Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Encyclopedia
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada
near Las Vegas
, is a 1200 acre (485.6 ha) complex of multiple tracks for automobile racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
, which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina
.
at the end of 1970, plans were developed for a new drag strip north of Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Speedrome. It consisted of a road course and drag strip. Through changes of ownership, a 3/8 mile short track would by the end of the 1970s become part of the complex. In 1995, refurbishment of the tracks, including a new $72 million superspeedway, opened in September 1996. The first race at the speedway was on September 15, 1996, with an Indy Racing League event, which was won by Richie Hearn
. The first NASCAR Sprint Cup (then Winston Cup) event was held March 1, 1998 with Mark Martin winning the inaugural event. The Winston No Bull 5 Million Dollar Bonus was held at the track from 1999 to 2002. Jeff Burton won a million dollars in 2000 and Jeff Gordon won the bonus in 2001. Burton in 1999 and Sterling Marlin in 2002 were not eligible. The drag strip was rebuilt and relocated into the current The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The 3/8 mile oval was rebuilt with a new pit lane and start-finish changed to the opposite side. During 1998, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway was sold by Richie Clyne and Ralph Englestad to Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
, which was owned by Bruton Smith
, for $215 million dollars in December. During the 2004 and 2005 race seasons, Champ Car
also held races at the speedway, which were both won by Sébastien Bourdais
.
In 2006, plans were announced to reconfigure the track after the March 2006 Sprint Cup Series race. This reconfiguration entailed "progressive banking" which increases the degree of banking on a gradient towards the outside of the track. This increased side-by-side racing. The speedway also constructed a fan zone called The Neon Garage. This area has live entertainment, unprecedented access to the drivers and teams, such as viewing areas for fans to watch their favorite driver's car get worked on and talk to the drivers, and is home to the Winner's Circle. The speedway moved pit road 275 feet (83.8 m) closer to the grandstands, built a new media center and added a quarter-mile oval for Legends Cars, Bandoleros, and Thunder roadsters, in the tri-oval area.
On August 8, 2006, the newly reconfigured track reopened to stock cars. Kurt Busch
, the 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion and Las Vegas native, became the first Sprint Cup driver to test a stock car on the newly reconfigured track in his #2 Miller Lite Penske Dodge. Jeff Burton
won the first Nationwide Series race on the new surface, taking a Monte Carlo SS
to Victory Lane. The following day Jimmie Johnson
drove a Chevrolet to Victory Lane, capturing the first Sprint Cup Series win on the new pavement.
In March 2011, Insomniac Events announced that the Electric Daisy Carnival will take place at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway
.The average yearly attendance is close to the sum of 250,000 people. The carnivals attendance for the event on Friday and Saturday is around 85,000 people each of the first two of three nights. Insomniac Events stated "EDC 2011 Las Vegas will be at the number one spot for greatest raves in the world."
resulted in the death of 33 year old, two-time Indianapolis 500
winner Dan Wheldon
.
Before the race, Wheldon was given a $5,000,000 incentive to win the race from last place at the start. Wheldon, along with other drivers, raised concerns about the speed of the cars and the cramped conditions on the track. Wheldon had also complained about problems with the car earlier in the week but promised 'pure entertainment'.
On lap 12, contact between James Hinchcliffe
and Wade Cunningham
at turn 1 resulted in Cunningham spinning in front of J. R. Hildebrand
,who was momentarily airborne.The 2 others(Hinchcliffe and Hildebrand) slid up the racetrack, collecting the 22 Dad's Rootbeer machine of Townsend Bell
, among others. This sparked a 15-car crash, involving Will Power
, Townsend Bell
, Pippa Mann
, Tomas Scheckter
, and others (see 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship
for a complete list of drivers involved). Wheldon went low to avoid (as can be heard someone's spotter yelling "Go low! Go low!"), however his path was ultimately blocked by Paul Tracy and others. He went airborne, and one photo shows his #77 Sam Schmidt Motorsports car pointing almost straight up. His car rolled twice before bounding into the air and impacting the catch fence. Power was also launched into the air and hit the catch fence, but escaped with minor injuries. The race was red flagged one lap later on lap 13.
