TIPS FOR LVMS 2009 NASCAR WEEKEND

If you plan on traveling to Southern Nevada for the 2009 NASCAR Weekend (Feb. 27 to March 1), be warned of a major construction project on Interstate 15 south of Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Work began last November and will not be completed until 2010. (Go to i15project.com if you don’t believe me.)

My suggestion: Book your rooms early in Mesquite (60 miles north of the speedway) or close to the Las Vegas Beltway loop (215), which dumps into I-15 north of the speedway from points northeast of the track.

I hate to advise this because I use 215 to get to the track. But we’re giving people in Southern Nevada ... just ask the neighborhood casinos.

NHRA LOOKS TO TASK FORCE FOR HELP

The National Hot Rod Association formed a safety task force last week to figure out what can be done to enhance safety at its pro tour events.

Apparently the task is more than the caretakers of drag racing could handle, or they wanted to pass the buck.
The announcement came two days after the lords of drag racing shortened races to 1,000 feet for Top Fuel and Nitro Funny Car categories.

The moves are reactions to Scott Kalitta’s deadly Funny Car crash June 21 at Englishtown, N.J., in the NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series.

The task force includes an NHRA representative (who is a former crew chief), four noted and current crew chiefs and two Funny Car drivers/owners.

It’s a good way to determine how to slow the cars from 330 mph to about 300 mph so they can return to racing for the traditional quarter-mile.

The problem is that all currently are involved in the sport. They deserve the right to provide input, but they should have to answer to co-chairmen that do not have a financial stake in revisions.

The chairs of the task force should be legendary and former crew chiefs Dale Armstrong and Dick LaHaie.
A representative from NHRA tracks not owned by NHRA also should be on the panel.

WHERE’S COMPTON?

In each of the NHRA announcements mentioned above, NHRA president Tom Compton was not mentioned. He’s the president who has been running NHRA since 2000 and is on the board of directors, so he actually answers to himself.

I called for his ouster in Friday’s column in the Review-Journal. (Click “Jeff’s columns” below my mug shot.)

I’ve had several calls, e-mails and other comments supporting the need for new leadership at NHRA. None opposed my opinion.
We should form a task force to find out “Where’s Waldo?” and then go looking for Compton. Waldo might have more to say.

NHRA OPENS BILLFOLD ... QUIETLY

NHRA announced its 2009 schedule July 9 and added that it was raising national event purses by $1.3 million. That’s for the entire 24-event season - not each race.

Top Fuel and Funny Car event winners will get raises of $10,000 to $50,000 each. The barely covers the cost of two passes down the quarter-mile ... oops, I meant the 1,000-foot track.

This is chump change compared to what NASCAR Cup winners receive. But, after all, pro drag racing is 20 laps behind the Cup series in sponsorship, TV viewers and attendance.

Compton wasn’t quoted in that news release, either.