Martin Truex Jr. is an Eckel 3 pick to win in the Las Vegas  desert. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Martin Truex Jr. is an Eckel 3 pick to win in the Las Vegas desert. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)Associated Press

NASCAR returns to Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the Eckel 3 like either Martin Truex, Jr., Kyle Busch or Joey Logano to win the Pennzoil 400

Pennzoil 400, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 3:30 p.m., Fox TV

Second week of NASCAR and the second week of rain.

Last week’s Daytona 500 was postponed after 20 laps Sunday and moved to Monday.

This Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 in Las Vegas saw Saturday’s qualifying rained out. Yes, it’s raining in the desert.

You know what’s never postponed or rained out? The Eckel 3 making selections.

This week Mike “Left Turn'' Sweeney is the rebel of the three “experts’’, which as always include this writer and Scott “Tobacco Road’’ Baker.

A couple of notes to know before the selections: Fords have won 11 times in this race, including three of the last four and four of the last six.

This race has also featured 12 different winners the past 12 years.

Now, the picks.

Martin Truex Jr. (5-1): The New Jersey native was my first choice and “Tobacco Road’s’’ second choice because of the success he has had in Vegas. He has two wins in this race, including one in 2017 and finished fourth in 2018.

Kyle Busch (9-2): Busch was awarded the pole Sunday and that was enough for “Tobacco Road’’ Baker, who as anyone who knows him can tell you loves whoever is on the pole. Busch, who was my second choice, finished third here a year ago and second in 2018, so maybe it’s his turn.

Joey Logano (7-1): “Left Turn’’ is going with Logano for the second straight week. He’s also predicting a repeat, as Logano got to victory lane here in 2019. An aside here, last week “TR’’ predicted a repeat for Denny Hamlin and that turned out just fine. Logano also has the best average finish (8.5) of any driver in Vegas.

Longshot Pick: Aric Almirola (30-1)

Others to Consider: Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson.

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