush-keteers not claimed in Just Us Cup.