On Sunday, March 5th, NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) drivers participated in the sixth annual Pennzoil 400 race hosted by Jiffy Lube at the Las Vegas Circuit (LVMS). The competition is fierce over the weekend, with NASCAR drivers engaged in intense battles in the Nevada desert.
After winning the 2022 NCS Championship, returning to the Las Vegas racetrack, No. 22 Pennzoil Ford Mustang driver and two time Pennzoil 400 champion Joey Logano started from the first car, ahead of his Team Penske teammates Ryan Blaney (third car) and Austin Cindric (ninth car).
Joey Locarno started from pole position, which was his first start of 2023, and then took the lead in the first nine laps of the race. Unfortunately, by the end of the first stage, Joey had fallen behind to 14th place. By lap 183, he found himself on the outside of three cars at the turn, and eventually Joey was pushed against the wall and spun into the infield. The team attempted to quickly repair the car, but due to insufficient time, they had to retire it and ultimately ranked 36th.
His teammate Austin Cindric finished sixth in the Pennzoil 400 race, while Ryan Blaney remained in the top ten for most of the game until he fell behind at the end, ultimately ranking 13th. Team Penske finished the West Coast game, and Joey Logano shared his thoughts on the game after the game, looking forward to the Phoenix game:
"Given our past performance, your performance today should be better than before. It's just that the overall speed is a bit slow. Our balance is quite close — just not fast enough. When we return here, we have to start over."
Pennzoil has maintained a long-standing partnership with Team Penske, developing a specially designed oil formula for the track and powering their race cars with Pennzoil Synthetics to withstand the harshest conditions. On March 5th, as drivers competed at the Las Vegas Speedway, Pennzoil was proud to know that their cutting-edge technology was helping every driver cross the finish line.
Throughout the race weekend, NASCAR fans were invited to experience the highly anticipated and fan-favorite Pennzoil Test Track, located outside the track, which featured a variety of activities.
Special vehicles on display included the No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford Mustang NASCAR Cup Car, Chelsea DeNofa’s Ford drift car, Mitchell Stapleton’s Monte Carlo, and Shelby Hall’s Ford Bronco from the Rebelle Rally, all showcased in the Pennzoil-powered vehicle display area. Fans took photos and admired the displayed cars throughout the Test Track.
The influencer meet-and-greets were a hit with fans, with autograph sessions featuring Mitchell Stapleton, Alex Taylor, Hailey Deegan, and Esteban Cavallero.
Fans also participated in various interactive experiences, including a photo booth, an oil change game, and were invited to enjoy free coffee at the Test Track provided by Pennzoil’s Perfect Pour to energize them throughout the weekend.
Michael Thomas, host of the Pennzoil podcast from Michael’s Motor Alley, recorded episodes throughout the weekend and was no stranger to fans who came to meet him and ask burning technical questions!
To make the race weekend even more thrilling, the Pennzoil-sponsored Screen to Speed competition held its championship race at the Las Vegas Speedway. Saoirse Fitzpatrick was the champion of the competition and earned $15,000 in cash and a race simulator, as well as the opportunity to experience real track racing with KellyMoss Porsche Racing Team.
In a deliberate effort to offer more opportunities for women to participate in motorsports, Pennzoil also announced that they will be the official Gold Medal Sponsor of the Rebelle Rally this year. The Rebelle Rally is the ultimate all-women’s off-road race. The sponsorship includes comprehensive support for the Rebelle Rally competition, the Rebele U training program, and their collaboration mechanic program.
Following the announcement at the end of 2022 of a multi-year extension between the Pennzoil 400 event and Las Vegas Speedway owners and operators Speedway Motorsports Incorporated (SMI), Pennzoil is ready to ensure that NASCAR fans will continue to look forward to attending the Pennzoil 400 event weekend for years to come!
