Martin, Busch Epic Has Unique Twist in Las Vegas

Martin, Busch Epic Has Unique Twist in Las Vegas

When it comes to winning in the NNS, nobody does it better than Kyle Busch (51 wins) and Mark Martin (49 wins). The two drivers are one-two on the series all-time wins list, respectively, and each time these two compete head-to-head in the series, the competition level rises in intensity. This weekend promises to be more of the same, but with a unique twist.
Martin will be making his first-ever start for Joe Gibbs Racing in the No. 18 Toyota. The driver, who made the No. 18 car famous, Las Vegas native Busch, will be running in his own Kyle Busch Motorsports No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota. Thirty-eight of Busch’s 51 series wins came in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, including his last 36.
Now, it’s Martin’s turn in the flagship Gibbs car. Martin is no slouch at Las Vegas in the NNS. He has made six starts, posting two Coors Light poles (1998-99), four wins (1999, 2005, 2008, 2011), five top fives and six top 10s. Martin is just one win shy of 50 series victories.
Busch still seeks his first win at his home track in what will be his ninth try. He has posted a series career-best finish of second in 2007, his only top-five finish at Las Vegas. Busch’s pre-race Driver Rating (99.5) is ranked sixth in the series at the famed 1.5-mile speedway.