{"id":61367,"date":"2026-10-03T19:20:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T00:20:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=61367"},"modified":"2026-10-04T17:49:02","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T22:49:02","slug":"nascar-saturday-las-vegas-notebook-7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/03\/nascar-saturday-las-vegas-notebook-7\/","title":{"rendered":"NASCAR: Saturday Las Vegas Notebook"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

Christopher Bell aims to turn Las Vegas promise into a Chase payoff<\/b><\/p>\n

LAS VEGAS \u2013 Four races into the NASCAR Cup Series 10-race Chase to decide the 2026 championship, the gap between positions in points standings have spread out significantly heading into Sunday\u2019s South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (5:30 p.m. ET on USA, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).<\/p>\n

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Christopher Bell. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Reigning series champion, Hendrick Motorsports\u2019 Kyle Larson snapped a season-long winless drought with victories in two of the four Chase races \u2013 at Gateway, Ill. and last weekend at Kansas Speedway \u2013 and now holds a 26-point edge over Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin.<\/p>\n

Both have three wins at Las Vegas, with Hamlin the two-time defending winner in the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. The gap between Hamlin and third place in the title standings \u2013 his JGR teammate Christopher Bell is 50 points. Fourth place, Team Penske\u2019s Joey Logano is 67 points back, his teammate Ryan Blaney, 91 points off the pace and JGR\u2019s Ty Gibbs, 94 behind.<\/p>\n

Bell is a two-time runner-up at Las Vegas and considers it one of his better tracks on the circuit and hopes he can make some gains with four drivers now separated by less than a single race.<\/p>\n

\u201cWinning just means a lot, winning is a good way to recover points, to separate yourself,” Bell said. \u201cI think depending on who you are, it\u2019s important for me to close the gap on Kyle and for Kyle important to get away from the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got to stop going negative here and get some positive points on the five-car,” he added. \u201cI\u2019m really happy with where we\u2019re at. We\u2019re still in the hunt and not many of us can still say that. I\u2019m happy with where we\u2019re at, just need some positive traction on the vibe.”<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about it all coming together at the right time. Here at Vegas I\u2019ve had a lot of different runs throughout the race where I\u2019m able to lead the race and be in position to win, it just hasn\u2019t together in stage 3, the closing run of the race. It\u2019s one of my favorite tracks, and probably the place I\u2019ve led the most laps but haven\u2019t won. We\u2019ve been close and in contention every time, hopefully this week\u2019s the week.”<\/p>\n

Kyle Busch honored in his hometown of Las Vegas<\/b><\/p>\n

The weekend\u2019s NASCAR stop in Las Vegas in the first since two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and Las Vegas native Kyle Busch passed away in May at the age of 41 from severe pneumonia and sepsis.<\/p>\n

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 03: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars\/KyleBuschTribute Chevrolet, drives during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 03, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A hugely popular and beloved racer \u2013 especially here in his hometown \u2013 there have been several notable honors from re-naming of a street outside Las Vegas Motor Speedway\u2019s Bullring to \u201cRowdy Road\u201d \u2013 a nod to Busch\u2019s nickname. It intersects with \u201cBusch Brothers Drive\u201d a little farther away.<\/p>\n

Just outside the Bullring grandstands, a tribute marker to Busch was unveiled this week as part of the Kyle Busch Classic. His older brother Kurt will drive the pace car Sunday.<\/p>\n

Kyle Larson\u2019s No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet \u2013 the same number Busch drove for the team from 2003 to 2007 –  is carrying a tribute point scheme reminiscent of the Kellogg\u2019s colors Busch once drove for the team.<\/p>\n

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 03: A detail view of the “Tiny Kyle” decal on the #5 HendrickCars\/KyleBuschTribute Chevrolet driven by Kyle Larson during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 03, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Busch\u2019s signature will be prominently displayed above the passenger-side window and \u201cTiny Kyle,\u201d a playful nickname Busch gave Larson will be on the opposite side.<\/p>\n

