Work progressing on LVMS drag strip

Drag racing fans who wandered by the new drag strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway during the CarsDirect.com 400 NASCAR Winston Cup race probably came away with the same impression: There is no way that is going to be ready in five weeks.

With Las Vegas' first National Hot Rod Association national event now a mere three weeks away, LVMS general manager Chris Powell insists the $10 million "Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway" will be completed in time for the April 6-9 Summitracing.com NHRA Nationals.

"We're right on schedule to be completed in time for the first pass down the quarter mile," Powell said. "We knew when we started building this facility that we were going to building right up until the week of the event.

"We've got a lot of work to do, but most of that work now is in enclosed areas (such as the control tower and luxury suites). The racing surface is set down and ready to go and the pits will be paved and lighted. It's going to be a very, very nice facility."

Powell said response to the inaugural NHRA national event in Las Vegas has been overwhelming. Although he would not release specific figures, Powell said tickets have been selling at a brisk pace.

"Sales have been beyond our and the NHRA's expectations," he said. "We expect to sell out for the final eliminations on Sunday (and) we encourage fans to go ahead and buy their tickets in advance."

The "Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway" will seat approximately 30,000 for next month's event, but Powell said plans allow for additional seating to be added for future events.

The LVMS facility is unique among drag strips in that the luxury suites will line the top of the west grandstand while the majority of drag strips locate their suites in a multi-story building behind the starting line.

"It's going to be a first-class facility," Powell said. "I think drag racing fans are going to be very, very impressed by what they see."

The inaugural Summitracing.com NHRA Nationals will be the fourth of 23 national events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for Friday, April 7 and Saturday, April 8, and final eliminations will start at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 9.

Single-day tickets are priced from $10 to $60 and include a free pit pass. A four-day spectator event pass is $115. Tickets are available at the LVMS ticket office or on the Internet at www.tickets.com.

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