Viva Las Vegas NASCAR Style

NASCAR is heading to the bright lights of Las Vegas this weekend for the UAW-Dodge 400. Las Vegas has always been a great race track for finishes and i'm betting 2008 will be no exception. As far as my choices to win this weekends event, it again comes down to two teams, Roush-Fenway and Hendrick. Why? Math once again tells the entire story. Roush-Fenway has five wins at Las Vegas (2 for Kenseth, 2 for Burton and 1 for Martin) while Hendrick has 4 (3 for Johnson and 1 for Gordon). So that really should narrow down my choices to win here this week, right?

Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet (Hendrick Motorsports)Last Week: 2nd place finish in the Auto Club 500

Career at Las Vegas: 6.0 Avg. Finish, 3 wins, 3 Top 5's, 4 Top 10's

Why he could win: Well, besides the fact that Johnson is the 3-time defending champion of this race, he's Jimmie Johnson. Plus he has the best average finish of all active drivers in the Sprint Cup Series at Las Vegas.

Matt Kenseth, No. 17 DEWALT Ford (Roush-Fenway Racing)

Last Week: 5th place finish in the Auto Club 500

Career at Las Vegas: 7.6 Avg. Finish, 2 wins, 4 Top 5's, 5 Top 10's

Why he could win: Kenseth has always been good at Las Vegas, winning two events at the track before Jimmie Johnson became the "King" so to speak. If anyone in a Ford is going to win this week, Kenseth is the man that could do it.

Mark Martin, No. 8 U.S. Army Chevrolet (Dale Earnhardt, Inc.)

Last Week: 16th place finish in the Auto Club 500

Career at Las Vegas: 11.2 Avg. Finish, 1 win, 5 Top 5's, 8 Top 10's

Why he could win: Mark Martin has made a career out of winning at tracks much like Las Vegas. He won the first Sprint Cup race ever held at the track and can more than hold his own against the powerhouse teams from Hendrick and Roush-Fenway. Look out for Mark this weekend.

So who is this week's underdog? Hmm.....

Reed Sorenson, No. 41 Target Dodge (Chip Ganassi Racing)

Last Week: 37th place finish in the Auto Club 500

Career at Las Vegas: 35.5 Avg. Finish, 0 Top 5's, 0 Top 10's

Why he could win: Does anyone remember who the only team was to win at Las Vegas that WASN'T a Roush-Fenway or Hendrick car? That's right, Sterling Marlin driving a Chip Ganassi backed entry in 2002. While Sorenson has never exactly had great success at Las Vegas I wouldn't be surprised to see him run up front Sunday.