Rewind | Commentary, key moments

Rewinding and reviewing Sunday's Shelby 427 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

REAR-VIEW MIRROR

But who's counting?

NASCAR once again Sunday showed the inconsistency that drives fans nuts.

When Paul Menard wrecked on Lap 270 in a 285-lap race, Kyle Busch was leading but there were several drivers who wanted to try to make a run at him or to improve their positions.

NASCAR had to do a lot of cleanup from Menard's mess, but officials let the laps click away until only eight remained. In the past, in similar situations, NASCAR has stopped races to preserve as many laps as possible. Why not here?

It almost certainly made no difference - Busch was in command. But do it the same way every time.

Engine trouble makes you wonder

It will be interesting to see what is said this week about the motor and other problems that plagued Cup and Nationwide teams here this weekend.

Was it something fluky about this track? Are teams pushing the envelope too far without having tested to verify their development ideas? Could teams not have as many people double-checking things as they had last year because they've had to trim payrolls?

It certainly seems that something is going on.

PIT STOPS

Win one to say Grace over

As Kyle Busch completed his pass of Clint Bowyer for the lead on Lap 267 of Sunday's Shelby 427 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Fox Sports aired audio from Busch's team radio with someone saying "Good night, Gracie."

Most assumed Busch had said it, but it actually was his spotter, Jeff Dickerson, who made the remark.

Busch is only 23 and had no idea the reference was to George Burns' wife, Gracie Allen, from their historic comedy act from radio and early television.

"Is that from 'Miss Congeniality' or something?" Busch wanted to know, referring to a movie of more recent vintage in which Sandra Bullock's character had that first name.

With a snowstorm blanketing their North Carolina home base, most teams with their own planes were waiting until Monday to try to get home. That meant Busch and his Joe Gibbs Racing compatriots had a chance for an impromptu victory party here.

"Where's the party?" Busch asked team owner J.D. Gibbs. "You're chipping in half."

It might have been the only mistake Busch made all day.

"Half?" Gibbs said. "I was going to pay for the whole thing."

Labonte gets a top-five finish

Former champion Bobby Labonte made a major move forward when he changed two tires on a pit stop just past halfway in Sunday's race and he kept the No. 96 Ford toward the front the rest of the way en route to a fifth-place finish.

"We really had a good car in clean air," Labonte said. "I am really excited about it. These guys have done a great job. ...The confidence this gives me and gives all of the guys is just great. ...We dug all day and we did all we could do."

KEY MOMENTS

Lap 3

Matt Kenseth's quest for a third straight victory to start the season was doomed from the start. He pitted under an early caution with something amiss in his motor. He finished 43rd and his transporter was on the way east before the race reached its halfway point.

Lap 220

As green-flag stops begin, Jeff Gordon misses pit entry and blows a right-front tire as he tries to go around. Greg Biffle, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. had already stopped, putting them out of position to contend for the win.

Lap 234

Kyle Busch makes a smart move in letting Johnson go as Johnson tries to get his lap back under green. Johnson wasn't the guy Busch was racing for the win, and he realized that. "It wasn't time in the race for us to be messing with him," Busch said. He's learning.

Lap 259

A caution for debris erases any thoughts of fuel mileage determining the outcome of this race. Busch gets two tires and gets back on the track behind only Clint Bowyer, who stayed out, and Jeff Burton and Gordon, who took fuel only.

Lap 269

Busch makes the pass for the lead, driving past Clint Bowyer to take command of the race at a track he watched being built as he was growing up in Las Vegas. There were cautions and restarts to come, but from that moment on Busch was in charge.

NEXT RACE

Kobalt Tools 500

Where: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Ga.

When: 2 p.m. Sunday.

TV: Fox Sports.

Radio: Performance Racing Network.

Last year's winner: Kyle Busch.