Monday, March 16, 2026

NASCAR Race Weekend Recap (Las Vegas)

NASCAR Race Weekend Recap (Las Vegas

Winners: Denny Hamlin (Cup); and Kyle Larson (O'Reilly);

NASCAR Cup

Hamlin Overcomes Speeding Penalty en Route to Las Vegas Win

Hamlin Overcomes Speeding Penalty en Route to Las Vegas Win

 

A refocused and rejuvenated Denny Hamlin drove the dominant car to victory in Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

 

The NASCAR Cup Series victory was Hamlin’s first of the season, his third overall and second straight at the 1.5-mile track and the 61st of his career, good for 10th on the all-time list.

 

“I knew it took a few weeks to feel like driving,” Hamlin said. “Over the last couple weeks, I definitely regained my love of it, got refocused. These are great opportunities for us.”

 

His 61st victory broke a tie on the career list with Kevin Harvick.

 

“My name stands out amongst … there’s the legends of the sport,” said the 45-year-old Hamlin. “I feel very fortunate to be on the list. Those guys were far more talented than I have ever thought about being.

 

“I just work really hard. I still, to this day, work really hard at my craft to try to continue to get better. Days like today certainly make me feel happy about where I’m at in the sport still and what I can still do.”

 






Pole: Christopher Bell



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, March 22, 2026 at 3:00 pm ET for the ‘Goodyear 400’ at Darlington Raceway.



NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series

Kyle Larson Wins O’Reilly Series Sin City Sizzler!

Kyle Larson Wins O’Reilly Series Sin City Sizzler!

 

No matter the series, Las Vegas Motor Speedway agrees with Kyle Larson

 

Surging into the lead from the seventh position moments after the final restart on Lap 154 of 200, Larson pulled away to win The LiUNA!, becoming the fifth different winner in five NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races this season.

 

Larson crossed the finish line in Saturday’s race 2.557 seconds ahead of Chase Briscoe, who recovered from a brush with the outside wall and resulting flat tire to finish second.

 

“I was a bit nervous,” Larson said of the final run. “I knew the 00 (Creed) and Briscoe were ripping the top. I tried it once, and I didn’t feel good up there at all.

 

“I don’t know — clean air just must have meant a lot today. So, glad I was able to get the lead when it mattered.”

 






Pole: Sam Mayer



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series will return on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 5:30 pm ET for the ‘Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200’ at Darlington Raceway.





NASCAR Trucks

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series did not race this weekend







Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Friday, March 20, 2026 at 7:30 pm ET for the ‘Buckle Up South Carolina 200’ at Darlington Raceway.




ARCA

The ARCA Series did not compete this weekend







Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. EST for the ‘Hickory 200’ at Hickory Motor Speedway..



 

source: NASCAR Media

Saturday, March 14, 2026

NASCAR Las Vegas Qualifying Results

NASCAR Las Vegas Qualifying Results

Christopher Bell on the Pole

Christopher Bell celebrates his NASCAR Cup Series pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

 

Las Vegas Motor Speedway marks the first traditional 1.5-mile oval of the season on the NASCAR Cup schedule.

 

With a blistering lap at 187.156 mph in today’s time trials Christopher Bell claimed the pole position for tomorrow’s Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube (4 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

 

NASCAR Cup Las Vegas Qualifying Results

  1. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (28.853 seconds)
  2. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (29.003)
  3. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (29.063)
  4. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota (29.068)
  5. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (29.103)
  6. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford (29.160)
  7. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota (29.168)
  8. Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford (29.205)
  9. William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (29.217)
  10. Chris Buescher, No. 17 RFK Racing Ford (29.245)
  11. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (29.250)
  12. Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford (29.252)
  13. Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (29.279)
  14. Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota (29.285)
  15. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (29.289)
  16. S van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (29.294)
  17. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (29.338)
  18. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (29.343)
  19. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (29.356)
  20. Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota (29.363)
  21. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford (29.376)
  22. Justin Allgaier, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (29.376)
  23. R. Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet (29.387)
  24. Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (29.455)
  25. Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (29.478)
  26. John H. Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota (29.493)
  27. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford (29.493)
  28. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 RFK Racing Ford (29.504)
  29. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (29.530)
  30. Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (29.652)
  31. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford (29.690)
  32. Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford (29.745)
  33. Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet (29.770)
  34. Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford (30.059)
  35. Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford (30.250)
  36. Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (30.607)



 

source: The Tennessean Media

Friday, March 13, 2026

NASCAR Dignitaries for Las Vegas Motor Speedway

NASCAR Dignitaries for Las Vegas Motor Speedway

NASCAR Weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will bring star power from the stage, the slopes, and the screen for the highly anticipated Pennzoil 400 weekend.

 

Honorary Race Officials

Honorary Race Officials - NASCAR

 

Nick Carter

Nick Carter - Honorary Race Official

 

Nick Carter will bring international star power to NASCAR Weekend as he leads the lineup of honorary race officials at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Carter rose to global superstardom as a member of the iconic Backstreet Boys, the best-selling boy band of all time, with more than 130 million records sold worldwide. Fresh off the group’s headline-making “Into The Millennium” residency at Sphere in Las Vegas, one of the city’s most talked-about live productions of the year,

 

Ashley Farquharson and U.S. Luge Teams

Ashley Farquharson - Honorary Race Official

 

Joining Carter as honorary race officials are several members of the U.S. Luge Teams, led by 2026 Olympic bronze medalist Ashley Farquharson, who captured the podium in women’s singles. She will be joined by fellow 2026 Olympians Zack DiGregorio (men’s doubles), Ansel Haugsjaa (men’s doubles), Jonny Gustafson (men’s singles), and Marcus Mueller, who set an Olympic track record in men’s doubles at Cortina alongside Haugsjaa. The Olympians will take part in pre-race ceremonies, bringing the speed, precision, and fearless competitive spirit of Olympic luge to the high-intensity atmosphere of NASCAR racing.

