Cup drivers share thoughts on strong Vegas winds

LAS VEGAS- Wild winds in Las Vegas have thrown a curveball to drivers looking to visit victory lane for the first time in 2024. 

Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 will be the first non-drafting track of the NASCAR Cup Series schedule following Daytona and Atlanta.

A high wind advisory was in effect for Saturday, with winds of 35 to 45 expected and gusts up to as high as 70 mph according to the National Weather Service. 

The advisory is expected to remain until 10 a.m. PT Sunday, likely clearing the air for Sunday’s race.

The wind played a huge factor in Cup Series qualifying Saturday afternoon. 

Multiple drivers expressed varying concerns before hopping behind the wheel. 

“It’s windy out there for sure,”  Chase Elliott said. “Worse than I can remember it being in a while or maybe ever.” 

Elliott’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Kyle Larson, compared the conditions to another mile and a half track on the schedule. 

“I’m sure we’ve been to Kansas when it’s been super windy like this as well,” Kyle Larson said. “Typically I feel like when we’ve gone to Kansas and it is that windy, it’s not as much of an impact as what you would assume it would be.”

Christopher Bell expects the wind to play a huge factor. The driver of the No. 20 car said he thinks turns one and two will likely be a little bit easier going into the wind, which will add more downforce to the car. However, he expects it to be a handful in turns three and four. 

Bell’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Denny Hamlin, had a little bit more optimism regarding the wind heading into Sunday. 

“It won’t be quite as much,” Hamlin said. “I think the game really will be is who adjusts the best overnight to the changing conditions because how your car drove today certainly will be different than it will tomorrow, especially add in traffic on top of that.” 

The forecast predicts winds will ease to 18 mph at race time Sunday, slated for just after 3:30 p.m. ET, in the Pennzoil 400.