Address:
7000 Las Vegas Boulevard North
Las Vegas, NV 89115
Phone:
(800) 644-4444
(702) 644-4444
- Track Specs:
Front straight: 2,275 feet
Back straight: 1,572 feet
NEW Banking [2007]: Corners:20°, Front Straight: 9°, Back Straight: 9°
OLD Banking: Corners:12 degrees, Front Straight: 8 degrees, Back Straight: 3 degrees
- Four Race Tracks Tony Stewart has never won a Cup race at: There are four current race tracks the Cup Series runs on that #20-Tony Stewart has not won at [a Cup race]:
California 0 for 14 with a best finish of 4th in 1999 & 2001
Las Vegas 0 for 10 with a best finish of 2nd in 2000
Talladega 0 for 19 with a best finish of 2nd [6 times] in 2001,2002,2005,2006
Darlington 0 for 15 with a best finish of 4th in 2001 & 2002
Stewart has won at 18 of 23 tracks he has raced on, didn't win at Rockingham which is no longer active for Cup racing.(4-27-2008)
- LVMS donates more than a ton of unused food from NASCAR Weekend: On Monday Las Vegas Motor Speedway, along with food and beverage partner Levy Restaurants, donated more than a ton of food to Three Square Food Bank in North Las Vegas. The food, left from this past weekend's NASCAR events, was recovered
from the speedway's suites, corporate hospitality area and concession stands. LVMS partnered with Rock and Wrap It Up, a non-profit organization, to ensure the safe delivery of the food. Rock and Wrap It Up's volunteers assisted speedway and Levy employees in loading and unloading the food. Approximately 2,200 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables were delivered to the food bank. According to Three Square CEO Julie Murray, the food will be sent to Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada and the Las Vegas Rescue Mission.
Three Square was established to eradicate hunger in the valley and provides wholesome, nutritious meals to non-profit organizations that serve a wide range of Southern Nevadans in need. A national model project inspired by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Three Square is a community collaborative partnership with the gaming industry, businesses, non-profit agencies, food distributors, UNLV, Clark County School District, governmental entities, several media outlets and hundreds of volunteers.(LVMS PR)(3-7-2008)
- Gordon calls for more SAFER walls at Vegas UPDATE LVMS statement: #24-Jeff Gordon, who escaped injury after crashing hard into the inside retaining wall in Turn 2 in the closing laps of Sunday’s UAW-Dodge 400, called on Las Vegas Motor Speedway owner Bruton Smith to add ‘soft walls’ in the area. Gordon crashed on lap 263 of the 267-lap race and hit a spot in the wall where there is a gap. “I’m really disappointed right now in this speedway for not having a soft wall back there,” Gordon said. “And even being able to get to that part of the wall shouldn’t happen. I’ve got two things to say: 'Bruton, you need a soft wall and to change the wall back there on the back straightaway'. Thankfully, Hendrick Motorsports … builds an unbelievable race car because that’s the hardest I’ve ever hit.” Greg Biffle, who finished third in the race and was behind Gordon on the track when he crashed, agreed with Gordon and said there is no excuse for having gaps in the walls. “There shouldn’t be any gaps anywhere,” Biffle said. “There should be SAFER barriers all the way around the inside and the outside of these racetracks. You can’t say we don’t have the time or money to do it because we’re coming back here next year and going to race again.”(Las Vegas Sun)
UPDATE: Las Vegas Motor Speedway statement concerning Gordon's comments: "We began evaluating that section of the speedway today. As we have done since the SAFER barrier program began, we will work with NASCAR, and we will do whatever it recommends."(3-3-2008) Comment here
- Winner of spa treatment at LVMS Spa: Hundreds of thousands of race fans will enjoy NASCAR Weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend. Judy Kelly of
Placerville, Calif., will enjoy it just a little bit more. On Feb. 6, LVMS announced a contest to reward a lucky fan with a free spa treatment package at The Spa, located in the Neon Garage. All fans who purchased a weekend Neon Garage pass before the Feb. 15 deadline were eligible for the random drawing. Judy's name was selected at random and she was notified while driving to LVMS from her home in Placerville.(LVMS PR)(2-29-2008)
- LVMS announces virtual sellout for 7th consecutive year: The Sprint Cup event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a virtual sellout for the seventh consecutive year, but Dodge has made sure that at least 700 more race fans can attend Sunday's UAW-Dodge 400. The LVMS ticket services office had only single seats remaining for Sunday's race at the close of business on Thursday. However, event co-sponsor Dodge has made 700 tickets available to race fans. These tickets were part of the Dodge allotment as part of its race entitlement with the United Auto Workers. "Announcing a virtual sellout for the seventh consecutive year really confirms the demand for NASCAR tickets in Las Vegas," said Chris Powell, LVMS general manager. "We had a higher renewal rate this year, which also suggests the facilities and service race fans are receiving are like no other." Race fans can purchase one of the 700 tickets only by calling the speedway ticket services department at (800) 644-4444 or in person at the speedway box office. Tickets are still available for Saturday's Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race as well as Pole Day on Friday, Feb. 29. Tickets for Friday and Saturday may be purchased by calling the LVMS ticket office at (800) 644-4444 or online at www.LVMS.com.(PR)(2-29-2008)
- LVMS expects smooth vehicle flow for NASCAR Weekend: Las Vegas Motor Speedway's ever-improving vehicle flow for its Feb. 29-March 2 NASCAR Weekend should be even better for this year's event, according to LVMS officials. Over the past few years, the 215 Beltway, new interchanges and wider roads have helped make ingress and egress from the speedway's property a constantly improving experience for race fans. "The combination of better planning, cooperation from all areas of transportation and law enforcement and the continued education of our race fans has dramatically improved vehicle flow over the past several years," said LVMS general manager Chris Powell. The speedway is reminding race fans using Interstate 15 that there are three exit lanes on the ramp leading into the speedway. Local fans living in the northern and western parts of the valley are encouraged to use the 215 Beltway.
