Las Vegas Sun

April 25, 2024

NASCAR Weekend 2011

  • Kyle Busch's crew looks over his car in the Neon Garage after the engine blew during the Kobalt Tools 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sunday, March 6, 2011.

    NASCAR notebook: Race not memorable for Las Vegas natives Kurt and Kyle Busch

    March 6, 2011

    By Ray Brewer

    The day didn’t go as planned for Las Vegas natives Kyle and Kurt Busch. Kyle Busch, who won the Sprint Cup race here in 2009, didn’t finish after his car caught fire in the 108th lap of the 267-lap race. About 10 laps earlier, he forced a caution when one of his front tires went out. Kurt Busch spun out in 103rd lap to fall to the middle of the pack.

  • Video

    Mike Smith NASCAR cartoon on national TV

    Mike Smith NASCAR cartoon on national TV

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    Front page of the Las Vegas Sun in the opening of the NASCAR broadcast on FOX.

  • Video

    The Racing Busch Brothers of Las Vegas

    The Racing Busch Brothers of Las Vegas

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    Mike Smith presents a brief history of the Busch brothers in anticipation of the 2011 NASCAR weekend.

  • Las Vegas Sun editorial cartoonist Mike Smith hangs out in the pits with ESPN's Jamie Little and her team during the Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday. Smith followed the pit reporter as she covered the race, interviewed drivers and crews and kept track of action on the track.

    NASCAR in Las Vegas: A day in the life of an ESPN pit reporter

    March 6, 2011

    Mike Smith, Las Vegas Sun

    I’ve sometimes thought that if my editorial cartooning gig didn’t work out, I could maybe try a new career as NASCAR pit reporter. NOT! What put a damper on my fantasy career?

  • Carl Edwards holds his trophy after winning the Kobalt Tools 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sunday, March 6, 2011.

    Carl Edwards wins Las Vegas race for the second time in four years

    March 6, 2011

    By Ray Brewer

    Carl Edwards back-flipped off his No. 99 Ford race car Sunday for a second time in four years at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

  • Mark Martin celebrates after winning the Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Saturday, March 5, 2011.

    Mark Martin wins Sam’s Town 300, Danica Patrick takes fourth

    March 5, 2011

    By Case Keefer

    Mark Martin won his fifth career race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the Sam’s Town 300. Martin took advantage of a day full of crashes and lead changes to capture the lead with two laps to go when Brad Keselowski ran into a wall.

  • Driver Matt Kenseth walks along pit road before qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 400 auto race, Friday, March 4, 2011, in Las Vegas. Kenseth took the pole position for Sunday's race.

    Familiar cars will start at the front of Sunday’s NASCAR race

    March 4, 2011

    By Case Keefer

    Only four different drivers have won NASCAR’s annual Sprint Cup race in Las Vegas over the past eight years. Three of those four will be in prime position to do it again Sunday when the 2011 Kobalt Tools 400 gets under way at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

  • NASCAR driver Kyle Busch signs an autograph for Clay Schisler, 7, of League City, Texas at the M&M's World Las Vegas store on the Las Vegas Strip Thursday, March 3, 2011.

    Kyle Busch fans show appreciation during autograph session on Strip

    March 4, 2011

    By Ray Brewer

    Brenda Clem considers herself one of NASCAR driver and native Las Vegan Kyle Busch’s biggest fans. Need proof? Simply look at her back, which is a walking tribute to her favorite driver.

  • NASCAR hauler parade kicks off big race weekend

    NASCAR hauler parade kicks off big race weekend

    March 3, 2011

    By Rich Coleman

    If you weren’t a NASCAR fan, you may have thought Thursday night’s snarl on the Strip was the traffic jam to end all traffic jams. But the cheering, smiling crowd on the sidewalks wearing NASCAR hats, jackets and T-shirts knew what all the horn-blowing signified. With the annual car-hauler parade, NASCAR Weekend is in full swing.

  • Fans pack the stands at the NASCAR Shelby American GT 350 Sunday, February 28, 2010 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Jimmie Johnson won for his fourth career victory in Las Vegas.

    Speedway officials expect traffic on race weekend to be better than past years

    March 2, 2011

    By Kyle B. Hansen

    Getting more than 100,000 people to and from one place at the same time is never easy, but Las Vegas Motor Speedway officials say they are set to make travel to NASCAR weekend as smooth as possible this year.

  • Alec Venegas, 4, (right) of Midland, Texas, with his father Eric, looks on in disbelief at Kyle Busch at an autograph-signing event at M&M's World in Las Vegas on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010.

    Free events on tap in Las Vegas for NASCAR race week

    March 1, 2011

    By Ray Brewer

    You don’t have to have a ticket to this weekend’s NASCAR races at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway to be part of the action. This includes several free events leading up to Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 400, the annual Sprint Cup Series race in Las Vegas.