Jimmie Johnson’s dominance at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a testament to his exceptional skill and strategic racing. He once noted, “Driving will never be away from me – I can’t just give it up. It’s all I’ve ever done, and there’s something about being in that car“. This passion for racing was evident in his performances at Las Vegas, where he won four races, including three consecutive victories in the mid-2000s.
Before Johnson’s streak, Roush Racing had dominated the early years at Las Vegas, winning five of the first seven NASCAR Cup races from 1998 to 2004. However, Johnson’s ability to outperform this legacy showcased his exceptional talent and adaptability. His success at Las Vegas was part of his broader legacy as one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers, with seven Cup Series championships.
Was Las Vegas once ruled by Roush? Johnson’s dominance rewrote that story, proving that calculated risks and relentless pressure were the real keys to victory.
The Shift from Roush to Johnson: A New King Takes Over
For years, Roush Racing held an iron grip over Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, and Matt Kenseth made sure of that, collecting trophies and reinforcing the team’s strength at the Diamond in the Desert. NASCAR’s early years in Las Vegas were practically an extension of Roush’s workshop. If you wanted to win there, you had to go through them.
That all changed when Johnson entered the picture. From 2005 to 2007, he went on an extraordinary run, winning three straight races at the track, toppling the Roush empire that had been so dominant. By the time the checkered flag dropped on the 2010 race, Johnson had secured his fourth career victory at Las Vegas, a number that stood above anyone else. His ability to execute flawless late-race charges, combined with the tactical brilliance of crew chief Chad Knaus, cemented his reputation as the new king of the speedway.
Johnson’s 49th career Cup win in 2010 was yet another testament to his mastery of Las Vegas. What made it even more remarkable was the manner in which he secured it. After a lackluster qualifying session left him starting in 20th place, he methodically worked his way through the field. Meanwhile, Jeff Gordon, his Hendrick Motorsports teammate and the 2001 Las Vegas winner, was putting on a clinic, leading a track-record 222 laps, looking nearly untouchable. But, JJ had his eyes set on the big prize.
As the laps wound down, he found himself chasing Gordon, applying pressure and waiting for the right moment. “I had been chasing him all day and wasn’t sure if I would get by him,” Johnson admitted. “But I just kept putting a lot of pressure on him, hoping I could make him make a mistake and hoping I could get him to overdrive his car and do something wrong. Finally, I was able to get to the side of him.” It was a moment that defined Johnson’s approach.
While Gordon’s late-race mistake opened the door, the real difference-maker was a critical pit stop strategy call. Gordon’s team opted for two fresh tires during their final stop, banking on track position to keep him ahead. Johnson and Knaus, however, gambled on four tires, a move that ultimately gave Johnson the edge he needed.
“We came here to win,” Gordon reflected. “We knew we were going to have to take chances and risks, and we did throughout the day. But I thought more people would take two tires, and it just didn’t work out for us.” Johnson didn’t just win that day; he reinforced his stranglehold on the track. His fourth Las Vegas victory gave him more wins at the track than any other driver, surpassing Roush’s previous dominance. More significantly, he broke the tie with Jeff Burton, a former Roush driver who had won three times at the speedway.
Roush Racing won 5 of the first 7 NASCAR Cup races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 1998-2004
Then a phenom went on a winning streak from 2005-2007. Who was it?
— Couch Racer (@CouchRacerShop) March 14, 2025
With every lap he led and every trophy he hoisted, Johnson continued to chip away at the old order. Roush, once the ruler of Las Vegas, found its stronghold fading in the face of a new dynasty. Kevin Harvick, who finished second behind Johnson that day, acknowledged the shift in power. “I felt like at the end of the run, we were just as good as they were,” Harvick said. “We can run with them, and they know it.”
But Harvick’s confidence, while well-earned, couldn’t change the reality. Johnson had already established himself as the master of the intermediate track, setting a new all-time record for the most victories on the 1.5-mile speedway with 15.
Yet, for Johnson, records were only milestones on the road to a greater goal. “We need to keep collecting points, winning races, get to the Chase,” Johnson said. “Then, we’ll do what we’re really here for.” And that’s exactly what he did. Another record run parallel with Johnson’s Vegas domination was his four-race win streak during the 2007 championship triumph. However, this record by the HMS driver will be within the reach of a new superstar driver, who’s scripting his own success story in 2025.
Christopher Bell looking to draw level with Jimmie Johnson
Winning multiple races in a streak in the Next Gen era seemed an impossible task when the new cars rolled out in 2022. Kyle Larson from Hendrick Motorsports had bagged three wins in a row during his championship run back in 2021, and Christopher Bell matched this record last weekend at Phoenix Raceway. The JGR driver kick-started this dominant run with a win at Atlanta, then piped veteran Kyle Busch at the road course in COTA. He rounded off this run with a photo finish win beating his teammate Denny Hamlin to the line at the Desert Mile in Phoenix.
It feels as if right now Bell can’t take a wrong step and given his resurgent run after last year’s Martinsville disappointment, he’s now within a touching distance of a new NASCAR record. Four wins in a row, this was done by Jimmie Johnson in 2007, when he won at Martinsville, Atlanta. Texas and Phoenix. Interestingly, he was able to fend off a title charge by his teammate Jeff Gordon.
Unlike the NASCAR racing of the 2000s, Bell’s victories have come on different styles of racetrack and this makes his run more special. And now he’s at the cusp of creating another NASCAR record this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “That is incredibly special to hear that and know that I have that opportunity ahead of me. We’re going to a darn good place for it.” Bell said this to Bob Pockrass.
Even team Joe Gibbs couldn’t shy away from expressing his confidence in his driver and the #20 team chasing another NASCAR record this weekend. “I know they’ll be going there with excitement and thinking that they have a chance. Right now, they’re kind of in a rare field of people that have accomplished things. It’s out there for them, and we’ll see what happens.”
It is indeed rare to see a driver winning races for fun in the Next Gen car. Parity racing has made it tough for drivers to really find their rhythm and mount a title charge. But it seems like Christopher Bell and the #20 JGR team have finally cracked the code. So keep an eye out for the Oklahoma native, he’s in hot pursuit of equaling a NASCAR record this weekend.
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