Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Las Vegas Strip, Speedway featured in tonight’s ‘The Bachelor’ episode

The Bachelor

Isaac Brekken, ABC

Brad Womack of ABC’s “The Bachelor” is photographed during a group date at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The episode, which was taped, airs Monday, Jan. 31, 2011.

Beyond the Sun

Brad Womack’s search for love in the reality show “The Bachelor” takes him to Las Vegas for dates with the girls fighting for his affection — and the hard-to-get rose, which means they are safe during the end-of-the-show elimination.

This season’s fifth episode, which was earlier filmed at several venues in the Las Vegas area, will air at 9 p.m. tonight on ABC (Cox Cable Channel 13).

Womack takes the girls on a group date to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where they take part in the Richard Petty Driving Experience. The experience allows participants to race around the 142,000-seat track for three laps in a NASCAR-style stock car at speeds up to 160 mph.

"I think it's outstanding that the producers of 'The Bachelor' chose our facility as a location for taping an episode of their very popular TV program,” LVMS President Chris Powell said in a statement. “This episode exposes Las Vegas Motor Speedway to a new audience, and that's especially nice in the days leading up to our 15th annual NASCAR Weekend."

While most of the taping in Las Vegas is being kept private, show previews include hopeful Emily Maynard breaking down in tears at the track. Ricky Hendrick of NASCAR’s Hendricks Motor Sports, her former fiancé, died seven years ago in an airplane crash heading to a race.

Several speculate the show’s producers intentionally planned the group date to LVMS to force Maynard to confront feelings for Hendrick.

A majority of the show takes place at Aria and Crystals at CityCenter.

Womack will take an unidentified bachelorette on an exclusive one-on-one date with a VIP shopping expedition at luxury retailers Ermenegildo Zegna, FENDI, Lanvin, Bally and Paul Smith inside Crystals, according to Aria officials.

The date will also include a private dinner on the Crystals rooftop with a fireworks presentation from Fireworks by Grucci.

Womack also hosts a two-on-one date at the Sage restaurant with cuisine prepared by Executive Chef Shawn McClain. Also at Aria, Womack and the girls rehearse with the cast of "Elvis" by Cirque du Soleil and go on a group outing at the pool.

This is the second time Womack has embarked on a romantic, reality show journey. Three years ago, he shocked the show’s fans by rejecting both of his final bachelorettes. He claims to have undergone a personal transformation and says he is ready to make a commitment.

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