Speedway officials also are encouraging as many race fans as possible to use buses and shuttles such as the Regional Transportation Commission's Race Transit for transportation to the races. The speedway will continue to crack down on the fraudulent use of handicapped placards. Speedway security will be checking the validity of handicapped passes on each vehicle. Tickets for the UAW-Dodge 400, Sam's Town 300, Qualifying Day (Friday, Feb. 29) and the Neon Garage fan experience may be purchased by calling the LVMS ticket office at (702) 644-4444 or online at www.LVMS.com.(LVMS PR)(2-27-2008)
- Blue Man Group, Mama Mia's Carol Linnea Johnson headline entertainment at LVMS: The world-famous Blue Man Group [Jayski fave] and award-winning Las Vegas stage star Carol Johnson are just two of the entertainment options Las Vegas Motor Speedway will offer to race fans during the Feb. 28-March 2 NASCAR Weekend. Blue Man Group, which performs nightly at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino will perform throughout the day Saturday and Sunday in the Neon Garage and put on a 15-minute show on the pre-race stage prior to the start of the Sprint Cup Series UAW-Dodge 400 on Sunday, March 2. Carol Linnea Johnson will sing the National Anthem prior to the start of the UAW-Dodge 400. Johnson is the star of the Broadway hit, "Mama Mia!" (she plays the part of Donna) at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.
Popular country music artist Josh Gracin ("Nothin' To Lose") will sing the National Anthem on Saturday prior to the start of the Nationwide Series Sam's Town 300 on Saturday, March 1. Gracin, a former American Idol TV show contestant, also will perform at the Official After-Race Concert on Saturday evening at Sam's Town Live! in the Sam's Town Hotel & Casino. Jason Michael Carroll, who was named "Top New Country Artist of 2007" by Billboard Magazine, will perform on stage in the midway behind the main grandstands on Sunday morning. The United States Air Force Thunderbirds, who are based at nearby Nellis Air Force Base, will provide a unique flyover for Sunday's UAW-Dodge 400. Tickets for the UAW-Dodge 400, Sam's Town 300, Qualifying Day (Friday, Feb. 29) and the Neon Garage fan experience may be purchased by calling the LVMS ticket office at (702) 644-4444 or online at www.LVMS.com.(LVMS PR)(2-26-2008)
- Las Vegas Strip to host NASCAR Hauler Parade on Feb. 28: The world-famous Las Vegas Strip, through the years, has seen it all. It's been the site of Evel Knievel's death-defying motorcycle jumps, attracted thousands of New Year's Eve revelers and served as the backdrop for hundreds of movies. And on Thursday, Feb. 28, a new spectacle will take place on one of the world's most famous streets. The colorful NASCAR team haulers, transporting the Sprint Cup race cars that will compete later that week, will parade north on the Strip among the world's most well-known hotels and casinos. "During the week of the NASCAR event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, this entire town becomes NASCAR crazy," said Chris Powell, LVMS general manager. "Every opportunity we get to take NASCAR to the Strip is something special. Parades of any kind are very rare on the Strip, so we are very appreciative of the support from the various public agencies that have helped make this happen." The transporters will be staged at approximately 2:30pm in the right lane of Las Vegas Boulevard just south of Russell Road. Once all trucks are lined up, the haulers will move north using the middle lane of northbound Las Vegas Boulevard. The haulers will proceed the roughly five miles to Sahara Avenue before returning to Interstate 15 and the short ride north to the speedway. The speedway expects 48-50 haulers to take part in the parade, which will conclude with the haulers parking in their assigned spaces in the LVMS garage in preparation for the March 2 UAW-Dodge 400. Race fans will be able to watch the hauler parade from both sides of the Strip and from any of the properties along Las Vegas Boulevard.(LVMS PR)(2-25-2008)
- LVMS to give rain-weary race fans a little sunshine: If a couple of rainy race days have gotten you down, Las Vegas Motor Speedway wants to brighten your day.
