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Breaking Down the Top 12: Who’s Ready to Roll the Dice in Vegas?

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Hey everyone, Bryan here! We’re rolling into Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Pennzoil 400, and let me tell you—this is where things start getting serious. We’ve seen four races so far, and the early season trends are taking shape. Some drivers are on fire, others are still figuring things out, and a few guys need a bit of Lady Luck on their side this weekend.

Las Vegas is a fast, 1.5-mile intermediate track, the bread and butter of the NASCAR schedule. These races reward consistency, strategy, and the ability to manage long green-flag runs. But here’s the thing—Vegas can be unpredictable, and we’ve seen late-race cautions flip everything upside down.

So, who’s got the best shot at hitting the jackpot in Sin City? Let’s break down the top 12 in the current standings and see how they’re shaping up for Sunday’s race!

Alright, let’s get into it! We’re four races into the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, and the top 12 drivers are starting to separate themselves from the pack. Some have established themselves as early championship favorites, while others are clawing their way up the standings with consistent finishes.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a true test of a team’s intermediate-track program. It’s fast, it’s technical, and it rewards drivers who can find the right balance between speed and tire management. If you’ve got a strong long-run car, you can run up front all day. But if your setup is off? You’re going backward in a hurry.

So, how do the top 12 in the standings stack up heading into the Pennzoil 400? Let’s break it down!

1️⃣ William Byron (#24 Chevrolet – Hendrick Motorsports) | 165 Points

✔ Why He’s Dangerous: Byron has been one of the most consistent drivers this season, and his Daytona 500 win put him in control early. Hendrick Motorsports has been dominant at Las Vegas in recent years, and Byron has been a big part of that success.

✔ Vegas Track Record: He won this race in 2023, and when Hendrick has speed, Byron delivers. He’s great at controlling the race up front, which is key at Vegas.

✔ Prediction: Top-3 finish – If he qualifies well, expect him to lead a ton of laps.

2️⃣ Christopher Bell (#20 Toyota – Joe Gibbs Racing) | 152 Points

✔ Why He’s Dangerous: Three straight wins. Yes, you read that right. Bell is absolutely on fire, and when a driver is in this kind of groove, it’s hard to bet against him.

✔ Vegas Track Record: He’s been solid but not spectacular here. However, momentum is everything, and JGR has been dialed in on intermediates.

✔ Prediction: Top-5 finish – He’ll be fast, but Vegas is unpredictable, and I don’t see him making it four in a row.

3️⃣ Tyler Reddick (#45 Toyota – 23XI Racing) | 143 Points

✔ Why He’s Dangerous: Reddick’s aggressive, high-line driving style fits Las Vegas perfectly. He’s a guy who’s always searching for speed in places where other drivers won’t dare go.

✔ Vegas Track Record: He’s been close before, and 23XI Racing has been one of the strongest teams at intermediate tracks over the past two seasons.

✔ Prediction: Top-5 finish – If he finds his rhythm early, he could absolutely win this race.

4️⃣ Ryan Blaney (#12 Ford – Team Penske) | 136 Points

✔ Why He’s Dangerous: Blaney is one of the most adaptable drivers in the field, and Team Penske knows how to set up cars for Las Vegas. He’s been a quiet contender this season, but he’s due for a big performance.

✔ Vegas Track Record: He has four top-5 finishes here, but no wins—yet.

✔ Prediction: Top-10 finish – He’ll be competitive, but needs late-race speed to win.

5️⃣ Chase Elliott (#9 Chevrolet – Hendrick Motorsports) | 124 Points

✔ Why He’s Dangerous: Chase has been solid but not flashy so far in 2025, but that’s kind of his style. He’s consistent, and when Hendrick brings speed, he’s a threat anywhere.

✔ Vegas Track Record: Finished runner-up in 2021, but he hasn’t sealed the deal at this track yet.

✔ Prediction: Top-10 finish – Good, but not great.

6️⃣ Alex Bowman (#48 Chevrolet – Hendrick Motorsports) | 117 Points

✔ Why He’s Dangerous: Bowman won this race in 2022, and he’s quietly putting together a strong start to 2025.

✔ Vegas Track Record: Very strong. He’s great at managing long runs and sneaking into victory contention late.

✔ Prediction: Top-10 finish – Could be a sneaky good fantasy pick this week.

7️⃣ Denny Hamlin (#11 Toyota – Joe Gibbs Racing) | 110 Points

✔ Why He’s Dangerous: Hamlin is a master strategist, and if the race comes down to a late caution, you better believe he’ll make the right move.

✔ Vegas Track Record: Won here in 2021 and almost always runs in the top 5.

