RCR Race Preview: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway... In 88 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Richard Childress Racing boasts 12 top-five and 27 top-10 finishes.

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway... RCR has five wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, most recently by Austin Hill in March 2023. Other drivers to win in Xfinity Series competition for the Welcome, N.C.-based organization include Kevin Harvick (2004), Jeff Burton (2007), Austin Dillon (2015) and Tyler Reddick (2019). RCR has racked up four poles in the Xfinity Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with drivers Kevin Harvick (2007), Ty Dillon (2014), A. Dillon (2015) and Myatt Snider (2020).

Chasing 100... Richard Childress Racing’s Xfinity Series program currently sits at 99 wins and will become only the third team in series history to reach the 100 win milestone with their next victory. 

Catch Saturday's Action... The NASCAR Xfinity Series Las Vegas 200 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be televised live on Saturday, March 15, beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET on The CW. The race will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Friday's practice and qualifying sessions will be shown for free on The CW App.

Follow Sunday's Action... The NASCAR Cup Series Las Vegas 500 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be televised live on Sunday, March 16, beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1. The race will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Saturday's practice and qualifying sessions will air live on Prime Video.

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Dow Chevrolet at Las Vegas Motor Speedway... In 19 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Austin Dillon has two top-five and three top-10 finishes. The North Carolina native has completed 95.6% of all the laps run at the 1.5-mile oval. One year ago in the spring race at the Nevada speedway, Dillon finished in the 16th position.

Former Winner... Dillon is a two-time winner at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The 2013 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion went to Victory Lane in Xfinity Series competition at the track in March 2015, leading 183 of the scheduled 200 laps. Dillon also earned a NASCAR Truck Series win at the track in September 2010.  

About Dow...  Dillon and the RCR team are again supported by Dow’s materials science expertise and technologies this season. Backed by the power of data analysis and virtual modeling, Dow develops and manufactures high-performance components and materials custom-made for the No. 3 car. Dow and RCR’s partnership has expedited innovation and shortened testing time in the automotive industry by using one of the most extreme environments – the racetrack – as a real-time testbed. After 11 years of collaboration, Dow scientists and RCR engineers are continuing to work together to make the No. 3 car faster, safer, and more precise. Stay up to date with Dow's exciting developments at www.dow.com/sports, and follow them on X (@DowSports) and LinkedIn (Dow Sports Marketing Solutions).

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:

What are your thoughts on Las Vegas Motor Speedway?

“Las Vegas Motor Speedway is one of my favorite racetracks. It’s big, fast, bumpy, and has a lot of lines that you can choose. Being able to turn through the bumps in Turn 1 is very important. In Turn 3, you can’t miss the entry. The track has gotten a lot of character over the last couple of years, and that is what makes it fun to drive. I think the racing on the 1.5-mile tracks is probably the best racing we have now with the Next Gen car. I’m looking forward to going there this weekend in the No. 3 Dow Chevrolet.”

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 BetMGM Chevrolet at Las Vegas Motor Speedway... Kyle Busch made his first NASCAR Cup Series start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 7, 2004, and since then the Las Vegas native has gone on to achieve much success at his home track. Sunday’s 400-mile race will mark Busch's 28th start in the premier series at the 1.5-mile oval. Busch has one win, 12 top-five, 15 top-10 finishes, an average starting position of 11th, and an average finishing position of 11.3. Busch has completed 94.2% (6,829 of 7,247) of laps competed at the Nevada speedway.

Back Where it Started... Busch grew up approximately 20 miles from Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where the now 39-year-old graduated with honors from Durango High School in 2002. Busch began his career racing legend cars at the age of 13, winning two Legend Car championships at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and 65 Legend Car events.

Pole Position... Busch is the only driver to win consecutive Cup Series poles at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, accomplishing the feat in 2008 and 2009. Also, Busch is the only driver in series history to win from the pole at the west coast facility, earning the first starting position in 2009 en route to securing the race victory that same weekend.

An Impressive Track Record... Busch owns numerous Cup Series records at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In 2009, Busch became the youngest race winner (23 years, 9 months, and 27 days) in track history. Among active drivers, Busch owns the most top-five finishes (12) and starts (27).

Success Not Limited to the Cup Series... In addition to his Cup Series success in Sin City, Busch also has two NASCAR Xfinity Series and four NASCAR Truck Series wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Get to the Points... With his eighth-place finish last Sunday at Phoenix Raceway, Busch currently holds the eighth position in the Cup Series driver championship point standings.

About BetMGM... BetMGM is a market leading sports betting and gaming entertainment company, pioneering the online gaming industry. Born out of a partnership between MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) and Entain Plc (LSE: ENT), BetMGM has exclusive access to all of MGM's U.S. land-based and online sports betting, major tournament poker, and online gaming businesses. Utilizing Entain's U.S.-licensed, state-of-the-art technology, BetMGM offers sports betting and online gaming via market-leading brands including BetMGM, Borgata Casino, Party Casino and Party Poker. Founded in 2018, BetMGM is headquartered in New Jersey. For more information, visit https://sports.betmgm.com/en/blog.

