LAS VEGAS – The all-important Nevada caucus is slated for Saturday, Jan. 19 and presidential hopefuls from both the Democratic and Republican parties are eligible for free credentials to Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s Neon Garage during NASCAR Weekend Feb. 29-March 1-2.
Beginning Monday, Jan. 14, the first race fans – whose surnames match any of the primary candidates’ last names – who purchase Neon Garage passes will have their money refunded to them. Fans and candidates eligible for such a refund must share the last names of either Democrats Hillary Clinton, John Edwards or Barack Obama or Republicans Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Mitt Romney or Fred Thompson.
The offer is good until 5 p.m. on Jan. 19, the day of the Nevada caucus. “We gave strong consideration to anyone named ‘Kucinich’,” said Chris Powell, general manager of Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “But the poor showing of Dennis Kucinich in both Iowa and New Hampshire simply made that impossible.”
The Neon Garage is a fan interactive, entertainment zone located in the center of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage. Unprecedented access to drivers and teams, Vegas-style entertainment including celebrity impersonators such as Elvis and Madonna, the Winner’s Circle and specialty concessions are just some of the highlights of the Neon Garage.
The Feb. 29-March 2 NASCAR Weekend is the largest sporting event in the western United States. The highlight of the weekend is the 11th running of the UAW-Dodge 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, March 2. The Sam’s Town 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series event is set for Saturday, March 1. Qualifying for the UAW-Dodge 400 will be Friday, Feb. 29.
The candidates themselves are eligible for the free credentials to the Neon Garage even if they are not first to make their purchases. “They’re quite busy getting ready for the caucus here in the Silver State, so they deserve special dispensation,” Powell said. “But by the time our NASCAR Weekend rolls around at the end of February, a couple of the candidates might deserve an opportunity to speak to the estimated gathering of 155,000 voters and race fans, and the others can join the impersonators performing in the Neon Garage.”
