“It’s hard to believe but this is our first trip ‘out west’ since February when the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competed at Auto Club Speedway. Seven months and 16 races is a long time and we’re glad to be back for all of the West Coast fans.
“Las Vegas Motor Speedway is one of the first big tracks to come on the schedule in 1996, along with Homestead-Miami Speedway. Everyone was kind of holding their breath when we tested here with trucks that, realistically, were much better suited for short tracks than anywhere with speeds in excess of 160 mph.
“But, we had great races at both intermediate tracks. We didn’t know it at the time, but Las Vegas Motor Speedway was a look into the future of the series. Nineteen of the 25 races now are held on tracks a mile or longer.
“When the series raced here in 1996, the facility was a few hammers and nails short of being completed. But nobody minded, especially with racing legends like Bill Elliott and A.J. Foyt in the field.
“A couple of years ago, the track had the ‘under construction’ sign out again. But this time, the project was much, much bigger. The Neon Garage and other improvements have really kicked Las Vegas Motor Speedway into a higher gear for both the teams and the fans.
“Everyone enjoys their trip to Las Vegas. Some more than others when you factor in luck, or lack thereof, away from the track. Win or lose, all will look back on this week as one of the season’s highlights.