The drivers took part in a five-lap salute after the race was stopped, with Wheldon's number 77 the only number on the scoreboard.
After the crash, racing legend Mario Andretti
, who was on the scene, said: "It was a chain reaction. On this track, cars run three abreast at upwards of 200 miles per hour. The slightest miscue can be a disaster. That's exactly what happened". Former F1 and IndyCar driver Mark Blundell
said that the Las Vegas track is a "recipe for disaster". Former Formula One world champion Jody Scheckter
wants his son Tomas
to quit IndyCar racing following the death of Wheldon. A spectator of the race in which his son raced, crashed and survived, Scheckter commented: "I’ve wanted him to give up for a while. Hopefully this will knock some sense into him and realise there is more to life. It really isn’t worth it." NASCAR
Sprint Cup driver Jimmie Johnson
stated after the incident, "I wouldn't run them on ovals. There's just no need to. Those cars are fantastic for street circuits, for road courses. I hate, hate, hate that this tragedy took place. But hopefully they can learn from it and make those cars safer on ovals somehow. I don't know how they can really do it. Myself, I have a lot of friends that race in that series, and I'd just rather see them on street circuits and road courses. No more ovals." Johnson, later commenting on the speeds the cars were obtaining, an average of 225 mph (362 km/h), stated, "Their average was 225? I've never been 225 mph in my life -- and that's their average around an oval. They are brave men and women that drive those things. There's very little crumple zone
around the driver, it's an open cockpit and then you add open wheels -- it's just creating situations to get the car off the ground at a high rate of speed. And you can't control the car when it's off the ground." In addition NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., son of driver Dale Earnhardt, who suffered similar fatal injuries in the last lap wreck in the 2001 Daytona 500, stated, “I don’t know what I’d suggest to fix it other than to dig it up and start over”, shortly after hearing about the Tragedy.
On Formula One
, reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel
said after he was told about the accident: "We're ready to accept the risks because we love motorsport and we know it's dangerous". And said that the tragedy demonstrates that motorsport needs to improve.
As Vettel expressed his words, some F1 drivers, such as Rubens Barrichello
and Mark Webber
, regret the loss of Wheldon. Jenson Button
expressed: "Not only have we lost a legend of our sport, we've lost a great man". "I have grateful memories of my races with Dan...". Jenson and Wheldon competed in Formula Ford
, where Jenson won the title.
* from minimum 5 starts.
Clark County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, and 339,693 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 71.6% White , 9.1% Black, 5.7% Asian, 0.8% American Indian and 12.8% of other or mixed race. 22.0% were Hispanic of any race...
near Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, is a 1200 acre (485.6 ha) complex of multiple tracks for automobile racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Speedway Motorsports, Inc. or SMI is an American corporation that owns and manages racing facilities that host NASCAR, IZOD IndyCar Series, NHRA, WoO other racing series. The company's headquarters are located at Charlotte Motor Speedway, in the suburbs of Charlotte, NC. SMI owns nine racing...
, which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
.
History
Following the closure of Stardust International RacewayStardust International Raceway
The Stardust International Raceway was an auto racing track in Spring Valley, near Las Vegas, Nevada. It featured a flat, , 13-turn road course, and a quarter-mile drag strip. It was built in 1965 by the Stardust Hotel and Casino to attract high rollers to the hotel. In 1966 it began hosting the...
at the end of 1970, plans were developed for a new drag strip north of Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Speedrome. It consisted of a road course and drag strip. Through changes of ownership, a 3/8 mile short track would by the end of the 1970s become part of the complex. In 1995, refurbishment of the tracks, including a new $72 million superspeedway, opened in September 1996. The first race at the speedway was on September 15, 1996, with an Indy Racing League event, which was won by Richie Hearn
Richie Hearn
Richie Hearn , is an American IndyCar racing driver.Hearn was born in Glendale, California. He ran in the Toyota Atlantic championship for two seasons, winning the title in 1995. In 1996, he began driving for John Della Penna in both the IRL and Champ Car ranks...
