Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a tri-oval intermediate speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. The track complex has hosted various major racing events since its opening, including NASCAR, IndyCar, and Champ Car. The venue has a capacity of 80,000 as of 2023. The track's complex features various adjacent tracks, including a oval, a clay oval, and a road course with multiple layouts. The main track also features an infield road course that is used for sports car racing. The facility is owned by Speedway Motorsports, LLC (SMI) and led by track general manager Patrick Lindsey.
After the closure of Stardust International Raceway in 1971, plans were made to build a new road course and drag strip in North Las Vegas by Craig Road Speedway owner Curly Price on city of Las Vegas-owned land. The then-named Las Vegas Speedrome was completed in 1972, with preliminary races being held before in 1971; however, the track fell quickly into disrepair. The track was revived by drag racer Alex Rodriguez and his son for most of the 1980s. During Rodriguez's tenure, a oval was added in 1985, which is now known as The Bullring. In 1989, Richie Clyne, the director of the Imperial Palace Hotel's (now called The Linq) automobile museum, bought the complex from the city. By the mid-1990s, Clyne, Imperial Palace owner Ralph Engelstad, and Sahara Hotel owner Bill Bennett announced plans to build a oval on the track's complex, which was completed in 1996. In 1998, SMI and its founder Bruton Smith bought the complex.
Description
Configurations Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) in its current form is measured at , with 20 degrees of banking in the turns and nine degrees of banking on the track's frontstretch and backstretch. Before 2006, the track had 12 degrees of banking in the turns. Different measurements have been used; in 2011, the IndyCar Series utilized a length of . Within the main track's frontstretch, there is a oval that was built in 2006. Within the track's infield, there is a road course complex that was built as part of the track's construction in 1996. The track has also used a "roval" layout during select races.
Amenities
LVMS is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, in-between Interstate 15 and Las Vegas Boulevard. At its peak, the track held over 140,000 seats. As of 2023, according to the Las Vegas Sun, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway has a stated capacity of 80,000. At the time of the track complex's opening, it was situated upon 200 acres of land with a capacity of 3,000. The complex has since expanded extensively, and as of 2015 is situated upon over 1,200 acres of land according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Numerous amenities exist on the track's complex; most of which were built as part of a 2006 renovation project on the track. As part of the 2006 renovations, the track built a redesigned, interactive garage that is known as the Neon Garage that spectators could access for an extra fee during race weekends. A three-story, 60,000 square-foot media center, currently known as the LocaliQ Digital Center for sponsorship reasons, was also constructed in 2006 within the track's infield. A 127-unit condominium tower was also slated to be built overlooking the track's first turn; however, the plan saw opposition from Nellis Air Force Base and United States Air Force officials, who did regular flight training and drills near the track, later clarifying that it was due to safety risks. Although SMI CEO Bruton Smith initially refused to comply, he relented after the Air Force lobbied the Clark County government to refuse the lodging.
Adjacent tracks The track complex features numerous adjacent tracks; two of which were built before the main track. In 1985, the complex built a oval that was assisted with donations of barriers that were used in the Caesars Palace Grand Prix. In 2000, the track was modified to become and was renamed the "Bullring". A clay dirt oval opened in November 1996, hosting a World of Outlaws event.
As part of the track complex's initial opening, the complex built a drag strip, which opened in 1972. In 1999, in the aftermath of Smith buying out the track, the track announced a new to replace the original strip built in 1972. The new drag strip opened in April 2000, being named "The Strip". In 2017, the drag strip was expanded to four lanes.
Track history
Complex planning and construction On August 14, 1970, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that businessman Carl "Curly" Price was aiming to sign a lease for a plot of land near Nellis Air Force Base from the City of Las Vegas to build a drag strip, a "small" road course, and a proposed oval. The proposal received an endorsement from the Review-Journal, which wrote "We hope Curly can get on this since [North Las Vegas] badly needs a motor sports complex", stating a lack of proper racing facilities. By February 1971, the complex, initially known as the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, was being built with "work [progressing] daily".
Track complex's early years On May 16, 1971, the complex was recorded to have held its first races on a dirt oval, sanctioned by the Southern Nevada Off Road Enthusiasts (SNORE). By July, the Clark County government approved plans to create an oval and a drag strip. In August, SNORE held another event, this time opening a buggy course. In December, Price announced that the track would hold its first drag strip event in January 1972. In December 1971, Larry Horten announced a bid to rival Price's track named the Las Vegas Raceway Park, seeking approval from the Clark County Board of County Commissioners for a 520-acre plot of land that was also directly near Nellis AFB. However, on December 21, the board rejected Horten's plan.
