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| March 10, 2006 | NEWEST - PRIOR WEEK - ARCHIVES |
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| "It's The Norm" - Las Vegas Entertainment Events | |
NASCAR RACE DAY
It's that time of the year again, when the sound level near Nellis Air Force Base rises above the normal, as the "Boys of Thunder" roar around the 1.5-mile tri-oval super speedway known as the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. I've written about how huge this event is for the economy of our village before. But, did you know it actually becomes the fifth largest city in Nevada on Sunday? Yep, gang, it is huge!
The UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 is the event and a group of 43 top drivers from NASCAR makes up the draw power. There is also the Sam's Town 300 Busch Series on Saturday, which was the first NASCAR event ever held at the then new speedway. That happened in 1997 and the winner was Jeff Green. Jimmie Johnson, the defending champion, is off to a tremendous start this season (he won the Daytona 500 in February) and will be one of the favorites to repeat. Another former winner at the speedway is Mark Martin, who will be gunning for a victory before he retires from the Cup circuit at the end of this season. Mark won both the Busch race and the 400 in 1998, and his record of 146.530 mph set in '98 still stands. The 400 will get the green flag (if it isn't raining) at 1:30 p.m. (PST) and the guys will do 267 laps towards the checkered flag, where the winner gets a hefty percentage of the $6,235,298 posted purse. Fox-TV (locally channel 5) will telecast the entire race and pre-race activities, while Speed Channel will be at the track for its usual pre-race broadcast. We personally enjoy the buildup to the race telecasts. |
One unusual item occurring at the speedway will be that all six previous 400 winners will be competing this year. Another little tidbit is that no pole-sitter has ever won the 400 here. Joe Nemechek is the only driver to start every Nextel Cup and Busch race ever held at the speedway. The record for most rookies in the 400 starting field was six in 2000. There could be as many as 12 this year or at least eight (a few will have to qualify to get in). Jeff Burton also swept both races in 2000. The Sam's Town race is a 200 lapper with a purse of $1,601,838 up for grabs. A total of 43 drivers will be entered (with many of them Cup racers) and, once again, Mark Martin will be out there defending that championship title he earned last year. Unlike the Cup race, three of the nine winners in the Busch race have won from the pole. Another little item to remember if you are betting on who will win the race - no non-Cup driver has won a Busch race at LVMS, since the two series began racing on the same weekend in 1998. Jack Roush drivers have won four Busch events and is the only car owner with more than one Busch victory at the speedway. Believe it or not, John Andretti is one of possibly eight rookies who could be competing this weekend. Of course he is not a real rookie, but according to NASCAR rules he qualifies. Paul Tracy, the great Champ Car Champion, will become the second driver to compete at LVMS in a NASCAR event and a Champ Car event. Michel Jourdain Jr. was the first. THIS AND THAT QUICKLY: Dedication of the new Richard Petty Terrace, which overlooks turn 1, will be held at the entrance to the terrace at 2:45 p.m. Friday, with Richard on hand... Las Vegas brothers Kurt and Kyle Busch finished third and second in last year's 400 - their best combined finish since joining NASCAR Nextel Cup... Kurt is now driving the Number 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger, formerly driven by Rusty Wallace (who retired following the 2005 season)... The Midway, where all the teams set up huge vans, is the place to be Saturday and Sunday prior to the race... Not only can you purchase anything from a hat to a leather jacket, but there are a number of reality type rides and photograph opportunities free of charge... And if you are really smart, you'll plan on getting to the track at least three - hours before the race is flagged off - and then you'll possibly be there to see it start. And, if you are really super smart, you'll bring along some extra food and sodas in a cooler for your departure after the race. Take your time and don't get impatient - just remember the guy or gal you are honking at is just as frustrated as you are. Well, gang; see ya in the slow lane. I'm outa here!
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