LVMS is offering $25 tickets for Saturday's Sam's Town 300 Nationwide series race to race fans who have a ticket stub from the rain-delayed Nationwide Series race at Auto Club Speedway of Southern California."As our friends at Nationwide say, life comes at you fast," said Chris Powell, LVMS general manager. "Nationwide has been a great sponsor at LVMS for several years, and it's also bringing renewed enthusiasm to NASCAR racing. We're making this gesture to do our part to help the series grow. While we have sold more than 100,000 tickets to the Sam's Town 300 this Saturday, we have plenty of room to accommodate those loyal race fans who have endured the poor weather in Southern California." Race fans who want to take advantage of this offer can come to the LVMS Ticket Services office beginning Monday to purchase their tickets. Race fans will receive one $25 ticket for every ticket stub from the scheduled Feb. 23 Nationwide Series event in California. For more information, race fans can call the LVMS ticket office at 1-800-644-4444.(LVMS PR)(2-24-2008)
- Dale Jr.'s South Point Jackpot has LVMS phones buzzing: Dale Jr.'s South Point Jackpot has kicked off and already the phones at LVMS are ringing ... and ringing ... and .... The speedway ticket services department fielded hundreds of calls within the first couple of hours of the promotion and there are no signs of a slowdown. "I believe there are several factors that have turned this promotion into the success we hoped it would be," said Chris Powell, LVMS general manager. "First off, race fans love coming to Las Vegas
Motor Speedway, and we have many loyal fans who make this a must-see event each year. Secondly, the promotion involves Dale Earnhardt Jr., easily the most popular driver on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit. And finally, Dale Jr.'s win in the Bud Shootout last Saturday night has race fans taking notice that this could be a special year for him and his
team." Race fans renewing the first 8,888 tickets - reflecting Earnhardt Jr.'s car #88 - will be refunded the entire ticket amount for next spring's Sprint Cup event on Sunday of NASCAR Weekend at Las Vegas - if Dale Jr. wins the 2008 Sprint Cup championship. As long as the number has not exceeded 8,888, the speedway will continue renewals
until the scheduled start of the Daytona 500 on Sunday (3:30pm/et). The only way to participate in Dale Jr.'s South Point Jackpot is to call the LVMS Ticket Services department at 1-800-644-4444 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. before Sunday's scheduled start. Tickets for the 2008 NASCAR Weekend, as well as credentials for the fan-interactive Neon Garage, are still available. Race fans can call 1-800-644-4444 or log on to www.lvms.com.(2-13-2008)
- The Spa at LVMS not just for drivers and team owners: The Spa at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was a hit with NASCAR's biggest stars and their families last year. This year, a lucky race fan will get a chance to experience one of the speedway's true treasures. All fans who have purchased a weekend Neon Garage pass before Feb. 15 will be entered into a drawing to receive a free, full-service spa treatment during the Feb. 29-March 2 NASCAR Weekend. The spa offers a full menu with various levels of massages,
facials, pedicures, manicures, body wraps and designer haircuts. The spa's beds are outfitted with 750-threadcount sheets and cashmere blankets. Each room is equipped with a Swiss shower, which has water raining from above and three-way jets on the sides. Tickets and Neon Garage passes for the NASCAR Weekend are available by calling the speedway's Ticket Service office at 1-800-644-4444 or by logging on to www.lvms.com. The deadline for the drawing and weekend Neon Garage passes is Feb. 15.(LVMS PR)(2-11-2008)
- LVMS race fans pinning their hopes on a Dale Jr. title run: What would a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship by Dale Earnhardt Jr. mean to race fans?
Answer: For 8,888 fans who participate in a unique promotion offered by Las Vegas Motor Speedway, it would mean free tickets to the spring 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at LVMS. In one of the most extraordinary promotions in sports history, Las Vegas Motor Speedway is offering free tickets to thousands of race fans should Dale Earnhardt Jr. power his No. 88 Chevrolet to the 2008 Sprint Cup title.
The promotion, known as Dale Jr.'s South Point Jackpot, is sponsored by the South Point Hotel of Las Vegas. Fans can renew their weekend race tickets for 2009 - and be included in the promotion - Wednesday, Feb. 13 through Sunday, Feb. 17. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entries for the promotion will end at the scheduled start of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17 (12:30 p.m. PST)
"Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been the most popular driver in NASCAR for the past five years, and we're excited to give race fans a stake in his quest for his first NASCAR Sprint Cup championship," said Chris Powell, LVMS general manager. "This promotion is unprecedented in our sport. We've bought the best insurance policy available, so if Dale Jr.
is fortunate enough to win the title, we'll be ecstatic for all the fans who receive free tickets to our spring 2009 event."
Said South Point Hotel owner Michael Gaughan: "The South Point has become synonymous with NASCAR, and we're thrilled to be a part of Dale Jr.'s South Point Jackpot. Our family has been involved in racing for many years, and we have a very strong relationship with Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the entire racing community. Thousands of race fans stay at the South Point during NASCAR Weekend in Las Vegas, so we're excited about the fans' opportunities to take advantage of this creative promotion. We wish the best of luck to Dale Jr. and his legions of followers."
Individual ticket-holders will have five days next week (Feb. 13-17) to renew their Weekend Package tickets for the spring 2009 NASCAR Weekend at LVMS. The people renewing the first 8,888 tickets - reflecting Earnhardt Jr.'s car No. 88 - will be refunded the entire ticket amount for next spring's Sprint Cup event on Sunday of NASCAR Weekend - if Dale
Jr. wins the 2008 Sprint Cup championship. As long as the number has not exceeded 8,888, the speedway will continue renewals until the scheduled start of the Daytona 500. The only way to participate in Dale Jr.'s South Point Jackpot is to call the LVMS Ticket Services department at 1-800-644-4444 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Feb. 13-16 and 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 17. (All times PST.) Tickets for the 2008 NASCAR Weekend, as well as credentials for the fan-interactive Neon Garage, are still available. Race fans can
call 1-800-644-4444 or log on to www.lvms.com.
