LAS VEGAS, Nevada — The Bullring, Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s NASCAR-sanctioned 3/8-mile asphalt oval, will kick off the Independence Day weekend on Thursday, July 2, with its annual Night of Fire holiday spectacular. The evening of family fun will include fireworks, the lightning-fast SMRA Supermodifieds, a spectacular dual jet-car burn, NASCAR-sanctioned stock car racing, freestyle stunt street bikes and a drifting exhibition.
The 50-lap SMRA Supermodified feature will be joined by the MetroPCS Super Late Models (76 laps), Chargers, Outlaw Enduro Bombers (76 laps), twin Legends Cars features and Bandoleros.
The Supermodifieds can reach speeds in excess of 130 mph on short tracks and have a colorful past. The class, often referred to as "unlimited" by enthusiasts, began life in the late 1950s as "cut-downs" or –depending on which part of the country you are from – "bugs." This type of race car started life as a pair of frame rails and a heavily-abbreviated 1930s coupe body (hence the name, "cut-downs"). Ford flatheads or GM six-cylinder engines supplied the power to recapped tires.
Through the 1960s and 1970s, the class evolved into an exotic, "anything-goes" division. Rulebooks were thin and most Supermodified tracks mandated only a maximum tire width (as wide as 17 in., depending on the track), overall width and engine location. This is where the class developed its ties to the Indianapolis 500: some teams purchased retired Indy roadsters and adapted them for Supermodified racing, replacing the Offenhauser power plants with Chevrolet engines in excess of 427 cu. in. A number of Indianapolis 500 drivers, including Gordon Johncock and Davey Hamilton, used the Supermodified class as a springboard to the Brickyard.
Other drivers converted USAC Sprint Cars – referred to as "uprights" by the faithful followers because of the driver's seating arrangement – for asphalt use.
Today's Supermodified is light years away from the original design. The huge wing atop the car generates downforce on the wide tires and affords higher speeds in the turns. The engine now literally sits outside the left frame rail and is tilted to shift as much weight to the left side of the car as possible. The big-block Chevrolet engines incorporate sophisticated fuel-injection systems and alcohol is the fuel of choice.
To watch one Supermodified circle a speedway is spectacular; to witness an entire field of Supermodifieds racing on a track simply is breathtaking.
Eastern hot shoe Justin Belfiore will tow from Haverhill, Mass. to Las Vegas to challenge the SMRA Supermodified racers from Colo., Ore., Calif., Utah and Wash. Belfiore, a nine-year veteran of the winged wars, calls Lee (N.H.) Speedway home and competes on the International Supermodified Association (ISMA) circuit. Belfiore's car has a local connection: it is owned by his father, Jim, of Las Vegas.
The Bullring's concession stand offers a family-friendly dollar menu, including $1 hot dogs, $1 soda and $1 beer.
Country music fans may win tickets to the summer holiday spectacular by listening to New Country 95.5, KWNR-FM. They also may register on www.KWNR.com to win the opportunity to ride in the KWNR pace truck.
Spectator gates will open at 5 p.m. with racing at 6:20 p.m.
July 2 schedule (subject to change):
5 p.m.
Spectator gates open.
Bandolero Bandits qualifying.
Bandolero Young Guns qualifying.
SMRA Supermodified qualifying.
MetroPCS Super Late Model qualifying.
Legends Cars qualifying.
Charger heat races.
6:20 p.m.
Legends Cars Developmental feature.
15-lap Bandolero Bandits feature.
15-lap Bandolero Young Guns feature.
7 p.m.
National anthem.
8-lap Budweiser Supermodified Dash.
8-lap Budweiser MetroPCS Super Late Model Dash.
Drifting exhibition.
20-lap Legends Cars feature.
50-lap SMRA Supermodified feature (50-minute time limit).
76-lap MetroPCS Super Late Model feature (caution laps will be counted).
Drifting exhibition grand finale.
9:50 p.m. – Dual jet-car burns followed by fireworks.
10:20 p.m.
Outlaw Bomber hot-lap session.
30-lap Charger feature.
Motorcycle stunt bike show.
76-lap Outlaw Bomber Enduro.
Spectator admission:
Adults: $15.
Senior citizens and military personnel with ID: $12.
Children (6-12): $5.
Family 4-Pak (2 adults and 2 children): $38.
Stockyard: $149 (includes 4 admission tickets)
Stockyard passes are available for purchase by visiting or calling the LVMS Ticket Services Office.
For more information, please call the LVMS ticket office at (702) 644-4444 or visit www.LVMS.com. Follow LVMS on Facebook and Twitter.