Busch was formally inducted into the West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame this week at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas. His wife, Samantha and son 11-year-old Brexton were there to accept the honor on his behalf. In an emotional speech Samantha reminded that Busch never allowed his immense talent \u201cto be an excuse for not working hard.”<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause he wanted the next generation to go further. .. and there are so many drivers racing today because Kyle believed in them,” she continued.<\/p>\n

As she spoke about his great talent on the track, she smiled and recalled how people would think, \u201conly Kyle Busch could do that,” \u2013 to which Brexton leaned into the microphone and declared with a smile, \u201conly Kyle Busch would do that\u201d as the room erupted in laughter and applause.<\/p>\n

\u201cKyle\u2019s legacy is in the people he made better,” Samantha added. \u201cIt\u2019s in the drivers he mentored, the mark he left on the sport, the opportunities he created, the fans that still call themselves \u2018Rowdy Nation.\u2019 It\u2019s in every young driver that says, \u2018I want to be like Kyle Busch one day.\u2019”<\/p>\n

Looking into the audience Samantha reiterated how she wished Kyle could be the one there accepting this honor, but promised for their children Brexton and four-year-old Lennix, \u201cI hope they will always know this, their dad did not just win races, he changed the sport.”<\/p>\n

Roush Fenway transition, Brad Keselowski exit<\/b><\/p>\n

Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing and owner-driver Brad Keselowski announced this week that they would be parting ways at the end of the season. On Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway both entities spoke about the situation.<\/p>\n

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Brad Keselowski. (Photo by Matt Kelley\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 2012 NASCAR Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski was guarded but optimistic and RFK President Chip Bowers said the team was equally optimistic about moving forward repeatedly reiterating the team has nothing but good will for Keselowski, even as the team pursues a third charter.<\/p>\n

Keselowski, who owns, drives, and serves as competition director at RFK, formally addressed the media Saturday at Las Vegas after releasing a statement for social media earlier this week saying, in part, he wished the team well and was proud of the progress he shared in since buying into the company in 2021 and moving into those roles for the 2022 season.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not acrimonious,” RFK\u2019s Bowers stressed of Keselowski\u2019s situation. \u201cIf Brad would like to go race somewhere else, if Brad would like to be an owner somewhere else, or if Brad would like to lead competition somewhere else, he is more than happy to do so. There are some things we\u2019ll need to work out privately in terms of his equity, but we\u2019ll do that privately and it make take some time.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrad is an above-board pro, so we have no concerns he\u2019s going to take information from us. We want Brad to be highly successful. So, whatever it is he wants to do, we want him to be able to pursue it. It\u2019s just unfortunate we couldn\u2019t figure out a way to make it work here. But it\u2019s nobody\u2019s fault. These things happen.”<\/p>\n

Shortly after qualifying his No. 6 RFK Racing Ford 16th on the grid for Sunday\u2019s race, Keselowski spoke with the media for the first time since announcing the news. He reminded that he was finishing the fifth and final year of his contract with the team.<\/p>\n

He said he was open to a lot of alternatives from competing fulltime in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series where a title would make him the first to win championships in all three NASCAR premier series. He also said he\u2019s open to pursuing ownership with a different team. But he was definitely not ready to stop driving.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, go through these kind of road bumps and it’s part of the process, and I understand that,” Keselowski said of the situation. \u201cBut you know, I’ve grown through this process. I’m super comfortable with my abilities to own and operate a team. Feel like I can do it at the highest levels. Bullish on the future to do it. So that wouldn’t have been possible without this experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said he was hopeful that he would be in some race car come the 2027 season-opening Daytona International Speedway Speedweeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I\u2019m in a vehicle in Daytona I\u2019ll be confident of that, but right now I think there\u2019s enough interest where I\u2019m not sweating it,” Keselowski said. “There are things to work through, but there\u2019s enough interest to where I\u2019m confident that I\u2019ll be somewhere next year.\u201d<\/p>\n