Q&A with Las Vegas Motor Speedway General Manager Chris Powell
Question: What was the motivation behind this promotion known as Dale Jr.'s South Point Jackpot?
Answer: We're always looking for ways to make racing more exciting for the fans. There is a tremendous amount of attention and anticipation surrounding Dale Jr.'s move to Hendrick Motorsports, and this allows our race fans to share in his quest for his first-ever NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title.
Q: Given the cost involved with refunding ticket revenues, are you rooting against Dale Jr. this year?
A: Absolutely not. We've purchased an insurance policy that will cover every dime that we would pay out. So if Dale Jr. is fortunate enough to win his first Sprint Cup championship, we'll be ecstatic for the race fans who'll have the cost of their tickets refunded.
Q: Why did you pick Dale Jr.?
A: He's been NASCAR's most popular driver for the past five years, and I believe his popularity transcends NASCAR and motorsports. Combine his popularity with his switch to a new race team, and he's the logical choice. Imagine the excitement if Dale Jr. makes the Chase for the Sprint Cup this year as 8,888 ticketholders sit on the edge of their
seats hoping he wins the title.
Q: What about the ticketholders who don't participate? Can they still renew their tickets in the same seats.
A: Absolutely. All Weekend Package holders are eligible to renew their same seats regardless of whether they participate in the promotion.
Q: What's the role of the South Point Hotel?
A: There is no greater supporter of motorsports in the Las Vegas community than Michael Gaughan, owner of the South Point Hotel. As soon as we mentioned this promotion to Michael, he was captivated by it. Michael's from "old-school Las Vegas." He still works in the sports book on Super Bowl Sundays. He knows a fun wager when he sees one. And he immediately agreed for the South Point to become the sponsor. It's not a coincidence that NASCAR fans flock to the South Point when they're in town for our NASCAR Weekend.
Q: How does this promotion benefit Las Vegas Motor Speedway?
A: First off, we want it to benefit our returning ticketholders. We also want to entice people to purchase the few tickets that we have remaining for our NASCAR Weekend in three weeks. And I'm confident that Dale Jr.'s South Point Jackpot will help build goodwill with the race fans who participate, and it should draw the attention of anyone who follows
Dale Jr.'s progress throughout the year. So this promotion benefits our speedway as well as NASCAR and its fans.
www.lvms.com.(LVMS PR)(2-7-2008) Comment here.
- Feb. 15 is deadline to buy weekend Neon Garage passes at LVMS: Race fans wanting the best deal on Neon Garage passes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway need to buy their passes in the next two weeks. The speedway has set a Feb. 15 deadline for race fans to purchase a weekend pass for the Neon Garage. After that date, only single-day Neon Garage passes will be available for the Feb. 29-March 2 NASCAR Weekend. Race fans who purchase weekend passes can save up to $132. Weekend passes cost $275 while single-day passes are $129 on Friday and Saturday and $149 on Sunday. The Neon Garage is a fan-interactive, entertainment area located in the center of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage. Unprecedented access to drivers and teams, Vegas-style entertainment including celebrity impersonators such as Elvis and Madonna, the Winner's Circle and specialty concessions are just some of the highlights of the Neon Garage. Race fans can order Neon Garage passes as well as tickets for the UAW-Dodge 400 Sprint Cup Series and Sam's Town 300 Nationwide Series races by calling the LVMS ticket office at 1-800-644-4444 or by logging on to our website at www.lvms.com.(LVMS PR)(2-2-2008)
- LVMS inviting fans to "leap" for Pole Day tickets: For race fans who get to celebrate their birthday only once every four years, Las Vegas Motor Speedway is inviting them to spend it at the speedway. NASCAR Sprint Cup Pole Day is Feb. 29, and LVMS is offering free Pole Day tickets as a birthday gift to anyone celebrating a birthday on
the same day."We realize that people born on Feb. 29 don't get to celebrate their birthdays as often as others, so we want to make it extra special for those people who choose to spend their birthdays here at the speedway," said LVMS general manager Chris Powell. Race fans taking advantage of this offer must contact our ticket office by phone at 1-800-644-4444 or in person. They will need to show proof of their birth date in order to receive this offer.(LVMS PR)(1-23-2008)
- NASCAR cites LVMS for improvement in security: Las Vegas Motor Speedway was selected as one of three tracks to be recognized by NASCAR for its "improvement in exhibiting security and public safety." The speedway was chosen along with New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway. The announcement was made at the NASCAR Security Summit held last week in Charlotte, N.C. "We take the security and safety of our race fans very seriously," said LVMS general manager Chris Powell. "I salute David Stetzer and our operations team for spending countless hours working with various local and national law enforcement agencies to make sure that everyone who comes to the speedway is able to enjoy NASCAR racing in a safe environment. We are honored that NASCAR has noticed the work we have put into this area."(LVMS PR)(1-17-2008)
- Clinton, Huckabee, Obama In Line For Free Neon Garage Passes: The all-important Nevada caucus is slated for Saturday, Jan. 19 and presidential hopefuls from both the Democratic and Republican parties are eligible for free credentials to Las Vegas Motor Speedway's Neon Garage during NASCAR Weekend Feb. 29-March 1-2. Beginning Monday, Jan. 14, the first race fans - whose surnames match any of the primary candidates' last names - who purchase Neon Garage passes will have their money refunded to them. Fans and candidates eligible for such a refund must share the last names of either Democrats Hillary Clinton, John Edwards or Barack Obama or Republicans Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Mitt Romney or Fred Thompson. The offer is good until 5pm on Jan. 19 [Saturday], the day of the Nevada caucus. "We gave strong consideration to anyone named 'Kucinich'," said Chris Powell, general manager of Las Vegas Motor Speedway. "But the poor showing of Dennis Kucinich in both Iowa and New Hampshire simply made that impossible."
