LAS VEGAS – Opening night of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series is scheduled for Saturday at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Six classes and a spectacular fireworks display will highlight the Bullring’s first event of the year. The series will cover 19 dates and 11 divisions including Super Late Models, Late Models, Chargers, IMCA Modifieds, Bandolero Young Guns, Bandolero Bandits, Legends Masters, Legends Pro, Legends Semi-Pro, Thunder Roadsters and Bullring Bombers.
The Super Late Models, Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Chargers, Legends Cars and Bandoleros will kick off the 2007 racing season Saturday night.
Fans will notice the addition of heat races for all divisions. The new "Wheel of Inversion" will determine Fast Dash invert positions. The finish of the dash will determine feature starting spots.
“In the past the dash events meant nothing and all of the emphasis on the program was placed on qualifying,” said Chris Blair, LVMS vice president of racing operations. “Now our fans will be treated to a show of great group qualifying, heat races, dashes and features. The fans will even be a part of the racing program by spinning our new "Wheel of Inversion" to determine the number of positions that will be inverted in the dash.”
Fans will also gain more interaction with the drivers. Immediately after the last feature race, the front stretch gate will be open and fans will be welcomed onto the track to meet the drivers, walk the racing surface and go to the pits.
“We want our fans to have immediate access to the racers once the final checkered flag falls,” Blair said. “In the past our fans have waited for more than 30 minutes for cars to clear the track and the pit gates to open. We want our fans to be a part of the victory celebration, meet the drivers, walk the track and be a part of the exciting short track show.”
Spectator gates open at 5 p.m. Qualifying is set for 5:05 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m.
The monument to the late Spencer Clark will be dedicated at 6:45 p.m. Clark, a 19-year-old former track champion at the Bullring, died in an automobile accident last May.
General admission is $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens, military personnel with ID and $5 for children 6-12. Children five and under are free. A Family Four Pack can be purchased for $26.
