[bigboydan]

This weekend, the Nextel Cup circuit goes to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the 2006 UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400. Last year's winner, Jimmie Johnson, has gotten off to a phenomenal start this year. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him wind up claiming a second straight victory in this one. Other drivers to watch include hometown boy Kurt Busch and California winner Matt Kenseth. Anyone care to chime in with their predictions?

[onlooker]

Starting grid for Sunday, or Monday if it gets rained out on Sunday:

1 16 Greg Biffle Ford National Guard 172.403 31.322 Leader
2 20 Tony Stewart Chevrolet The Home Depot 172.068 31.383 -0.061
3 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe's 171.597 31.469 -0.147
4 5 Kyle Busch Chevrolet Kellogg's/Ice Age2 171.423 31.501 -0.179
5 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Dodge Dealers/UAW 171.054 31.569 -0.247
6 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Miller Lite 171.027 31.574 -0.252
7 01 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet U.S. Army 170.864 31.604 -0.282
8 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Cingular Wireless 170.816 31.613 -0.291
9 17 Matt Kenseth Ford DeWalt Power Tools 170.665 31.641 -0.319
10 25 Brian Vickers Chevrolet GMAC 170.638 31.646 -0.324
11 12 Ryan Newman Dodge ALLTEL 170.578 31.657 -0.335
12 18 J.J. Yeley* Chevrolet Interstate Batteries 170.546 31.663 -0.341
13 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont/Nicorette 170.170 31.733 -0.411
14 66 Jeff Green Chevrolet Best Buy 170.154 31.736 -0.414
15 88 Dale Jarrett Ford UPS 170.127 31.741 -0.419
16 11 Denny Hamlin* Chevrolet FedEx Freight 170.036 31.758 -0.436
17 43 Bobby Labonte Dodge Cheerios/Betty Crocker 170.009 31.763 -0.441
18 6 Mark Martin Ford AAA 169.966 31.771 -0.449
19 26 Jamie McMurray Ford Crown Royal 169.763 31.809 -0.487
20 07 Clint Bowyer* Chevrolet The Sopranos on HBO 169.758 31.810 -0.488
21 99 Carl Edwards Ford Office Depot 169.300 31.896 -0.574
22 10 Scott Riggs Dodge Stanley Tools/Valvoline 169.152 31.924 -0.602
23 21 Ken Schrader Ford Motorcraft Genuine Parts 168.988 31.955 -0.633
24 19 Jeremy Mayfield Dodge Dodge Dealers/UAW 168.840 31.983 -0.661
25 55 Michael Waltrip Dodge NAPA Auto Parts 168.829 31.985 -0.663
26 38 Elliott Sadler Ford M&M's 168.782 31.994 -0.672
27 1 Martin Truex Jr.* Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops/Tracker 168.782 31.994 -0.672
28 22 Dave Blaney Dodge Caterpillar 168.776 31.995 -0.673
29 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet GM Goodwrench 168.497 32.048 -0.726
30 61 Kevin Lepage Ford Hooters Hotel Las Vegas 168.329 32.080 -0.758
31 14 Sterling Marlin Chevrolet Wiley X Eyewear 168.287 32.088 -0.766
32 7 Robby Gordon Chevrolet Harrah's 168.167 32.111 -0.789
33 32 Travis Kvapil Chevrolet Tide 167.999 32.143 -0.821
34 178 Kenny Wallace Chevrolet Furniture Row Racing 167.890 32.164 -0.842
35 96 Terry Labonte Chevrolet DLP HDTV 167.686 32.203 -0.881
36 41 Reed Sorenson* Dodge Target 167.624 32.215 -0.893
37 4 Scott Wimmer Chevrolet AERO Exhaust 167.483 32.242 -0.920
38 42 Casey Mears Dodge Texaco/Havoline 167.260 32.285 -0.963
39 45 Kyle Petty Dodge Wells Fargo 167.136 32.309 -0.987
40 40 David Stremme* Dodge Lone Star Steakhouse/Saloon 166.672 32.399 -1.077
41 49 Brent Sherman+* Dodge Serta 165.487 32.631 -1.309
42 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr.+ Chevrolet Budweiser 163.334 33.061 -1.739
43 34 Chad Chaffin Chevrolet Oak Glove Co. 167.343 32.269 -0.947

[onlooker]

I will not be going this year, and Im glad I didnt buy any tickets. It should be a cold weekend out at the track this weekend, and I dont do cold very well. There was news of snow flurries in some spots here today. Strange weather for this time of year.

[onlooker]

My 5 drivers for my fantasy league this weekend:

Kenseth....#17
Gordon.....#24
Burton......#31
Kyle Busch..#5
Kane..........#9

(Stole the spacing dots off of Willie Bee.)