The Neon Garage is a fan interactive, entertainment zone located in the center of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage. Unprecedented access to drivers and teams, Vegas-style entertainment including celebrity impersonators such as Elvis and Madonna, the Winner's Circle and specialty concessions are just some of the highlights of the Neon Garage.
The Feb. 29-March 2 NASCAR Weekend is the largest sporting event in the western United States. The highlight of the weekend is the 11th running of the UAW-Dodge 400 Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, March 2. The Sam's Town 300 Nationwide Series event is set for Saturday, March 1. Qualifying for the UAW-Dodge 400 will be Friday, Feb. 29. The candidates themselves are eligible for the free credentials to the Neon Garage even if they are not first to make their purchases. "They're quite busy getting ready for the caucus here in the Silver State, so they deserve special dispensation," Powell said. "But by the time our NASCAR Weekend rolls around at the end of February, a couple of the candidates might deserve an opportunity to speak to the estimated gathering of 155,000 voters and race fans, and the others can join the impersonators performing in the Neon Garage." To order tickets, go to lvms.com.(LVMS PR)(1-14-2008)
- "COT" to make first appearance at LVMS: NASCAR's "Car of Tomorrow" will make take its first laps around the high-banked Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Dec. 11 as five drivers will conduct a tire test on behalf of Goodyear. #20-Tony Stewart, #17-Matt Kenseth, #31-Jeff Burton, #9-Kasey Kahne and #28-Travis Kvapil will take part in the two-day test. It will be a significant test for both the race teams and the speedway. This past year's Nextel Cup and Busch events were the first for each series since the speedway's banking was increased from 12 to 20 degrees. The five drivers will help Goodyear select a tire for the UAW-Dodge 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event on March 2, 2008. The test is not open to the public. Tickets for both the UAW-Dodge 400 and Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Nationwide (formerly Busch) Series event are on sale now by calling the speedway's box office at 1-800-644-4444 or online at www.lvms.com. Neon Garage, Lucky 7 parking and Driver Introduction passes also are available.(LVMS PR)(11-21-2007)
- SMI buying NHIS? UPDATE2: There is talk of an announcement on Thursday that will go a long way toward determining if Lowe's Motor Speedway will remain in its present location or go on the road to a neighboring community, as Smith has threatened. It all started in August, when Smith announced plans for a mega-drag strip complex on land adjacent to Lowe's Motor Speedway. SMI and city / county government had been discussing an economic package that could offer as much as $2.4 million for the construction of the strip, plus address the reported $200 million in improvements to LMS that Smith has been contemplating. On Friday of last week, Concord City Council reversed its earlier zoning decision, but that doesn't mean Smith will necessarily stay put. The announcement on Thursday will likely give the answer. Compare Smith's likely success in his quest to both improve his product by adding a drag strip and get help with needed improvements to infrastructure with the International Speedway Corp.'s failure to build a racetrack on Staten Island in New York City. Smith, if he chooses to make the improvements to the current facility, will have come out of the ruckus with tax incentives and possibly even a road (Speedway Boulevard) named in his honor. Thursday's rumored announcement will tell the tale.(NASCAR.com) and have heard that Smith could be buying the New Hampshire track, which could be the announcement....from a Charotte Observer article in part: [Bruton] Smith did give a couple of interviews on Charlotte radio stations on Wednesday [Oct 31]. He told WBT-AM (1110) and WFNZ-AM (610) that he has a “big” announcement planned for 2pm Friday. Presumably, that would come at Texas Motor Speedway, the track he owns near Fort Worth where NASCAR’s top three series will be racing this weekend. What (David Poole) called Smith to ask about Wednesday was whether he’d made a deal to buy New Hampshire International Speedway. Smith told (Poole) he has heard that John Henry and Jack Roush, the owners of Roush Fenway Racing (and, in Henry’s case, of the Boston Red Sox) were interested in buying that track. Smith said he has also heard that George Gillett, Ray Evernham’s partner, might want it. Or that Kentucky Speedway owner Jerry Carroll wants it. What (Poole) asked him, though, was whether he’s bought it, or has a deal to buy it. He tried to change the subject again, then finally said, “It’s unfortunate that you weren’t able to get up with me for a comment today.” But he also said that I might be able to reach him later this week [at Texas].(11-1-2007)
UPDATE 2: sources with knowledge of the deal indicated last night that O. Bruton Smith, CEO and chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., had entered into an agreement to purchase New Hampshire International Speedway from Bob Bahre, the track's 80-year-old chairman who is among a rare breed in NASCAR: the independent track owner/operator.
