Suitably refreshed after their week off, even if nearly a dozen series regulars chose to race in Mexico City last weekend, the Nextel Cup rabble are ready to hit the town in Las Vegas for this Sunday's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400.
The most recent race in California may have signalled the ‘start' of the season, but this weekend's race in Vegas sees the season truly begin in earnest as the first of five races on consecutive weekends and if the Auto Club 500 is anything to go by, Roush Racing will be the team to beat once again.
Last year Roush placed three cars in the top ten but were beaten to the chequered flag by Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch, who were also strong in Fontana with Johnson chasing eventual winner Matt Kenseth to the chequered flag and the younger Busch brother finishing tenth.
But despite their defeat at the hands of Rick Hendrick's team last year, Jack Roush's operation are still the undisputed kings of Las Vegas with five wins from eight races including two for Fontana winner Kenseth. While Kenseth did not have the demoralising speed of teammate Greg Biffle in California, he had the ability to make his motor last the final, vital 50 laps. Even during the midst of a poor start to the 2005 season Kenseth was still able to make up two laps and finish eighth in Vegas last year.
Biffle should be strong once again, after proving last week that his unspectacular run through
Daytona wasn't indicative of his true form with the thus-far impressive new Ford Fusion, a car that has displayed none of the problems associated with the new-for-2005 Dodge Charger model. Even though Biffle has less race laps at Las Vegas than any other track courtesy of his failure to qualify for the 2003 race, he should still be a contender following his sixth place finish in Vegas last year, if he can persuade his undeniably potent engine to hold together.
