Get Ready For NASCAR Weekend in Vegas!
The lure of the racetrack is beckoning thousands of fans to Las Vegas this week to enjoy not one, but two NASCAR races. The Sam’s Town 300 NASCAR Busch Series race will be held Saturday, March 10, starting at noon. The big UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 is the next day, Sunday, March 11, starting at 1:30pm.
Both events at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway are almost sold out for next weekend. But even if you can’t score a ticket, there are several other race-related events that you can still attend. And if you’re lucky, you’ll get to rub elbows with the drivers themselves.
Here is a complete list of all official NASCAR race weekend events with the drivers:
THURSDAY, MARCH 8
* 2-4 p.m. – Second annual Raybestos Rookie Cooking Challenge at ESPN Zone at New York New York Hotel & Casino. Scheduled to participate: Marcos Ambrose, Justin Diercks, Timothy Peters, Richard Johns, Brad Coleman and Kyle Krisiloff.
* 2-3 p.m. – Eric McClure autograph session at Arizona Charlies (Decatur location).
* 3-7 p.m. – Brendan Gaughan/South Point Racing Open House (6975 Speedway Blvd., Building D-104).
* 5-6 p.m. – Matt Kenseth at NASCAR Café at the Sahara Hotel & Casino (wristbands will be distributed at 10 a.m.).
* 5-7 p.m. – Inaugural Kyle Busch Fan Club event at Fast Lap Indoor Kart Racing, 4288 Polaris Ave. Busch will sign autographs, take pictures and race against fans. Tickets and additional information are available at www.KyleBusch.com.
* 5-7 p.m. – Kasey Kahne autograph session at the Stratosphere Hotel & Casino. (Limited to 400 wristbands. Wristbands will be distributed from Noon-3 p.m. March 7 and 8.)
* 6 p.m. – Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards and Michael Waltrip at Speedway Children’s Charities NASCAR Driver Auction at Sam’s Town Live! inside Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall. All drivers competing in the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 and the top 20 drivers entered in the Sam’s Town 300 will be auctioned off. Fans are bidding on the opportunity to ride around the track with their NASCAR racer during pre-race driver introductions. Event also will include silent auction. (This is not an autograph session.)
* 6-7 p.m. – Todd Kluever at NASCAR Café at the Sahara Hotel & Casino (wristbands will be distributed at 10 a.m.).
* 6-8 p.m. – Kurt Busch autograph session at The Palms Hotel & Casino.
* 6-8 p.m. – Robby Gordon, Paul Menard and Johnny Sauter autograph session at Harrah’s Hotel & Casino.
* 6-8 p.m. – David Gilliland at M&M’s World @ MGM Grand. Fans will need a ticket to receive an autograph and the store will hand them out on Thursday, March 8, in the morning (time TBA). Only 300 tickets will be distributed.
* 8-9 p.m. – John Andretti autograph session at Arizona Charlies (Decatur Blvd. location).
FRIDAY, MARCH 9
* 2 p.m. – Dale Earnhardt Jr and Richard Petty unveil their wax figures at the Las Vegas Speedway’s Neon Garage. Following this NASCAR weekend, the figures will go to their new home at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino.
* 7:30-8:30 p.m. – Mark Martin at NASCAR Café at the Sahara Hotel & Casino (wristbands will be distributed at 10 a.m.).
* 7:30-8:30 p.m. – Regan Smith at NASCAR Café at the Sahara Hotel & Casino (wristbands will be distributed at 10 a.m.).
* 8:30-9:30 p.m. – Kevin LePage autograph session at Arizona Charlies Casino (Boulder Highway location).
* 9-10 p.m. – Shane Huffman, Ward Burton, Jason Keller, Jon Wood, Marcos Ambrose, Eric McClure, Carlos Contreras, John Andretti, Donnie Neunenberger and retired “Alabama Gang” driver Jimmy Means at the Stratosphere Hotel & Casino.
SATURDAY, MARCH 10
* Noon – Sam’s Town 300 NASCAR Busch Series. Aired live on ABC.
SUNDAY, MARCH 11
* 1:30 p.m. – UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400. Aired live on Fox.