Meet Busch... On Sunday, March 16 at 9:30 a.m. local time, Busch is scheduled to visit the Richard Childress Racing Merchandise Hauler in the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Fan Zone to sign autographs and greet fans. Wristbands are available with minimum purchase requirement prior to the signing.

KYLE BUSCH QUOTES:

What are some of your early memories of Las Vegas Motor Speedway?

“I always remember sitting in the grandstands as a kid, just looking around and being like, man, one day I want to race there. Vegas is just a cool track. Years ago it was wider, flatter and put on some really good racing. I finished really well there early on my first few years, then they reconfigured and remade it. I won early on in 2009 to get my only win there. But man, I've been so close. I think my top-three finishes is really, really high.”

What is your fondest racing memory of growing up in Las Vegas?

“My fondest racing memory is probably my first Late Model race. I started about eighth or 10th and ended up winning it. My first-ever start, I won. So that is definitely a great memory to have.”

Is there more pressure racing at your hometown track?

“Yeah, Vegas always means a little bit more pressure – more pressure on myself – just because it’s the hometown and you want to win there. Thankfully, I have won there and I’ve knocked that one off the list, but certainly you want to win there every year. I love Vegas, the atmosphere and everything going on around that place.”

What was it like to bring home a Cup Series win in your hometown in 2009?

“It was cool. To go out, run a smooth race and have a shot at winning at the end, that’s what it’s all about. I watched Vegas being built from the ground up, and I remember when it wasn’t anything but a gleam in the eye of Richie Clyne (founder of Las Vegas Motor Speedway) – all those guys who made that place happen.”

With four races in the books, how would you assess the start to your season?

“I would say that the step that we made from last year to this year was a really good step. With another major step like that, we can be a contender for racing for the win.”

Jesse Love and the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet at Las Vegas Motor Speedway...  Jesse Love has made two career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, both coming behind the wheel of the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet during his rookie campaign last season. Most recently in the fall event, the 20-year-old showed speed and finished in the sixth position. Growing up in Menlo Park, California, Love attended races at the 1.5-mile oval in person throughout his life. 

Points Leader... For the first time in his young career, Love enters a race weekend as the Xfinity Series driver championship points leader. Love currently holds a two-point advantage over second-place Justin Allgaier.

About Whelen Engineering... Whelen Engineering is a family-owned company with a pioneering spirit and a passion to protect the lives of those who protect and serve others. The company mission is to provide industry-defining safety solutions around the world, while creating a community of problem-solvers who are inspired to push boundaries and continue our legacy of delivering ground-breaking innovation. As a global leader in the emergency warning industry, Whelen has been trusted to perform since 1952, when George Whelen III invented the first rotating aviation beacon. Whelen now encompasses two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Connecticut and New Hampshire with over 750,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing space and the largest design staff in the industry. Every part of every Whelen product is proudly designed and manufactured in America. We embrace quality as our foundation, we celebrate innovative engineering in every product we produce.

JESSE LOVE QUOTE:

Heading back to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, what is the mindset for the No. 2 team?

"I always love going back to Las Vegas. It's like a second home to me, because I grew up racing there. I have a lot of friends and family in the area, who come out to support our team. The track itself is fast and technical. Our No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet was really good there last fall and it is a place that we can contend for the win at. I expect us to have a good showing this weekend."

Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet at Las Vegas Motor Speedway... Austin Hill has made seven career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, earning one win (spring 2023) and five top-10 finishes. In eight NASCAR Truck Series starts at the Nevada speedway, the 30-year-old has led a total of 80 laps and captured two wins (fall 2019, fall 2020), four top-five, and six top-10 results.

About Bennett Family of Companies... McDonough-Ga. based Bennett Family of Companies provides industry-leading logistics solutions that help businesses thrive. Whether you need specialized trucking, warehousing, 3PL, exporting, importing, or crane services, Bennett has the expertise to handle your most complex and time-sensitive freight. From LTL to over-dimensional truckloads, Bennett ensures safe, reliable, and on-time deliveries around the world. With a legacy of excellence since 1974, their family and woman-owned company is dedicated to providing personalized, flexible solutions that meet your unique business needs. Trust Bennett to deliver when it matters most – discover how we can help your business grow at www.bennettig.com. Together we can move anything.

Meet Hill... On Saturday, March 15 at 10:30 a.m. local time, Hill will visit the South Point Casino booth in the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Fan Zone to sign autographs and greet fans. Stop by to meet the 11-time Xfinity Series winner before the green flag waves.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTE:

With past success at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, what is the outlook for the No. 21 team this weekend?

“Las Vegas has always been a good place for me to go, even dating back to the Truck Series days. I’ve won races there on the Truck side and we’ve also been able to get a win on the Xfinity side. We always seem to be in contention when it matters. Even if we don’t win the race, we find ways to run inside the top-five. On a bad day, we run seventh or eighth. The track itself just fits my driving style. Over the years, the track has been bottom dominant, where you want to paint your left side tires on the white line, and I’ve been known to be a bottom feeder or someone who likes to catfish through the corner. Hopefully that trend continues this weekend.”