. The first NASCAR Sprint Cup (then Winston Cup) event was held March 1, 1998 with Mark Martin winning the inaugural event. The Winston No Bull 5 Million Dollar Bonus was held at the track from 1999 to 2002. Jeff Burton won a million dollars in 2000 and Jeff Gordon won the bonus in 2001. Burton in 1999 and Sterling Marlin in 2002 were not eligible. The drag strip was rebuilt and relocated into the current The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The 3/8 mile oval was rebuilt with a new pit lane and start-finish changed to the opposite side. During 1998, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway was sold by Richie Clyne and Ralph Englestad to Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Speedway Motorsports, Inc. or SMI is an American corporation that owns and manages racing facilities that host NASCAR, IZOD IndyCar Series, NHRA, WoO other racing series. The company's headquarters are located at Charlotte Motor Speedway, in the suburbs of Charlotte, NC. SMI owns nine racing...
, which was owned by Bruton Smith
Bruton Smith
Ollen Bruton Smith is a promoter and owner/CEO of NASCAR track owner Speedway Motorsports, Inc. He was ranked #207 on the Forbes 400 list with an estimated worth of $1.5 billion in 2005, and fell to #278 in 2006. He is divorced with four children...
, for $215 million dollars in December. During the 2004 and 2005 race seasons, Champ Car
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
also held races at the speedway, which were both won by Sébastien Bourdais
Sébastien Bourdais
Sébastien Olivier Bourdais is a French race car driver. He is one of the most successful drivers in the history of the Champ Car World Series, having won four successive championships from 2004 to 2007....
.
In 2006, plans were announced to reconfigure the track after the March 2006 Sprint Cup Series race. This reconfiguration entailed "progressive banking" which increases the degree of banking on a gradient towards the outside of the track. This increased side-by-side racing. The speedway also constructed a fan zone called The Neon Garage. This area has live entertainment, unprecedented access to the drivers and teams, such as viewing areas for fans to watch their favorite driver's car get worked on and talk to the drivers, and is home to the Winner's Circle. The speedway moved pit road 275 feet (83.8 m) closer to the grandstands, built a new media center and added a quarter-mile oval for Legends Cars, Bandoleros, and Thunder roadsters, in the tri-oval area.
On August 8, 2006, the newly reconfigured track reopened to stock cars. Kurt Busch
Kurt Busch
Kurt Thomas Busch is an American NASCAR and NHRA driver. He drives the No. 22 Shell Oil Company/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will race on an "opportunity permitting" basis in the Pro Stock division of NHRA...
, the 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion and Las Vegas native, became the first Sprint Cup driver to test a stock car on the newly reconfigured track in his #2 Miller Lite Penske Dodge. Jeff Burton
Jeff Burton
Jeffrey Brian "Jeff" Burton , also referred to as JB or The Mayor, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver who drives the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet Impala for Richard Childress Racing. Burton is the younger brother of Ward Burton, who is a former Sprint Cup driver...
won the first Nationwide Series race on the new surface, taking a Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo was an American-made two-door coupe introduced for model year 1970, and manufactured over six generations through model year 2007. It was marketed as a personal-luxury coupe through most of its history, with the last model version being classified as a full-sized coupe...
to Victory Lane. The following day Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
drove a Chevrolet to Victory Lane, capturing the first Sprint Cup Series win on the new pavement.
In March 2011, Insomniac Events announced that the Electric Daisy Carnival will take place at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada near Las Vegas, is a complex of multiple tracks for automobile racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.-History:...
.The average yearly attendance is close to the sum of 250,000 people. The carnivals attendance for the event on Friday and Saturday is around 85,000 people each of the first two of three nights. Insomniac Events stated "EDC 2011 Las Vegas will be at the number one spot for greatest raves in the world."
2011 IndyCar Series incident
On October 16, 2011, the facility saw its first fatality as a 15 car crash during the Izod IndyCar Series season finale race2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship
The 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship was the final race of the 2011 IZOD IndyCar series schedule. The event took place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Clark County, Nevada, United States on October 16, 2011...
resulted in the death of 33 year old, two-time Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
winner Dan Wheldon
Dan Wheldon
Daniel Clive "Dan" Wheldon was a British racing driver from England. He was the 2005 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series champion, and winner of the Indianapolis 500 in both 2005 and 2011...
