by Norm Johnson Send Me E-mail

Well, gang, the big weekend has come and gone. Those big rigs with beautiful pictures on the sides of the trailers are gone. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway is slowly returning to normal in that there's a lot of cleaning going on this week. But what a weekend it was! I would hamper to guess that on Friday during qualifying runs by the Busch Series and Nextel Cup drivers there had to be somewhere around 50,000 people sitting in the stands. Then on Saturday for the NASCAR Sam's Town 300 Bush Series race there were at least 90,000 in attendance. And then on Sunday "for...git about it!" The NASCAR Nextel Cup UMW-DaimlerChrysler 400 outdid all predictions. Counting all the seats in the grandstands, those in the suites, the people in the motor homes in the infield and along Gucci Row I would offer a guess that there was more than 170,00 in total. That, my friends, is a lot of "butts" in a lot of seats. That's roughly 320,000 people. One big reason for the increase in Friday and Saturday attendance? Three-day tickets at a special price. Hey, it makes sense to me, how about you?

Chris Powell, executive vice-president and general manager, is responsible for the speedways day-to-day operation. He stands tall today, tomorrow and next year. He along with his entire staff, including Jeff Motley in the publicity office, can rest easy now. They did the job they were hired to do: bring the masses to the track. A long time ago a man by the name of Richie Clyne dreamed the dream and darn if it didn't come true. They came!

Something needs to be pointed out, however, for those who were not aware of a circumstance that occurred when Robert Goulet sang the National Anthem prior to the start of the Nextel Cup race on Sunday. There was a slight miscue, to say the least. Robert had come out to the speedway on Thursday for a sound check and timing of the anthem. The time was one minute and 12 seconds. On Sunday, as he was ending the song on the word "Brave," the USAF Thunderbirds from Nellis AFB were to shoot over the north end of the speedway in a six-plane Delta Formation and exit just south of the new Earnhardt Terrace at turn four. The Television cameras were trained on Goulet as he sang, while other cameras were aimed at the entrance point for the jets.

Suddenly, midway through the song, the TV director kneeling in front of Goulet signaled for him to stretch the song. The anthem is not an easy song to sing to begin with, and then being asked to stretch was not something any singer would want to see. Robert, however, slowed the pace as best he could to stretch as directed by the television crew. Why you might ask was he instructed to do this?

The Air Force was late! The Thunderbirds were about 20 seconds off schedule. Robert stretched about six seconds. The lull, however, between when Robert did finish and arrival of the jets was rather apparent to all of us standing there on the start / finish line. The singer did exactly as he was asked to do. He sang the anthem with all the vigor of a proud American and the crowd roared their approval. Air Force Generals in attendance (and there were a number of them) later apologized to the singer while they all relaxed in Bruton Smith's Suite above the grandstands. It was something unavoidable and Goulet along with his wife, Vera sat back and watched the race.

Went to see and entertainer a few weeks back. Because of the column last week on the NASCAR weekend, I was unable to comment on Ben Vereen at the Suncoast Casino. What a showman! The last time I saw him perform was a few years back, just after his recovery from an accident near Malibu, Calif. He was terrific then, but slightly limited in movement if I remember correctly. Well, gang, let me tell you right now he is no longer limited in movement, other than by aging of his bones: and that does not occur on stage! He dances, he sings, he tells little stories and most of all he remembers. His tribute to the late, great Sammy Davis, Jr., is very possibly (my opinion only mind you) the best part of the show. But then he goes into those wonderful Broadway songs like "Age of Aquarius" , "Memories" and "Summer Time" and you begin to wonder how he can top that. He does! A Frank Sinatra tribute was wonderfully presented. He does so much in 90 minutes you try to figure out exactly how he did it? But you go away knowing you have seen the best on that stage. His show is one anyone from five to 85 can see and appreciate. Geeze I could go on and on, but next time he's in town just plan on seeing him It was SRO this time!

THIS AND THAT QUICKLY: Las Vegas superstar agent Carleen Terrano who represents a slew of top talent including Tony and Tez of Soul Desire (they have a long term contract with New York-New York) and Louie Louie has sorta hinted to me (on the QT) that Kristine W (You may remember her when she worked at the Hilton) is being considered by some major hotels to perform several days a month. She's currently on tour and is promoting her new album (she has had eight #1 dance hits on the Billboard dance charts) "Fly Again," which should make for her ninth. I remember when this beautiful, statuesque lady first hit town and was working at the old Silver Slipper. What a talent she was then and what a talent she is today... Listen up, gang. I hear that tickets for the Steve Lawrence-Eydie Gorme show coming to the Stardust Hotel April 29th are flying out of the box-office. Sooo, if you're planning on going to see this remarkable team you better order your tickets now. Just a warning... "Honky Tonk Angels" continues its remarkable run (celebrating its fourth anniversary this month) at the Gold Coast... Wrapping up his special guest appearance on March 15th will be Vic Carroll doing his outstanding "Alan Jackson" tribute. The anniversary special will run from March 17 to April 7th and will features some of the best parts of the four years of shows... Rich Little participated in the Nevada Reading Week by reading to the students at Nate Mack Elementary School on March 4. That had to be a special treat for those kids...

Well, gang, that's it for another week. I'm outa here!

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