Las Vegas Motor Speedway And The Pennzoil 400
Las Vegas may be best known for being the casino entertainment capital of the world, but it is also home to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which is in turn, home to NASCAR’s Pennzoil 400. We delve deeper into the history and intricate sub-culture of one of the most famous superspeedways in the world.
Early History And Construction
Construction of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway began in 1995 and the very first NASCAR race to have been held at the speedway was the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race, on November 2nd, 1996. The inaugural Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series was held on March 1st, 1998, that year won by Mark Martin.
Since then, a total of 20 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races have been held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, one every year. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series is one of the speedway’s signature races with a total of 148 drivers having competed in the event at least once, and 112 in more than one instalment of the event.
Five drivers have managed to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series more than once: Jimmie Johnson (4), Matt Kenseth (3), Brad Keselowski (2), Jeff Burton (2) and Carl Edwards (also 2).
Location And Track Statistics
The Las Vegas Motor Speedway is situated in Clark County in Nevada (Las Vegas). The speedway consists of a 1,200 acre complex that comprises of multiple high-speed tracks for the sport of motor racing.
NASCAR’S timing and scoring makes use of a distance of 2.4km, a distance that was also used by Indycar between the years 1996 and 2000. Until today, NASCAR still uses the same distance for the reconfigured oval track.
The track has also been the home of various other events. In December of 2013, the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship was held at the speedway, and was won by Tim Burke. Interestingly enough, the track also featured as the finish line for the 24th season of The Amazing Race in 2014.
On The Map For The Wrong Reasons
The track also made news in 2011 when one of the most horrific crashes ever to have taken place in the world of motorsports, took place there. The incident happened during the final race of the 2011 IndyCar season and involved a 15-car pile-up, some of which burst into flames. IndyCar legend Dan Wheldon sadly passed away in the crash.
| # | Site | Bonus | Bet | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Betway |  | 5/5 | Up to $60 NZD | Bet now Review |
| 2 |  | Picklebet | | 4.9/5 | Login to see promotions | Bet now |
| 3 |  | Palmerbet | | 4.8/5 | 100% Match | Bet now |
More About Trent Wilson
Trent Wilson is OnlineBetting.nz’s resident sports news expert. He draws on his extensive sporting knowledge, his qualification in sports management and his passion for betting to provide the latest, most up to date information on sporting events in New Zealand and across the globe. Trent is a veritable treasure trove of sports information and has been betting online for several years. He prides himself in keeping his readers informed, and in always offering an unbiased standpoint that reflects exactly what’s going on in the sports world.
View Posts - Visit WebsiteYou May Also Like:
Supercars To Return To Pukekohe Park
With the trans-Tasman bubble now an actual reality, and one going up this week, Supercars will get to make a long-awaited return to Pukekohe Park this November. Supercars CEO Sean Seamer recently told members of the media that the news around the trans-Tasman travel bubble is the biggest thing for ….
Greg Murphy Confirms NZ Grand Prix ‘21 Entry
New Zealand motorsport veteran Greg Murphy has confirmed he will make a 2021 return to the New Zealand Grand Prix – 27 years after winning it at the age of only 21. The four-time Bathurst winner won the famous trophy before going on to a super-successful career in Supercars. In ….
Kenny Smith To Race Half-Century GP Aged 79
New Zealand motor racing veteran Kenny Smith will in January line up to race his 50th NZ Grand Prix – at the age of 79. Smith is the first confirmed entry into the 66th running of the New Zealand Grand Prix. He is a three-time winner of the world-famous race ….
2021 NZ Supercars Race Not Yet A Done Deal
Though the New Zealand round of the 2021 Supercars series has been confirmed as taking place on November 6-7 by Supercars, the actual financial backers of the NZ round, Auckland Unlimited, have not yet been willing to confirm that the event is in fact officially locked in. Next year’s Supercars ….
Mt Smart Stadium to Host World Rally Championship
The Mount Smart Stadium in Penrose has presented a range of not just acclaimed international athletes but performing artists as well. But in September 2020, it will be delivering something brand-new. Organisers have just announced that the stadium will be hosting a special racecourse when Rally New Zealand returns later ….