Large driver turnout expected for NASCAR test in Las Vegas

Many of the cars are expected to be painted primer gray without their usual array of sponsor decals. But at least local race fans will be allowed to see them during a NASCAR test session next week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The usual preseason test at LVMS is administered by Goodyear and is closed to the public. But this year’s session, set for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, is one of three organizational tests sanctioned by NASCAR and thus will be open to the public.

Former Cup Series champions Brad Keselowski and Kurt Busch of Las Vegas and breakout star Kyle Larson top a lineup of 16 Cup Series and factory test drivers who will put down practice laps at the 1.5-mile oval in preparation for the Pennzoil 400 on March 4.

Admission is free, and concessions will be available via food truck. A speedway spokesman said there will be designated viewing areas in the main grandstand and behind the pit wall.

Green, white, checkered

■ For somebody supposed to be semiretired from big-time auto racing, Brendan Gaughan sure is keeping busy. The NASCAR veteran will be competing in the premier American endurance sports car race this weekend, joining the BAR1 Motorsports prototype team for the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Gaughan will partner with Eric Lux and Alex Popow in providing relief for full-time drivers Tomy Drissi and Marc Drumright. It will be the second Rolex 24 appearance for the 42-year-old Las Vegan, who drove for the same team during the 2016 running of the Rolex 24.

■ Kyle Busch Motorsports has signed Las Vegas youngster Riley Herbst for two NASCAR Truck Series races in 2018, at Gateway Motorsports Park across the river from St. Louis on June 23 and in the fall race Sept. 14 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“It’s pretty cool to join my fellow Las Vegas natives Noah Gragson and, of course, Kyle at KBM, and I can’t wait to race in front of my hometown crowd at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in September,” said the 18-year-old Herbst, the 2017 ARCA Rookie of the Year who drives for Joe Gibbs Racing in that series.

■ Las Vegas-based Star Nursery will serve as title sponsor of the Sept. 13 K&N Pro Series West event at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track kicking off South Point 400 NASCAR weekend. The addition of the 100-lap race provides LVMS with something of a Dirt Track triple crown in combination with the World of Outlaws FVP Outlaw Showdown on Feb. 29 and March 1 and the IMCA Duel in the Desert from Nov. 7 to 10.

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In other LVMS news, the annual Laps for Charity event benefiting the Las Vegas Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities is set for noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. NASCAR fans and car enthusiasts will have the opportunity to drive personal vehicles around the 1.5-mile oval at speeds up to 75 mph (behind a pace car). The donation is $35 per vehicle for three laps (three additional laps cost an extra $25) from noon to 5 p.m. Driving under the lights costs $45 for four laps, with an additional four laps for $30.

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