✔ Prediction: Top-5 finish – If strategy plays a role, Hamlin will be in the mix.

8️⃣ Kyle Busch (#8 Chevrolet – Richard Childress Racing) | 110 Points

✔ Why He’s Dangerous: Vegas is his home track, and he’s won here twice before.

✔ Vegas Track Record: He’s led a ton of laps here but hasn’t won since 2019.

✔ Prediction: Top-5 finish – Expect him to be a factor all day.

9️⃣ Joey Logano (#22 Ford – Team Penske) | 110 Points

✔ Why He’s Dangerous: Two-time Vegas winner. Logano is one of the smartest drivers when it comes to making adjustments mid-race.

✔ Vegas Track Record: He won here in 2019 and 2020, and he’s always in the mix.

✔ Prediction: Top-10 finish – He’ll run up front, but I don’t see a win happening.

1️⃣0️⃣ Chris Buescher (#17 Ford – RFK Racing) | 109 Points

✔ Why He’s Dangerous: RFK Racing has been quietly improving, and Buescher is a top-15 machine.

✔ Vegas Track Record: He’s had some solid finishes here, but he’s not a threat to win.

✔ Prediction: Top-15 finish – Good but not great.

1️⃣1️⃣ Kyle Larson (#5 Chevrolet – Hendrick Motorsports) | 108 Points

✔ Why He’s Dangerous: One of the best intermediate-track drivers in the sport.

✔ Vegas Track Record: Won here in 2021, and he’s always one of the fastest guys on 1.5-mile tracks.

✔ Prediction: Top-3 finish – Expect him to lead laps.

1️⃣2️⃣ Bubba Wallace (#23 Toyota – 23XI Racing) | 102 Points

✔ Why He’s Dangerous: 23XI Racing has strong intermediate-track speed, and Bubba finished 4th here in 2022.

✔ Vegas Track Record: Has been up and down, but knows how to be there at the end.

✔ Prediction: Top-10 finish – If he qualifies well, watch out.

Final Thoughts: Who’s My Pick to Win?

Alright, now comes the big decision—who’s going to roll into Victory Lane at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend? With so many strong contenders in the top 12, this race is shaping up to be a wild one.

After breaking everything down, I have to go with William Byron as my pick to win the Pennzoil 400. Here’s why:

✅ Hendrick Motorsports dominates at Las Vegas. HMS has won multiple times here in recent years, and they always bring fast cars to intermediate tracks. Byron’s win here in 2023 was no fluke—he’s figured this place out.

✅ Byron has been consistent AND fast. He kicked off 2025 by winning the Daytona 500, and he’s been consistently racking up top finishes ever since. That combination of momentum and speed makes him an easy favorite.

✅ He’s one of the best on long runs. Las Vegas races tend to have long green-flag runs, and Byron thrives in those situations. He’s great at managing tire wear and keeping his car fast over the course of a run—which is exactly what it takes to win here.

✅ Track position matters at Vegas. Byron is an excellent qualifier, meaning he has a strong chance of starting up front. With clean air and a good pit crew behind him, he can control the race like he did last year.

But Who Else Could Challenge?

Byron isn’t going to have it easy, though. Here are three guys who could give him a run for his money:

Christopher Bell – Let’s be real, Bell is on a historic hot streak right now. Three wins in a row?! If he stays mistake-free and his pit crew delivers, he could make it four.

Kyle Larson – When it comes to intermediates, Larson is one of the best in the game. He won here in 2021, and if the Hendrick cars are as fast as expected, he’ll be right there with Byron.

Tyler Reddick – This is a perfect track for Reddick’s aggressive style. If he gets a good setup and can avoid trouble on restarts, he could absolutely be in the mix late.

The Ultimate Sleeper Pick

If you’re looking for a wild card pick, keep an eye on Bubba Wallace. He finished 4th at Vegas in 2022, and 23XI Racing has been sneaky good at these types of tracks. If strategy and restarts fall his way, he could surprise everyone and steal a win.

Final Prediction: Byron Takes the Checkered Flag

While I wouldn’t be shocked to see Bell, Larson, or Reddick take the win, I think it’s Byron’s race to lose. Fast car, strong team, great track history—he checks all the boxes.

No matter what happens, one thing’s for sure—this race is going to be a thriller. Get ready for some three-wide action, late-race drama, and possibly a big upset.

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Bryan
"🏁 Cruising the fast lane for over a decade at DrivingOnMarbles.com! 🚗 Passionate about all things NASCAR and dedicated to connecting fellow fans. Gear up and join the race with me! 🏎️💨 #10YearsAndCounting"