Hendrick Hot and Heavy in Final Practice for Shelby 427 in Las Vegas

Hendrick teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon were fastest in the final practice session for the race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Jimmie was stout in qualifying and will move up from the third to second position when pole sitter Kyle Busch, because of an engine change, moves to the back of the field at the start of the race. 

Jeff Gordon had a very different qualifying experience, struggling into the 28th starting spot, however, he surely redeemed himself in final practice.  Gordon was second fastest.

Sam Hornish Jr. had a great final practice, securing the third fastest position.  Kurt Busch and Mark Martin rounded out the top five in this practice session.

Pole qualifier Kyle Busch was running in the sixth position in practice.  He had a mishap though and scraped the right side of his M & Ms Toyota against the LVMS wall.

Jamie McMurray, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards and Kasey Kahne were the seventh through tenth quickest in final practice.

Michael Waltrip, "Mad" Max Papis and Robby Gordon were the slowest in this practice session.

Will the odds be in favor of a Hendrick win?  Or will another driver like Busch or some of the other Toyota drivers starting from the rear of the field roll the dice to Victory Lane?

Or better yet, will Matt Kenseth overcome a "terrible" car, practicing in the 20th spot, to make history with a three-in-a-row win?

Sunday's race, oddly named the Shelby 427 as it is sponsored by Shelby Automobiles and increased in length to 427 miles or 285 laps, will be another interesting test for the world's best stock car drivers.

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