 

Blippi

Blippi - Honorary Race Official

 

Lastly, adding excitement for the youngest race fans, Blippi will serve as an honorary race official on March 15 as part of a year focused on cars, vehicles, and how things move across his globally recognized YouTube platform. One of the most popular live-action preschool brands in the world, Blippi reaches more than 100 million fans and averages more than 2 billion views each month. Known for his curiosity, energy, and hands-on exploration, Blippi will bring an engaging and family-friendly presence to the racetrack, helping introduce a new generation of fans to the sights and sounds of NASCAR.

 

“This is one of the most dynamic and star-studded honorary race official lineups we’ve ever assembled,” said Patrick Lindsey, General Manager of Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “We’re welcoming one of pop music’s most recognizable stars, Olympic athletes who competed on the world’s biggest stage, and a global children’s phenomenon, all right here at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.”

 


Grand Marshal - LiUNA NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race

Jacob Lofland

Jacob Lofland - Grand Marshal - LiUNA NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race

 

The rising Hollywood star will appear on behalf of WILDE Protein Snacks, a primary partner of JR Motorsports, bringing Hollywood energy to the iconic NASCAR event in Las Vegas.

 

As Grand Marshal, Lofland will be at the center of Saturday’s pre-race festivities, adding star power and energy to a weekend that consistently highlights NASCAR’s emerging drivers. These young stars are battling for early-season momentum and valuable championship points. The moment underscores the shared DNA between high-performance racing and WILDE’s bold, protein-powered approach to snacking.

 

“Jacob represents the next generation of Hollywood talent, and that aligns perfectly with what this race is all about, showcasing NASCAR’s rising stars,” said Patrick Lindsey, Sr. Vice President and General Manager of Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “It’s fitting to have someone whose career is accelerating just as fast as these cars join us for the perfect weekend.”

 

Grand Marshal for the Cup’s ‘Pennzoil 400’

Jonathan Davis, Frontman of KORN

Jonathan Davis - Grand Marshal for the Cup’s ‘Pennzoil 400’

 

The roar of NASCAR engines will collide with the powerhouse vocals of rock music superstar Jonathan Davis, @JDavisOfficial lead vocalist and founding member of the two time-Grammy Award-winning band Korn, who has been named Grand Marshal of the Pennzoil 400 - presented by Jiffy Lube at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 15.

 

As Grand Marshal, Davis will deliver the most anticipated words in motorsports, bringing the intensity of alt-rock/metal to NASCAR's Cup Series at LVMS.

 

"Our concerts are loud, fast, and full of chaos, which sounds a lot like a NASCAR race," Davis said. "I'm excited to jump into that world and soak up the energy of the track in Las Vegas."

 





Cup Pace Car Driver

Tiffany-Stratton

Tiffany-Stratton - Cup Pace Car Driver



WWE Superstar Tiffany Stratton shifts from the center stage to take the wheel as the Honorary Pace Car Driver for the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube on Sunday, March 15. Stratton will lead the field to the green flag, kicking off NASCAR’s second race on the West Coast Swing.

 

Stratton has built a reputation for her fearless presence, magnetic charisma, and ability to shine in high-stakes moments, quickly becoming one of WWE’s most electrifying Superstars. As a former competitive gymnast turned WWE Women’s Champion, her role at the Pennzoil 400 combines the excitement of sports entertainment with the intensity of motorsports, creating an experience that fans of both genres won’t want to miss.

 

“Leading the whole pack as the Honorary Pace Car Driver for this NASCAR weekend is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I can’t wait to share it with fans from start to finish,” said Stratton.

 

Cup National Anthem

Foreigner

Foreigner - Cup National Anthem

 

Rock legends FOREIGNER will perform the national anthem ahead of the highly anticipated Pennzoil 400 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 15, bringing iconic arena-rock energy to one of NASCAR’s premier weekends. With shows leading up to their appearance at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, along with their exclusive visit to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the band is set to deliver a powerful and patriotic performance that will set the tone for an electrifying day of racing.

 

As one of the most enduring and successful rock bands in music history, FOREIGNER aims to deliver a performance that is both electrifying and deeply resonant as they perform their rendition of the national anthem at one of NASCAR’s premier race weekends. Known for their catalog of global hits and decades of chart-topping success, the multi-platinum band will bring its signature powerhouse sound to race day, creating a memorable opening moment for fans in attendance and viewers nationwide.

 

“We’re excited to have FOREIGNER bring their musical excellence to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for Pennzoil 400,” said Patrick Lindsey, senior vice president and general manager of Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “Bringing together legendary rock artists and the high-energy atmosphere of race weekend creates a unique experience for not only NASCAR fans, but also for the broader Las Vegas community.”

 

Cup Flyover

U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II

U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II - Cup Flyover

 

The U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft will perform an awe-inspiring flyover during the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube on Sunday, March 15. The flyover, scheduled just before the green flag, promises to deliver a breathtaking display of skill, precision, and patriotism for fans in attendance.

 

The A-10 Thunderbolt II, affectionately known as the “Warthog,” is a legendary aircraft renowned for its durability, firepower, and maneuverability. Piloted by highly trained U.S. Air Force personnel, the aircraft will perform a low-altitude, high-speed pass over the speedway, providing a thrilling spectacle that mirrors the intensity and precision of NASCAR racing. The flyover is part of a long-standing tradition honoring our nation’s military heroes at major sporting events.