NASCAR party coming to Vegas

Citing an aggressive pitch from Las Vegas officials that stressed plentiful rooms at reasonable rates and the opportunity to stage additional fan activities on the city's famous Strip, NASCAR announced Thursday it will be moving its annual season-ending party to Las Vegas.

The weeklong salute to the Sprint Cup's stars thus departs New York after nearly three decades.

The week will include the return of the "Victory Lap," a procession of the top 10 drivers in their race cars, and the Pit Stop Tour, NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France announced at a Daytona Beach news conference.

The annual banquet had been held in New York since 1981. Mr. France said he expects the circuit to have a continued presence in the Big Apple.

The announcement couldn't have come at a better time for the recession-buffeted Las Vegas economy, and serves as a reminder that the city still offers precisely what has made it the world's entertainment capital for decades -- a favorable climate, easy access to natural attractions and man-made wonders alike; nonstop adult entertainment, and more affordable hotel rooms on any given Strip streetcorner than can be found in entire cities the size of San Francisco.

And one more thing, of course. Unlike urban northeasterners who have been known to look down their noses at auto racing, rodeos, country music and anything else likely to involve fresh air, wearing boots, and consuming beer and nachos, Las Vegas fans actually enjoy this stuff.

Tourism officials and all others involved in pitching Las Vegas as the best site for NASCAR to wind up its season deserve a hearty, "Well done."