A press conference is expected to be held tomorrow at Texas Motor Speedway, one of six SMI-owned racing venues that stage 10 Nextel Cup events. With the acquisition of NHIS, that stands to grow to 12 Cup dates. Efforts to reach Bahre last night were unsuccessful. Reached last night, NHIS spokesman Fred Neergaard said, "There's nothing new to report." An SMI source, however, indicated Smith had reached an accord with Bahre, but was not clear as to the terms. SMI's racing empire includes Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which host one Cup event, and Bristol Motor Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., and Texas, which host two Cup dates. Texas won its second Cup date as part of a lawsuit settlement stemming from a complaint brought by Francis Ferko, an SMI shareholder, against NASCAR and International Speedway Corp. Smith acquired his first Texas date and Bahre his second NHIS date after they partnered in 1996 to purchase North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway and split its two Cup dates. NASCAR, though, must approve and sanction all dates and race locations before any changes are made to the schedule. NASCAR, which has released its 2008 Sprint Cup schedule, has signed agreements with tracks for all 36 races next season. It had long been speculated that if NHIS were to be sold to Smith, it would take him no time to strip the track of its Cup dates. But, the SMI source suggested, that may not be the case. While NHIS could lose its July date to Las Vegas, SMI could salvage NHIS's spot on the NASCAR schedule by swapping Chase dates with Texas, thus making it the start of the Chase.(Boston Globe)(11-1-2007)
- NHIS sale to Roush-Fenway possible? UPDATE 2: New Hampshire International Speedway's president, Bob Bahre, confirmed to FOX Sports today that he and Boston Red Sox owner John Henry have had discussions in the past month about the sale of the Loudon track to Henry's Roush Fenway Racing. No deal has been made.(Union Leader)(9-10-2007)
UPDATE: Fenway Sports president Mike Dee said buying the track in the future had been discussed, though not at length, between the Henry camp and that of Bob Bahre, who owns the track. "I won't deny that it has come up. But at this stage of the game, [portraying] that it's a live and intense discussion is grossly exaggerated. We're obviously new to the sport," Dee said. "I think that he's probably at a very early stage of understanding what he's going to do with it, and we're at an earlier stage of figuring out whether we're interested."
Dee downplayed the discussions, saying that Bahre and Fenway Sports speak regularly about the business of racing. Beyond that, there is much Fenway Sports doesn't know about operating a race track, particularly how to wring revenue out of a facility that hosts major NASCAR races just twice a year. "I don't know the economics of the business enough. You can look at it and say if they had 15 races, it'd be better than two. I'd like to tell you that it was in my wheelhouse in terms of core competencies, but I haven't looked at it at all," he said.(Boston Globe)(9-11-2007)
UPDATE 2: A day after speculation spread that Roush-Fenway had interest in buying NHIS from Bob Bahre, ESPN reported there was another potential suitor expressing his interest. Bruton Smith, whose Speedway Motorsports, Inc., owns six current Cup tracks, told the network that while nothing is imminent he'd like to buy the Loudon facility at some point in the future for the purpose of moving the first Chase race to his track in Las Vegas.(Concord Monitor)(9-13-2007)
- Name change, new race date for NASCAR Weekend in Las Vegas: Las Vegas Motor Speedway is announcing the following points of interest regarding the 2008 NASCAR Weekend at LVMS:
Tickets for the 2008 NASCAR Weekend are slated to go on sale Monday, Aug. 6. Neon Garage passes (which in 2008 will include pit access), pre-race activities passes and Lucky 7 preferred parking also will be available that day. Race fans may order tickets by logging onto the LVMS website at www.lvms.com and clicking on “Tickets” or by calling 800-644-4444.
The 2008 Sprint (formerly Nextel) Cup Series event will be known as the UAW-Dodge 400. The proposed purchase of a majority stake of Chrysler from DaimlerBenz by Cerberus Capital Management necessitates the name change.
NASCAR Weekend is set for Feb. 29-March 2 – one week earlier than the 2007 event. The new dates call for the following schedule: Qualifying for both the UAW-Dodge 400 and Sam’s Town 300 will be Friday, Feb. 29. The Sam’s Town 300 event will be Saturday, March 1 and the 11th annual UAW-Dodge 400 will be run on Sunday, March 2.