What comes next remains very much unknown not only to Keselowski but also his RFK teammates, Chase-qualified drivers Ryan Preece and Chris Buescher. They both expressed support for Keselowski and desire for the team to move forward in a positive way. They credit much of RFK\u2019s recent success to Keselowski\u2019s presence there.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not a part of those conversations,” Preece said of any awareness in Keselowski\u2019s decision and the impending impact on the team\u2019s ownership group, which also includes NASCAR Hall of Famer Jack Roush and the Fenway Sports Group.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I was surprised for sure, but this is racing and this can happen,” Preece said, adding. \u201cJust because something changes doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t still try to win races and build a lot of fast cars.”<\/p>\n

Buescher also insisted any details of the situation weren\u2019t his own to be addressed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI certainly have a great friendship with Brad as a team owner, a boss and a mentor, so a loss from my point, but I want the best for him going forward, whatever that looks like,” Buescher said. \u201cI feel confident RFK will keep after it and working to improve ourselves and be involved in more Chases and more race wins.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrad has brought so much into RFK and we owe a lot of the resurgence to him and his input and the things he\u2019s been able to implement and push us towards. He\u2019s helped lay a great foundation to keep moving that ball forward.”<\/p>\n

As an owner-driver himself, Denny Hamlin was asked Saturday about where he saw the Keselowski situation from a distance. Hamlin drives for Joe Gibbs Racing and is a co-owner in the 23XI Racing team.<\/p>\n

“I just couldn’t imagine taking on both [roles] and I’ve got a pretty high tolerance for workloads,” Hamlin said of Keselowski serving as driver and competition director.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, it’ll be something that certainly is going to be a pretty big change over there. Obviously, there was a jump in performance, when he went over there, and whether that be through \u2013 could that be manufacturer stuff? Could that be technical stuff? Very wide range of reasons why teams run better after certain times or not, but, you know, the proof will be in what happens years down the road, right? And so, it certainly is going to be a big reset for the whole Roush Fenway group.\u201d<\/p>\n

O’Reilly Series title contender Creed to new team in 2027<\/b><\/p>\n

The current NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series championship leader, Californian Sheldon Creed, announced Saturday before the Focused Health 302 (7:30 p.m. ET on CW, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) race green flag, that he will be moving from his current Haas Factory Team ride to Sam Hunt Racing in 2027 in a multi-year deal.<\/p>\n

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 03: Sheldon Creed, driver of the #00 Road Ranger Chevrolet, looks on during practice for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Focused Health 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 03, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Creed goes into the weekend with three wins on the season, including two in the three Chase races to date \u2013 giving him an 11-point advantage on JR Motorsports\u2019 Justin Allgaier atop the championship standings.<\/p>\n

The move \u2013 with six races still remaining on the schedule \u2013 is especially notable, considering his position in the title run.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously announcing this this morning, and then we’re right back to work, and just trying to run as good as we can every week,” said the former NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion Creed. \u201cAnd I think Sam’s (Hunt, owner, Sam Hunt Racing) a big supporter of our 00 [Haas] team, and trying to finish strong.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c-I’ve had the privilege to race, obviously, for RCR (Richard Childress Racing), JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing), now Haas, run good with all of them, but finally found Victory Lane this year, and numerous times now, being the points leader, is massive for us,” Creed continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think, for the 00 group, for my team, but yeah, looking down the road, obviously, haven’t gotten a Cup opportunity, and obviously, that’s still my end goal. But if I don’t ever get that call, I felt like Sam’s (Hunt Racing) is somewhere I can race for the next 15 years and make a good living and be able to raise my family and just try to build a good life.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service Christopher Bell aims to turn Las Vegas promise into a Chase payoff LAS VEGAS \u2013 Four races into the NASCAR Cup Series 10-race Chase to decide the 2026 championship, the gap between positions in points standings have spread out significantly heading into Sunday\u2019s South Point 400 at Las Vegas<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":61383,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[67,16],"class_list":["post-61367","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nascar","tag-las-vegas-motor-speedway","tag-nascar"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-fXN","jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/GettyImages-2298436502-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1706&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61367","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61367"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61367\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":61385,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61367\/revisions\/61385"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/61383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61367"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61367"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61367"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}