.
Before the race, Wheldon was given a $5,000,000 incentive to win the race from last place at the start. Wheldon, along with other drivers, raised concerns about the speed of the cars and the cramped conditions on the track. Wheldon had also complained about problems with the car earlier in the week but promised 'pure entertainment'.
On lap 12, contact between James Hinchcliffe
James Hinchcliffe
James Hinchcliffe is a Canadian race car driver from Oakville, Ontario currently competing in the IndyCar Series.-Early racing:...
and Wade Cunningham
Wade Cunningham
Wade Cunningham is a racing driver from Auckland, New Zealand who has most notably competed in the Firestone Indy Lights Series.Cunningham's professional career began when he won the Karting World Championship in 2003....
at turn 1 resulted in Cunningham spinning in front of J. R. Hildebrand
J. R. Hildebrand
John R. Hildebrand Jr. is an American race car driver. He currently competes in the IZOD IndyCar Series; driving the #4 National Guard car for Panther Racing. Hildebrand's nickname is Captain America...
,who was momentarily airborne.The 2 others(Hinchcliffe and Hildebrand) slid up the racetrack, collecting the 22 Dad's Rootbeer machine of Townsend Bell
Townsend Bell
Townsend Bell is a motor racing driver. He is married to actress Heather Campbell.He won the last Indy Lights championship in 2001 and was given two starts in a Champ Car in a joint effort between Patrick Racing and Dale Coyne Racing as a test for a full-time seat in 2002. He earned Roberto...
, among others. This sparked a 15-car crash, involving Will Power
Will Power
William Steven Power is an Australian motorsport driver, who currently competes in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series, driving for Team Penske.-Australian Racing:...
, Townsend Bell
Townsend Bell
Townsend Bell is a motor racing driver. He is married to actress Heather Campbell.He won the last Indy Lights championship in 2001 and was given two starts in a Champ Car in a joint effort between Patrick Racing and Dale Coyne Racing as a test for a full-time seat in 2002. He earned Roberto...
, Pippa Mann
Pippa Mann
Philippa "Pippa" Mann is a British racing car driver, who is currently competing in the IZOD IndyCar Series. She was born in London, United Kingdom.- Career :...
, Tomas Scheckter
Tomas Scheckter
Tomas Scheckter is a South African racing driver, born in Monte Carlo. He is the son of 1979 Formula One World Champion Jody Scheckter.-Early years:...
, and others (see 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship
2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship
The 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship was the final race of the 2011 IZOD IndyCar series schedule. The event took place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Clark County, Nevada, United States on October 16, 2011...
for a complete list of drivers involved). Wheldon went low to avoid (as can be heard someone's spotter yelling "Go low! Go low!"), however his path was ultimately blocked by Paul Tracy and others. He went airborne, and one photo shows his #77 Sam Schmidt Motorsports car pointing almost straight up. His car rolled twice before bounding into the air and impacting the catch fence. Power was also launched into the air and hit the catch fence, but escaped with minor injuries. The race was red flagged one lap later on lap 13.
The drivers took part in a five-lap salute after the race was stopped, with Wheldon's number 77 the only number on the scoreboard.
After the crash, racing legend Mario Andretti
Mario Andretti
Mario Gabriele Andretti is a retired Italian American world champion racing driver, one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport. He is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR...
