Deja Flippin Vu, Almost

By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.

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Well, it was almost like deja vu as Carl Edwards led the last lap for the second week in a row.

After much impending anticipation, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series made it to Las Vegas. After the fiasco in Fontana last week, it was definitely a welcomed weekend where weather wasn’t an issue, and the racing was anticipated to be really good.

It wasn’t bad, however as a colleague pointed out, I was left with a slight empty feeling. To me it felt like the guys we’re leaving something on the table, for lack of a better term. I reflect back to comments about the tires, a lack of overall grip, and the term cautiously aggressive comes to mind.

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Filed Under: Carl Edwards, Drivers, Hendrick Motorsports #24, Jeff Gordon, Joe Gibbs Racing #20, Las Vegas, Nascar, Roush Racing #99, Sprint Cup, Teams, Tony Stewart, Tracks

Tagged As: Carl Edwards, Cousin Carl, Jeff Gordon, Las Vegas, Post-Race Inspection, Tony Stewart



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By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Thursday February 28, 2008
2:20pm CST
Published on Thunder Lounge.

With every advancement in dates for a NASCAR track, someone loses out. Las Vegas hosting two races per season would not be an exception to this. In order for the folks at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to benefit from a second date, someone will lose out. More than just one “someone” as well.

As it stands now, that potential loss lies at the feet of SMI’s recently purchased New Hampshire Motor Speedway, which is unfortunate.

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Filed Under: Las Vegas, Nascar, New Hampshire, Sprint Cup, Texas, Tracks

Tagged As: Bruton Smith, Las Vegas, New Hampshire, SMI, Texas



Trackback URL for: The Pitfalls Of A Second Date At Las Vegas

By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Tuesday February 26, 2008
10:44am CST
Published on Thunder Lounge.

We all know Bruton Smith bought New Hampshire, renamed it to fit within the SMI namig Scheme (New Hampshire Motor Speedway), changed the logo, and is spending money in addition to the $340 million price tag for the track.

What has run rampant since is that Bruton Smith didn’t necessarily buy the track, but bought the two coveted Cup dates that it had for the sole purpose of moving one of those dates to Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Oh, that would be $170 million for each Cup date, if you’re counting.

Was it worth it for SMI, and will it be worth it for Las Vegas in return? It very well could be, and a profitable move at that.

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Filed Under: Las Vegas, Nascar, New Hampshire, Sprint Cup, Tracks

Tagged As: Bruton Smith, Las Vegas, New Hampshire, SMI



Trackback URL for: Why A Second Date At Las Vegas Will Work

By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Monday February 25, 2008
11:15am CST
Published on Thunder Lounge.

David Poole hit the nail on the head, as he often does when it comes to tough questions. Like him or not, this piece nails it.

David raises the same questions, that we previously discussed, in terms of California, weather, attendance and whether or not this is working out. Also drawing the same path through the dots to recall that the reasons currently present in California were the beginning of the end for Rockingham. It’s not necessarily the track, but as I’ve said before it’s the weather.

The L.A. market (which is what California targets, some 60 miles west or so) is something that the kind providers of the funding that helps put the sport on the track want to be in. Naturally, in terms of business, it makes sense. What doesn’t make sense completely is the consistent lack of a quality product.

California has a place on the schedule. The question however, is how often and when?

Prior to having a second date awarded, the race was later in the spring and the results (while still not great) were better. Or so it would seem. Let’s go with that it presented a better opportunity to draw a crowd.

Yesterday the competition for attendance at events in the market was high. There was plenty to do. Then again, most of those events only had to dish out about 25% (or less) of the number of tickets as compared to the Cup event.

But hey, one bright shining star of hope has emerged for fans sitting at work with ticket stubs from the Nationwide event this weekend. Bruton Smith and the kind folks at Las Vegas Motor Speedway have been kind enough to give anyone with a ticket stub from the California Nationwide race a $25 ticket to the Nationwide race this coming weekend.

Needless to say, the weather looks beautiful for this coming weekends events, with highs around 70. Sounds better than the 40’s, doesn’t it?

Share your thoughts!.

Filed Under: California, Las Vegas, Nascar, Tracks

Tagged As: California, Las Vegas, Rain Delay



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