“Our ticket-renewal process yielded the highest renewal rates that we’ve ever experienced,” said LVMS general manager Chris Powell. “Our Ticket Services group has worked overtime in order to launch public-sale tickets a month earlier than in the past. I want to add that we’ve also had a very successful relationship with the United Auto Workers and its National Training Center, and we look forward to continuing that sponsorship under the name of the Dodge brand. The earlier race date is not new for Las Vegas Motor Speedway. From 1998-2004, NASCAR Weekend at LVMS was the first weekend in March. This date change in 2008 will allow NASCAR to continue the momentum from the start of the season without an open date just two weeks into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule.”(LVMS PR)(8-3-2007)
- Kentucky Cup race? Vegas 2nd race? NASCAR executives may be ready to settle one of those thorny legal situations they face, according to sources who say that a settlement with Kentucky Speedway could be coming — by adding the 11/2-mile track south of Cincinnati to the Nextel Cup tour next season. And there is also an unconfirmed report that NASCAR could be looking at adding a second Nextel Cup event at Bruton Smith’s Las Vegas track for next season.(Winston Salem Journal), so what tracks lose a date?(6-23-2007)
- Name change for Vegas Cup race: DaimlerChrysler will be dropped from the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 title pending finalization of the sale of 80 percent of Chrysler divisions to a private equity firm. LVMS general manager Chris Powell said he expects a name change and should know by June what the 11th annual Las Vegas Cup race will be called. He said the sponsorship with the company is good through at least 2008 but would not disclose the length of agreement.(Las Vegas Review Journal)(5-19-2007)
- 2007 NASCAR Weekend has huge impact in Las Vegas: There were many changes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the past year, but one thing that didn't change was the tremendous impact its NASCAR Weekend had on the Las Vegas economy. The 2007 event weekend, March 9-11, kept its place as one of the most lucrative on the city's calendar. For the sixth consecutive year, the state's largest sporting event saw an increase in its economic value on the Las Vegas community. This year's event had an estimated economic impact of more than $198 million. That represents a slight increase from the $197 million impact from the 2006 NASCAR Weekend, according to figures released by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The highlight of the 2007 event weekend was the debut of the Neon Garage. This new fan-interactive area located in the infield of the superspeedway drew 12,000 fans daily and has become one of the top fan attractions on the NASCAR circuit. The speedway also increased its banking from 12 to 20 degrees to produce more competitive racing, moved its pit road 275 feet closer to the grandstands and constructed a new media center. The study showed a significant increase in out-of-town visitors. According to the LVCVA, 114,450 people attended the event from outside Southern Nevada.
That's a 20.6 percent increase from the 94,875 in 2006. Figures released earlier this month showed a 3.3 percent increase in passenger traffic at McCarran International Airport in March of 2007 compared to 2006.(LVMS PR)(5-11-2007)
- Las Vegas Motor Speedway to ban fans who threw objects at Talladega: The spectators who are found guilty of throwing cans and other debris on Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway will not be welcome at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. LVMS general manager Chris Powell said Wednesday that fans banned from Talladega as a result of Sunday's trash-throwing incident will not be allowed to purchase tickets at LVMS. On Tuesday, Talladega Superspeedway president Grant Lynch announced that the fans who threw debris have received a lifetime ban from the facility. On Wednesday, Lynch encouraged other NASCAR tracks to follow suit.(LVMS PR)(5-3-2007)
- Neon Garage sells out in its inaugural year: No passes remain for the Neon Garage, the new fan-interactive area located in the center of Las Vegas Motor Speedway's infield. "We knew as soon as we started drawing the plans for the Neon Garage that it would be a hit with race fans," said LVMS general manager Chris Powell. "The overwhelming response from fans to the Neon Garage is a testament to the importance of elevating the entire fan experience at the speedway." The Neon Garage allows race fans the opportunity to view the NASCAR Nextel Cup teams from both ground level and an elevated position as they prepare their cars for practice, qualifying and the race. Continuous Vegas-style entertainment, a sports bar and the Winner's Circle make the Neon Garage the ultimate fan experience in motorsports.(LVMS PR)(3-9-2007)
- Blue Man Group, Uncle Kracker headline entertainment at LVMS: The world-famous Blue Man Group [huge Jayski fave] and recording star Uncle Kracker are just two of the entertainment options Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be offering to race fans during the March 9-11 NASCAR Weekend. Blue Man Group, which performs nightly at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino will perform throughout the day Saturday and Sunday in the Neon Garage and put on a 17-minute show on the pre-race stage prior to the start of Sunday's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400. Uncle Kracker will play at 11:30 a.m. on the Garnier Fructis Stage in the speedway's midway on Sunday. Sierra Boggess and Darryl Worley will sing the National Anthem on Sunday and Saturday respectively. Boggess will be performing after Saturday's Sam's Town 300 at the Fremont Street Experience. The United States Air Force Thunderbirds, who are based at nearby Nellis Air Force Base, will provide a unique flyover for Sunday's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400. A pair of F-16s from the 64th Aggressor Squadron from Nellis will provide the flyover for Saturday. Sunday's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 is sold out, but tickets remain for both the Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Busch Series race on Saturday and Friday's Pole Day. Call 1-800-644-4444 or log on to www.lvms.com for details.(LVMS PR)(3-9-2007)
