Alex Bowman King of Hearts NASCAR in Las Vegas

This third 2022 round contested on the Las Vegas oval was of particular importance because this 1,5 mile (2,4 km) track format is the majority in the season. The good news for the rest of the championship, although the Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolets took a second victory in a row, is that no brand or team really stood out.

New arrival under Overtime © Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

With all due respect to the drivers who have distinguished themselves since the start of the season, including the revelation Austin Cindric, the Las Vegas round confirms that the Next Gen remains the star this year. The model has successfully entered the scene, offering us competitive races and giving back the good role to the drivers forced to refine their driving at the wheel of these cars which are much more sensitive to aerodynamic disturbances than those of previous generations.

Viva Las Vegas!!! © Meg Oliphant/Getty Images

On the Hendrick Motorsports side, we signaled the end of the break after the Fontana round. Kyle Larson's 100% Californian victory could not make us forget the racing events, in particular this sequence with 21 laps to go, which saw Larson manfully crush Chase Elliott while Alex Bowman hit the wall. The season is long but the team cannot afford to stupidly lose big points when we see that the first ten drivers in the general classification were only separated by 21 units at the start of this round in Las Vegas.

In qualifying, Christopher Bell confirmed all the good things people thought of him by signing his first career pole position. Let us note, however, that it was time for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver to shine, he who occupied last place in the standings at the start of the 267 laps of the race after a catastrophic start to the season! By leading the first 30 laps, he confirmed his good intentions and a fine 10th place finish will reward his efforts.

Ups and downs for Christopher Bell © Dylan Buell/Getty Images

Starting in 37th and last position following a change of chassis made necessary by a violent crash during practice, Kyle Busch had a good start to the race by moving back into the Top 20 before the competition yellow flag on the 30th lap. 13 laps later he avoided Austin Dillon and Justin Haley in distress to continue his race and complete the first segment in the Top 10.

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—FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 6, 2022

Kyle Larson launched his fabulous season in 2021 marked by 10 victories on this oval. He was therefore one of the big favorites at the start, just like Denny Hamlin, winner of the second race of the year held in the Nevada desert, who took control of the race on the 50th lap. Dominant at Fontana, Tyler Reddick caused a neutralization on the 65th lap and a final salvo of refueling before the end of a particularly uncertain first segment, won by Alex Bowman.

Ryan Blaney had to give up after a collision with Brad Keselowski and Chase Briscoe, after some tensions on the track with Kyle Busch, unintentionally animated the second segment by being involved in several incidents which forced him to give up after having notably eliminated Daniel Suarez. At mid-race there were already 8 neutralizations before a ninth caused by a loss of control by pole sitter Christopher Bell.

Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney neutralize each other © Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

The second segment finally went to Ross Chastain, who has been in the spotlight since the start of the event, to everyone's surprise. Behind the driver of the small Trackhouse Racing team, Elliott, Larson and Byron offered a nice group shot to Hendrick Motorsports in front of two Toyota Joe Gibbs of Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. and two Fords of Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick. A nice, promising balance of forces at the start of the final sprint!

Surprisingly, the end of the race would prove to be wiser. If many drivers were going to hit the wall, only Denny Hamlin, victim of a technical problem, and Erik Jones, victim of his own enthusiasm, caused yellow flags, the last of which on the 267th lap. As at Fontana, the decision had to be made under Overtime with a Hendrick trio of Larson, Bowman and Byron leading the pack ahead of Kyle Busch. The Chevrolet drivers were the only ones to choose to change only two tires while Busch chose 4 new tires.

Close Racing in Nevada © Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

If Byron quickly lost a few lengths, Kyle Busch played his luck until the last meters of the race but had to bow to Ross Chastain who returned to steal third place from him behind Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman who won with great authority and a touch of opportunism his first victory of the season.

🏁 He beat the house 🏁@Alex_Bowman | @TeamHendrick pic.twitter.com/8WlYzRoSpD

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 7, 2022

Las Vegas Pennzoil 400 standings:

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