With the continuous growth in popularity of NASCAR these days, many tracks are making changes to not only accommodate space for the extra fans, but also to find new and exciting ways to entertain them. Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) serves as the most ambitious of these projects in the past year. Beginning with an announcement made in January 2006, LVMS has transformed into an ultra-modern replica of the glitz and glamour for which the city of Las Vegas is best known.
Construction for the multimillion-dollar project began last March immediately following the 2006 NASCAR race weekend. After nearly a full year of work, renovations are finally complete. Those renovations include a new diamond-shaped garage area, new media center, increased banking in the turns of the racing surface, a pit road that is 150 feet closer to the grandstands, and a new fan interactive area positioned right in the middle of all of it.
The garage area is a two-story, four-building complex that encompasses the fan area. Fans can watch the teams prepare for the race atop the impressive roof deck that surrounds the garage area or through windows at each team's garage stall. The fan area will also feature concession stands and a stage for live bands and other Las Vegas entertainers. Scheduled to
perform during this year's NASCAR race weekend are The Blue Man Group, The Sirens of TI, and several celebrity impersonators, including impersonators for Elvis, Madonna and Prince, among others.
Other changes to note for the race in Las Vegas are a new tire compound from Goodyear and a smaller fuel cell in the cars. With faster racing, resulting from the increased 20-degree banking, and the new tire compound, NASCAR felt that teams are facing too many new variables not to run a smaller cell. The smaller 13-gallon fuel cells will force the teams to pit more often and give them more opportunities to make changes throughout the race.
On a final note LVMS has decided to make the grandstands a smoke-free environment. The only area fans will be allowed to smoke will be on the concourse level. LVMS officials cited the U.S. Surgeon General's June 2006 report about the dangers of secondhand smoke as the reason for the change.
Las Vegas Qualifying Record: Kasey Kahne (30.874 seconds/174.904 mph) March 5, 2004
Las Vegas Race Record: Mark Martin (2 hrs., 43 min., 58 sec/146.554 mph) March 1, 1998
2006 Nextel Cup Winner: Jimmie Johnson
2007 Purse: $6,381,100