, who was on the scene, said: "It was a chain reaction. On this track, cars run three abreast at upwards of 200 miles per hour. The slightest miscue can be a disaster. That's exactly what happened". Former F1 and IndyCar driver Mark Blundell
Mark Blundell
Mark Blundell is a Formula One, sports car, and CART racing driver. He was a Formula One presenter for the British broadcaster ITV until the end of the 2008 season when the TV broadcasting rights switched to the BBC....
said that the Las Vegas track is a "recipe for disaster". Former Formula One world champion Jody Scheckter
Jody Scheckter
Jody David Scheckter is a South African former auto racing driver, the Formula One World Drivers Champion.-Career:Scheckter was born in East London, South Africa and educated at Selborne College.-Formula One:...
wants his son Tomas
Tomas Scheckter
Tomas Scheckter is a South African racing driver, born in Monte Carlo. He is the son of 1979 Formula One World Champion Jody Scheckter.-Early years:...
to quit IndyCar racing following the death of Wheldon. A spectator of the race in which his son raced, crashed and survived, Scheckter commented: "I’ve wanted him to give up for a while. Hopefully this will knock some sense into him and realise there is more to life. It really isn’t worth it." NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Sprint Cup driver Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
stated after the incident, "I wouldn't run them on ovals. There's just no need to. Those cars are fantastic for street circuits, for road courses. I hate, hate, hate that this tragedy took place. But hopefully they can learn from it and make those cars safer on ovals somehow. I don't know how they can really do it. Myself, I have a lot of friends that race in that series, and I'd just rather see them on street circuits and road courses. No more ovals." Johnson, later commenting on the speeds the cars were obtaining, an average of 225 mph (362 km/h), stated, "Their average was 225? I've never been 225 mph in my life -- and that's their average around an oval. They are brave men and women that drive those things. There's very little crumple zone
Crumple zone
The crumple zone is a structural feature mainly of automobiles. Crumple zones have also been incorporated into railcars in recent years.They are designed to absorb the energy from the impact during an accident by controlled deformation. This energy is much higher than is commonly recognized...
around the driver, it's an open cockpit and then you add open wheels -- it's just creating situations to get the car off the ground at a high rate of speed. And you can't control the car when it's off the ground." In addition NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Sprint Cup Series Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., son of driver Dale Earnhardt, who suffered similar fatal injuries in the last lap wreck in the 2001 Daytona 500, stated, “I don’t know what I’d suggest to fix it other than to dig it up and start over”, shortly after hearing about the Tragedy.
On Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
, reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel
Sebastian Vettel
Sebastian Vettel is a German Formula One racing driver, currently driving for Red Bull Racing. He is the current World Champion, having won the championship in and ....
said after he was told about the accident: "We're ready to accept the risks because we love motorsport and we know it's dangerous". And said that the tragedy demonstrates that motorsport needs to improve.
As Vettel expressed his words, some F1 drivers, such as Rubens Barrichello
Rubens Barrichello
Rubens Gonçalves "Rubinho" Barrichello is a Brazilian Formula One racing driver. He is currently racing for Williams F1.Barrichello has scored the seventh highest points total in Formula One history. Barrichello drove for Ferrari from to , as Michael Schumacher's teammate, enjoying considerable...
and Mark Webber
Mark Webber
Mark Alan Webber is an Australian Formula One driver.After some racing success in Australia, Webber moved to the United Kingdom in 1995 to further his motorsport career...
, regret the loss of Wheldon. Jenson Button
Jenson Button
Jenson Alexander Lyons Button MBE is a British Formula One driver currently signed to McLaren. He was the 2009 World Drivers' Champion.Button began karting at the age of eight and achieved early success, before progressing to car racing in the British Formula Ford Championship and the British...
expressed: "Not only have we lost a legend of our sport, we've lost a great man". "I have grateful memories of my races with Dan...". Jenson and Wheldon competed in Formula Ford
Formula Ford
Formula Ford is a single seater, open wheel class in motorsport which exists in some form in many countries around the world. It is an entry-level series to motor racing....
, where Jenson won the title.
Records
Track reconfiguration in 2006 increased the banking in the turns. Subsequent testing before the 2007 season showed significantly higher speeds, with Sprint Cup Series drivers recording unofficial laps at better than 185 mi/h.- NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying: Matt KensethMatt KensethMatthew Roy "Matt" Kenseth is an American stock car driver. Kenseth currently drives the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
, 28.589 sec. (188.884 mph), 2011 - NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race: Kyle BuschKyle BuschKyle Thomas Busch, is an American NASCAR driver and team owner. He currently drives the No. 18 Mars/Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, the No. 18 Z-Line Designs/NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs in the Nationwide Series, and the No...