The now-named Las Vegas International Speedrome's drag strip held its first races on February 26, 1972, on the to host the first day of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Open Drag Championships. By May, the International Motorsports Association scheduled races for the rest of the year at the complex's road course. However, by August, the track was displaying issues; the lighting system on the track's road course was reported to malfunction during races. In September, the West Charleston Lions Club of Las Vegas signed a 15-year agreement to run the drag strip.
Price's legal troubles After 1972, almost all major racing, especially drag racing, ceased due to mainly financial issues; though, this was disputed by businessmen Ted Wiens and Mike Sellers. Although the track still held small local events before, the track did not see any major racing until May 19, 1974. By August, the financial situation had gotten so dire that local drag racers were pushing their profits to try and revitalize the track. In October, the complex aimed to host bi-monthly drag strip races, hoping to gain profits from frequently occurring local events, along with forming the Speedrome Racing Association to conduct the rest of its races. In 1975, the track was used as the starting point for the Mint 400. In September of that year, the NHRA returned, with the complex holding its first major drag racing event in almost three years.
On September 17, the city of Las Vegas considered revoking Price's lease, with stated reasons including that Price owed around $3,400 on monthly payments, increased cases of vandalism to both the track and the Price's machinery, and angry residents stealing bleachers; a final decision was set to come on October 1. Although Price was able to pay back at least some of the rent, after a delay that moved the decision to December 16, Price forfeited his lease after failing to stockpile 35,000 cubic yards of gravel. However, he was given another chance. In July 1976, his lease was officially terminated after failing to maintain the stockpile of gravel needed in Price's contract. The next month, Price gave scathing comments to the city in an interview with the Review-Journal, reporting a lack of police response with vandalism and high costs and labor to maintain the gravel stockpile. The next year, the termination was finally approved by Clark County District judge Howard Babcock, immediately ordered Price to vacate the land and to pay $22,140 for failing to maintain his contract and unpaid rent. However, Price was still the operator, and a decision to remove him from the position was delayed. In October, Price stated plans of appealing to the Supreme Court of Nevada, which would essentially kill all racing at the track complex for an extended period of time. In November, he confirmed this decision. Later that month, the city of Las Vegas temporarily leased the complex out to Show & Go Ltd. until the end of the year.
Attempts at a revival, new track, more issues Just before the end of 1977, the track was temporarily leased out for the first three months of 1978 to car clubs. In February 1978, Bob Van Norman, owner of the Craig Road Speedway, submitted a proposal to take over the complex from the city, offering a proposal of $300 a month to lease the complex. However, the proposal was withdrawn just over a week later, claiming that he did not want to be accused of favoritism from the city; the withdrawal was considered a big blow by the city to repair the track, with the city claiming that the track could not see any serious proposals for racing in the next 18 months. However, by June, the complex was able to hold the Silverbird Race of Champions, a race that featured numerous movie stars; however, the race flopped, seeing a lack of spectators. By January 1979, the city of Las Vegas began looking for potential leasers, with the complex costing the city thousands of dollars. Later that month, a group of five businessmen, including Van Norman and Horten, formed Las Vegas Recreation, Inc. in efforts to make a bid on temporary ownership for the track. On February 21, the city's commission unanimously approved the lease, essentially reviving the complex; however, the permanent lease was not guaranteed until the Nevada Supreme Court's case with Price was settled.
By April, Review-Journal writer Mike Henle considered the track revived after "seven years of relative silence", with events scheduled for the next six months. In September, the complex grew to holding concerts. However, the concerts drew criticism from local government and local reporters for excessive violence, drug use, and underage drinking. Criticism grew so much that commissioner Ron Lurie considered revoking the complex's operating permit. In February 1980, Price lost his appeal, with future bids expected to take place the following year. The next month, Las Vegas Recreation's lease was extended until the end of 1980. However, by November 5, the partnership gave up after "several months of horrible luck", with poor timing systems, lighting, and the amount of effort required to maintain the complex being key issues.
The next day, businessmen Terry Ainsworth and Harold Ellis signed a 10-year lease with the city to lease the complex. Although the complex was able to see off-road racing, management problems soon plagued the complex; by August, Ellis began looking for a new partner to replace Ainsworth. As a result, Alex Rodriguez, a drag strip driver, sent pleas to fellow Las Vegan racers to come to meetings set up by him to try and clean up the facility. Rodriguez and his son, Alex Rodriguez Jr., were later appointed by the city to replace Ainsworth, due to the partnership being strained between the two. Rodriguez, within the first months, invested $75,000 on improvements and a repave of the track. Drag racing saw an overall uptick; Mike Henle viewed Rodriguez so highly that he declared, "Rodriguez has done a commendable job – and drag racing is up from the canvas because of him".