- LVMS expects smooth vehicle flow for NASCAR Weekend: Las Vegas Motor Speedway's ever-improving vehicle flow for its March 9-11 NASCAR Weekend should be even better for this year's event, according to LVMS officials. Over the past few years, the 215 Beltway, new interchanges and wider roads have helped make ingress and egress from the speedway's property a constantly improving experience for race fans. Race fans are encouraged to arrive early. This year's Sam's Town 300 Busch Series race will begin at noon Pacific Time, which is three and a half hours earlier than last year's event. Race fans also are reminded to turn their clocks forward on Saturday [Sunday at 2am] night in recognition of Daylight Saving Time. Local fans living in the northern and western parts of the valley are encouraged to use the 215 Beltway. Speedway officials also are encouraging as many race fans as possible to use buses and shuttles such as Citizens Area Transit (CAT) for transportation to the races. The speedway will continue to crack down on the fraudulent use of handicapped placards. Speedway security will be checking the validity of handicapped passes on each vehicle. General parking is free at LVMS.(LVMS PR)(3-5-2007)
- Dale Earnhardt Jr., Richard Petty wax figures to be unveiled at LVMS: Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Richard Petty will appear in
the flesh and in wax in Las Vegas Motor Speedway's Neon Garage. Earnhardt Jr. and Petty, the seven-time NASCAR champion, will
unveil their wax figures at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 9. The two figures will remain in the Neon Garage throughout the weekend. Once the NASCAR Weekend is completed, the two figures will go to their home at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino. The figures will join those of seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt and four-time champ Jeff Gordon in Madame Tussauds SPEED attraction. Tickets for the March 9-11 NASCAR Weekend are available by calling 1-800-644-4444 or by logging on to www.lvms.com. Madame Tussauds will be open throughout the racing weekend. For attraction hours and pricing, call 702-862-7800 or visit online at www.mtvegas.com.(LVMS PR)(3-5-2007)
- More on the Atlanta-Vegas rumored race swap: Don't believe everything you read on the Internet [gasp]. A popular auto racing Web site created a stir in Atlanta and Las Vegas this week when it posted a rumor that one of Atlanta Motor Speedway's two NASCAR Nextel Cup races would be moved to Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2006 or 2007. The report also said that LVMS "supposedly has plans to add ... possibly 50,000 more seats." The rumor prompted amusement from LVMS general manager Chris Powell and an angry response from his counterpart in Atlanta, Ed Clark. Both tracks are owned by Bruton Smith's Speedway Motorsports Inc. "I'm just trying to figure out where we're going to put 50,000 seats," Powell said, dismissing the rumor with a chuckle.
Clark was not as amused. "The report was completely unfounded and false," Clark said in a statement. "It's very disappointing that Internet sites spread this kind of mistruth. Rumors like this, published without any attempt at verification, create confusion and they hurt our fans, our competitors and our sport. There have been absolutely no discussions in our company about moving a NASCAR date from Atlanta. We will continue to host two NASCAR races well into the future." Powell, who has been lobbying NASCAR for several years to get a second annual Nextel Cup Series race at his track, also said he has heard no talk about Smith moving a race to Las Vegas from any of his tracks -- or adding 50,000 additional seats. Smith's Speedway Motorsports Inc. also owns Bristol Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway and Infineon Raceway.(Las Vegas Sun)(2-27-2005)
- An Atlanta race to Las Vegas? UPDATE 4 denied and 'slammed': hearing that in 2006 or 2007, one of Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) Nextel Cup races could be moved to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which supposedly has plans to add more grandstands.....possibly 50,000 more seats.(2-23-2005)
UPDATE: been told by folks at AMS that this is completely false.
UPDATE 2: Contrary to an internet report posted Wednesday, Speedway Motorsports Inc. has no plans to move a NASCAR race date from Atlanta Motor Speedway to Las Vegas Motor Speedway. "The report was completely unfounded and false," Clark said. "It's very disappointing that internet sites [hmm..always blame the Internet sites] spread this kind of mistruth. Rumors like this, published without any attempt at verification, create confusion, and they hurt our fans, our competitors and our sport." Atlanta Motor Speedway hosts two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race weekends - each March and October - which are the two largest sporting events annually in Georgia. "There have been absolutely no discussions in our company about moving a NASCAR date from Atlanta," Clark said. "We will continue to host two NASCAR races well into the future, giving fans the 'Real Racing. Real Fast.' that they expect when visiting NASCAR's fastest track."(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(2-23-2005)
UPDATE 3: Atlanta Motor Speedway president Ed Clark said there's no substance to a report on a popular racing Web site claiming that AMS will lose a Nextel Cup race to its sister track, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, in 2006 or 2007. Jayski.com posted the report on Wednesday. "That's totally unfounded, uncalled for and irresponsible to report," Clark said. "It's hurtful to our track and our fans." Jay Adamczyk, who hosts the jayski.com site, declined to comment other than to say, "I stand by what I posted and heard."(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(2-24-2005)
UPDATE 4: A report this week on a popular and highly respected motorsports Internet site said within two years one of two Cup races at Atlanta Motor Speedway will be moved to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, giving the local track two annual races. Both facilities are owned by Speedway Motorsports Inc. I [Jeff Wolf] called Bruton Smith, chairman of SMI, to ask if there was merit to the Jayski.com report. Smith responded with a word [what Dale Jr. got penalized for?] that describes what I try to avoid stepping in when walking behind bulls at the rodeo. He added that he had no plans to shift one of Atlanta's races to Las Vegas.(Las Vegas Review Journal)(2-25-2005)