, 3 hrs. 34 min. 40 sec. (119.513 mph), 2009 Shelby 4272009 Shelby 427The 2009 Shelby 427 was the third race of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. This race took place on March 1 of that year at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the namesake Nevada city...
(427.5 miles (688 km) distance used for first time in 2009) - NASCAR Nationwide Series Qualifying: Brad KeselowskiBrad KeselowskiBradley Robert Keselowski is an American auto racing driver currently competing in the #2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger in the Sprint Cup Series and the #22 Discount Tire Company/Ruby Tuesday Dodge Challenger in the Nationwide Series for Penske Racing...
, 29.122 sec. (185.427 mph), 2010 - NASCAR Nationwide Series Race: Jeff BurtonJeff BurtonJeffrey Brian "Jeff" Burton , also referred to as JB or The Mayor, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver who drives the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet Impala for Richard Childress Racing. Burton is the younger brother of Ward Burton, who is a former Sprint Cup driver...
, 2 hrs. 13 min. 13 sec. (135.118 mph), 2000 - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Qualifying: Mike SkinnerMike Skinner (NASCAR)Mike Skinner is an American driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He is the primary driver of the #60 Big Red Soda Toyota Camry for Germain Racing. He is the father of former NASCAR drivers Jamie and Dustin Skinner...
, 30.326 sec. (178.065 mph), 2006 - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race: David StarrDavid StarrDavid Starr is an American stock car driver. He currently drives the #95 WRL General Contractors/TWD Drywall/B&D Electrical/Fenton Motor Group Ford Fusion for Leavine Fenton Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series part-time and the #81 Zachry Holdings, Inc. Toyota Tundra for SS-Green Light Racing...
, 1 hr. 37 min. 3 sec. (135.394 mph), 2002
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Records
(As of 2/28/10)| Most Wins | 4 | Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.... |
Most Top 5s | 6 | Jeff Gordon Jeff Gordon Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the... , Mark Martin Mark Martin Mark Martin may refer to:* Mark Martin , American racecar driver* Mark Martin , American cartoonist* Mark Martin , American judge* Mark Martin , British murderer... |
Most Top 10s | 10 | Mark Martin Mark Martin Mark Martin may refer to:* Mark Martin , American racecar driver* Mark Martin , American cartoonist* Mark Martin , American judge* Mark Martin , British murderer... |
Starts | 13 | 4 Drivers | Poles | 2 | 4 Drivers | Most Laps Completed | 3293 | Jeff Burton Jeff Burton Jeffrey Brian "Jeff" Burton , also referred to as JB or The Mayor, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver who drives the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet Impala for Richard Childress Racing. Burton is the younger brother of Ward Burton, who is a former Sprint Cup driver... |
Most Laps Led | 453 | Jeff Gordon Jeff Gordon Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the... |
Avg. Start* | 5.2 | Kurt Busch Kurt Busch Kurt Thomas Busch is an American NASCAR and NHRA driver. He drives the No. 22 Shell Oil Company/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will race on an "opportunity permitting" basis in the Pro Stock division of NHRA... |
Avg. Finish* | 9.9 | Jeff Burton Jeff Burton Jeffrey Brian "Jeff" Burton , also referred to as JB or The Mayor, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver who drives the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet Impala for Richard Childress Racing. Burton is the younger brother of Ward Burton, who is a former Sprint Cup driver... |
Tracks
- The Bullring (a 0.375-mile (600 m) paved oval
- Dirt Track 0.5 mile (800 m) clay oval
- The Strip 0.25 mile(1320 ft drag strip)
- Superspeedway 1.5 mile (2.414 km) oval
External links
- Las Vegas Motor Speedway Official Site
- Las Vegas Motor Speedway Page on NASCAR.com
- Jayski's Las Vegas Speedway Page – Current and Past Las Vegas Motor Speedway News
- LVMS on RacewayReport.com – Local area information, track specs, mapping, news and more.
- High Resolution image from Google Maps
- Richard Petty Driving Experience at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
- Las Vegas Motor Speedway Tickets