LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY - LAS VEGAS NV
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada in Las Vegas, Nevada about 15 miles northeast of the Las Vegas Strip, is a spralling, 1,200-acre complex of multiple tracks for motorsports racing. Following the final closure of Stardust International Raceway in 1971, plans were developed for a new racing facility in Las Vegas: the Las Vegas Speedrome. Ralph Engelstad of the Imperial Palace purchased the track in 1989, renaming the facility Las Vegas Speedway Park. Engelstad partnered with William Bennett of the Sahara Hotel and opened a new $72 million superspeedway on the site in September 1996. The Speedway is a 1 1/2 mile D-shaped oval. The first race at the speedway was on September 15 with an IndyCar event, which was won by Richie Hearn. A NASCAR Truck
Series race followed in November. In December 1998, Speedway Motorsports purchased Las Vegas Motor Speedway. NASCAR first brought the Cup Series to the track in 1998. Mark Martin would claim the checkered flag; the first of his seven wins in 1998. Martin's team mate Jeff Burton would win in both 1999 and 2000; and another team mate of Martin's (Matt Kenseth) would grab the checkers in 2003 and 2004. Jimmie Johnson out dueled team mate Kyle Busch to win in 2005; while it appeared that Kenseth looked to get a third win in 2006; but Jimmie Johnson passed him coming off turn #4 on the final lap to steal the victory and get his second win. Following the
race, the track was reconfigured. The banking in the corners were changed from 12 degrees to 20 degrees and entailed "progressive banking". Johnson returned the next year and even with track changes, he was able to get a third win in a row; and add a fourth win in 2010. In 2018, the track would add an additional race each season, and it would be in the "Chase". Kevin Harvick would win the first time out on the new configuration; his second here, as he won in 2015. Brad Keselowski won the other 2018 race; marking his third win as he went to victory circle here in 2014 and 2016. Kurt Busch is from Las Vegas, and he has long wanted to win on his home track. In 2020 he finally accomplished that feat. Brother Kyle Busch had achieved that in 2009. The Xfinity and Truck series have ran two
races a season here starting in 2018. In 2011, the final race of the Indy Car Series was held here. Tragedy would strike on lap 11. There was a giant crash involving 15 cars, some of which became airborne, and some of which burst into flames. Two drivers made light contact, but it turned into a huge melee'. Four of the 15 drivers were seriously injured and taken to the nearby University Medical Center for treatment, one of which was two-time, reigning Indianapolis 500 winner and 2005 series champion Dan Wheldon, who suffered severe blunt force trauma to the head after his car flew into the catch fence. He was pronounced dead on arrival two hours
later and IndyCar's officials formally decided to abandon the race. Instead of completing the race with 188 laps to go, the drivers who were not involved went back out on the track and did a five-lap salute in Wheldon's honor. “Amazing Grace” played as the drivers slowly wound their way around the track. The track stays active as, beside the Cup series, they host the Southwest series; along with NASCAR K&N; Xfinity and Truck races. The facility also has a drag strip that runs almost weekly; and host NHRA Drag Racing events. There is also a 1/2 mile dirt track behind turns 3 and 4 of the big track, and a 3/8 mile asphalt track known as "The Bull Ring, behind turns 1 and 2 which also races almost weekly.
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