Last Week in Las Vegas Sports (Aug 30 - Sep 5)

#5 Kyle Busch not happy with next gen car

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Las Vegas native Kyle Busch has always had a way of stating his opinion in the bluntest way possible, and it has turned him into one of the most polarizing drivers in NASCAR history. Unfortunately for Busch, his mouth might get him in trouble after he ripped the sport's new-gen 7 car. He even claimed that he felt that the new package was a step backward and that it essentially takes the driving out of the competitor's hands. Of course, he hasn't driven the car in an official test yet, but he doesn't like what he sees so far.

Yeah, I ve kind of seen it, but I ve not driven it, Busch said. From my vantage point, when you take out all the ability for race teams to be creative and ingenuity and the engineering aspect, everything s gone, you know. So it s just a race of engine development, I guess. That s all the manufacturers have any say over the new car is just what engines are in it and what their engines do and that sort of stuff. So I m not necessarily a fan of it. I think it s a step in the wrong direction, but that s what we got.

Keep in mind that Kyle Busch was also the driver that ripped the Car of tomorrow back in 2008 after he defeated Jeff Burton at Bristol Motor Speedway. Fans and officials alike were thinking Busch would praise the car after gliding it to victory against a veteran wheelman like Burton, but he claimed that it sucked to drive. Everyone was left speechless by that statement too, and it will be interesting to see how NASCAR decides to respond to these comments.

#4 Las Vegas Golden Knights wont require vaccinations to attend games

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The Las Vegas Golden Knights have been fielding questions for weeks now on their attendance policy for the upcoming season, and now we have the answer. The CDC and the NHL decided to implement a mask mandate for games but will not require vaccination to attend games at the T-Mobile Arena.

The Vegas Golden Knights and Henderson Silver Knights will continue to follow the applicable recommendations from state and local health officials, the National Hockey League, and the CDC, the team said. Per the current guidance outlined in the state of Nevada s Directive 047, masks will be required for fans attending our home games. However, proof of vaccination and/or proof of a negative COVID test in advance of attending a game will not be required at this time.

#3 Kurt Busch contract details revealed

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Kurt Busch announced last week that he would be driving for 23XI Racing in 2021, but not a lot of details were revealed about the actual agreement at first. Now, Busch has starred in a kick-ass announcement video that featured him walking up to his #45 Monstery Energy Toyota Camry, and NASCAR even allowed him to show the final design for the Gen 7 cars, which looked pretty good. It's also been revealed that Busch signed a multi-year contract with 23XI Racing, meaning he will be racing in Cup for at least two more seasons.

#2 Liz Cambage tests positive for Covid-19 and goes into isolation

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Last Wednesday, Las Vegas Aces star center Liz Cambage was sidelined with a positive COVID-19 test and placed under the WNBA's wellness protocols.

Now, Cambage's health should be the main focus, and she should only return to the court when ready, but making up for the loss of 14 points and 8 rebounds a game will be difficult for the Aces. If Cambage's absence lasts into the playoffs, it could end up being worse.

For those that don't remember, Cambage was sidelined last season due to health reasons, and while the Aces would still march their way to the WNBA finals, they were swept by the Seattle Storm. After the series, pundit after pundit chimed in on what went wrong for the Aces, and it seemed to all come down to not having Cambage. Not only was this due to her ability to create second-shot opportunities for her team, but also her skill at putting the ball in her own hands and successfully making the shot. Some argue that the 2020 finals would have been a different story with Cambage.

Here's hoping Cambage is resting comfortably and will return to the court soon.

#1 Mike Mayock claims there is no excuse for the Las Vegas Raiders not to make the playoffs in 2021

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The Las Vegas Raiders are coming into 2021 with many changes to their team, and you have to wonder what the result will be.

Will Kenyan Drake and Joshua Jacobs be the unbeatable running back duo? Are Trevon Moehring and Alex Leatherhead the next big thing on defense that can keep the game close? Finally, is this a team disciplined enough to go all the way and win their first championship in over 20 years? General Manager Mike Mayock seems to have high hopes for the team though, claiming there is no reason for them not to make the playoffs in 2021.

"Jon [Gruden] and I will both tell you that we feel like we need to be a playoff team this year, and I don't think there's any doubt about that... you guys are all going to put that in your headlines, and I understand it, but that's what the expectation is. We think we've done the infrastructure work necessary to put us in position, and we've got to take care of business," Mayock said in a statement to ESPN.