2017 was another big year on, off track in Las Vegas

During one of the few scenes in the iconic auto racing movie in which he wasn’t screaming around the French countryside in an equally iconic Porsche 917, “LeMans” driver Steve McQueen said this about his favorite pastime:

“Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting.”

After winning his first NASCAR Truck Series race, this is what teenager Noah Gragson of Las Vegas said upon being presented a grandfather clock trophy at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia:

“What the hell do you do with that thing, honestly? They don’t teach kids anymore how to tell time like that.”

Not exactly as profound as what Steve McQueen said, but still something to consider in looking back at the year in local auto racing.

LVMS gets second Cup race

The squeaky wheel finally got the grease in March when Las Vegas Motor Speedway was awarded a second Cup Series date. It will be in September, a playoff race, and when it happens there will be fewer seats for average Joes and additional upscale seating options for Joes with more disposable income. While NASCAR crowds and seating capacities have dwindled, a second Cup Series weekend still is expected to be a bonanza in nongaming revenue for the city.

Kurt Busch wins Daytona 500

If one is going to lead only one lap of the Great American Race, it should be the last one. Kurt Busch, the senior racing Busch brother of Las Vegas, roared past Kyle Larson and into the history books in February. It was the first win in 17 Daytona 500 tries for the 39-year-old former series champion, who would become a NASCAR free agent before re-upping with Stewart-Haas Racing in December.

Kyle Busch bloodied, narrowly beaten

The NASCAR season was a fight to the finish literally and figuratively for Kyle Busch, Kurt’s younger brother. After tangling with Joey Logano in the Kobalt 400 at LVMS in March, Kyle B. got into a skirmish with Logano and Logan’s crew that ended with blood dripping from Kyle’s forehead. By season’s end, Busch was NASCAR’s hottest driver, and it took a brilliant drive by 2017 champion Martin Truex Jr. at Miami-Homestead Speedway to deny the Las Vegan a second Cup Series title in three seasons.

Martin Truex Jr. wins Las Vegas 400

In retrospect, it’s easy to say a victory in the Kobalt 400 paved the way for Martin Truex Jr. to win the 2017 NASCAR championship. In reality, nobody was predicting Truex would go on to win the title as Gatorade was being sprayed in victory circle at what is still the biggest single-day sporting event in Nevada from an attendance standpoint. The heretofore journeyman driver proved to be a popular champion — Truex’s first stop during NASCAR Champion’s Week in Las Vegas was the cancer ward at Sunrise Children’s Hospital.

Noah Gragson breaks through

In October, 19-year-old Noah Gragson became a winner in the NASCAR Truck Series. Driving for fellow Las Vegan Kyle Busch, Gragson impersonated Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves by climbing the fence at Martinsville Speedway. Then he got sick and threw up over the retaining wall and referred to the championship trophy, a grandfather clock, as a “granddaddy watch.” He’s young, he’s precocious, he’s not up on all the ways to keep time. He’s also very fast.

Contact Ron Kantowski at rkantowski@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0352. Follow @ronkantowski on Twitter.