Drivers to watch for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas

For now, things are wide-open in the NASCAR Cup Series as everyone continues to unlock the secrets of the new Next Gen car.

Nineteen different drivers have posted a top-10 finish over the first two races of the season.

Next up is Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which has seen several drivers become familiar faces at the front. But with the new car comes the potential for newcomers to join them.

Our list of drivers to watch for Las Vegas includes perennial Vegas favorites and others who haven’t had much luck there, but do have momentum going into Sunday.

Brad Keselowski

Multiple spins prevented Keselowski from getting a solid result last week, but the new driver/co-owner at RFK Racing has run well to start the year. That gives him confidence in maintaining his successful record in Las Vegas, which he achieved as a member of Team Penske.

“I know we didn’t have the finishing position to show for it in Fontana, but I felt good about where we unloaded in terms of speed,” Keselowski said this week. “We definitely have something to build from coming out of there, and Vegas for me is a place I feel confident at, and one I’ve had some great success at over the years.

“As I have said all along, this will be a slow grind to get to where we want to be, and this weekend is yet another opportunity to continue that.”

Kyle Larson

Coming off victory at Auto Club, Larson visits the track where he earned his first win with Hendrick Motorsports — an early but important piece of his epic 2021 season.

Larson has now claimed five of the last seven points-paying Cup races. He stands a good chance to make it six for eight at Las Vegas, which has been solid for him throughout much of his Cup career. His average finish there of 9.8 (11 starts) is