Bryce Harper, grand marshal for the Pennzoil 400 NASCAR Cup Series race, right, welcomes driver Denny Hamlin during intros before the race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphotoBryce Harper, grand marshal for the Pennzoil 400 NASCAR Cup Series race, is introduced prior to the race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Before giving the command to begin engines Sunday at the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Bryce Harper stated, no, part of his responsibilities as grand marshal of the NASCAR race did not include finding extra methods to speed up baseball.

The two-time National League MVP from Las Vegas is still recuperating from offseason elbow surgical treatment and has actually missed out on the start of the Philadelphia Phillies' spring training.

He stated it was his first journey to his hometown track but that he has actually been to numerous Daytona 500s – – age-old Indianapolis Motor Speedway is still on his pail list – – which he might even consider following Michael Jordan's lead and investing in a race team when his playing days are over.

" I don't know who that would be or what that would be like," the previous Las Vegas High and College of Southern Nevada star stated in the LVMS libraries. "I have a long way to go with my baseball profession, however absolutely something to consider once I'm done."

Harper, 30, stated he and his dad, Ron, have actually taken breaks from spring training in Florida to take a look at Daytona and left amazed.

" Jimmie Johnson has always been my preferred guy," he said of the (primarily) retired seven-time Cup Series champion and four-time Pennzoil 400 winner. "I believe he's one of the best of perpetuity, an absolute legend."

Harper said his toddler boy, Krew, also has a preferred chauffeur.

" My kid loves racing, just Lightning McQueen right now," he said in recommendation to the character from the animated Pixar franchise ‘‘ Cars.'" But he likes whatever about it, so it's enjoyable to bring him out here and do this."

Wallace: First in class

He wasn't in the class of the Hendrick Motorsports juggernaut of William Byron, Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman, which swept the first three places.

Bubba Wallace was thrilled to push his Toyota throughout the surface line fourth after Aric Almiora's late spin sent the race into overtime and mixed the running order.

" That was most likely as excellent as we were going to get, but an excellent strong day," Wallace stated after publishing his highest finish considering that winning last year's playoff race at Kansas for automobile owners Michael Jordan and NASCAR star Denny Hamlin.

It also was a primarily uneventful day for Wallace, who was running up front in the 2022 playoff race at LVMS before tangling with Larson and engaging him in a one-sided pushing match after the 2 climbed up from their automobiles.

‘‘ Bad day became worse'

Joey Logano started on the lead in his quote to equal Jimmie Johnson with four career triumphes at LVMS, but led only 9 laps before fading from contention.

His day ended early in the third race stage. Running high in a three-wide scrum with former Team Penske colleague Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch, Logano hit Keselowski, sending his familiar intense yellow No. 22 Ford bouncing and spinning through the frontstretch yard.

"Just got squeezed up in the wall … … bad day became worse," stated Logano, a two-time and reigning Cup Series champion who was encumbered his very first DNF in 20 Las Vegas starts.