Dirt-track racing, hauler parade to kick off NASCAR Weekend

NASCAR Weekend in Las Vegas starts Thursday night with dirt-track racing and several special spectator events, including the annual NASCAR Hauler Parade on Las Vegas Boulevard.

More than 60 race-team transporters will stage at the South Point before starting a trek at 6 p.m. from Russell Road to Sahara Avenue, where the procession will head north on Interstate 15 for Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The first race of the weekend begins at 7 p.m. Thursday with USAC Sprint Car and Midget races on the LVMS dirt track, with World of Outlaws racing the following night.

■ CHARITY EVENTS -- NASCAR drivers Greg Biffle, David Ragan, Kyle Petty and 2000 Cup champion Bobby Labonte will appear at Thursday's 12th annual Speedway Children's Charities NASCAR Driver Auction at Sam's Town Live.

The 5-10 p.m. fundraiser features an auction where fans can bid to ride with drivers during prerace parades before the Feb. 27 Sam's Town 300 Nationwide and Feb. 28 Shelby American Cup races at the speedway.

A silent auction for racing and nonracing items also will be conducted.

Admission is $20. Visit LVMS.com for more information. ...

A charity poker tournament to benefit the Dale Earnhardt Foundation begins at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Stratosphere.

Drivers scheduled to attend are Kenny Wallace, Casey Mears, Matt Crafton, Regan Smith, Aric Almirola, Eric McClure, Todd Bodine, Mike Bliss and Scott Lagasse Jr.

Cost is $150 to play and $30 to attend. Call 380-7777 for more information.

■ GRAND MARSHALS -- Motor sports legend Carroll Shelby will make the call to start engines before the Las Vegas Cup race. Reality TV personality Kim Kardashian might share those duties with Shelby.

Kardashian is promoting her fragrance line by sponsoring driver Mike Bliss in a pink No. 36 Chevrolet in the Cup race.

■ NEW LVMS TRACK -- Construction is under way at the speedway for a permanent stadium off-road racing track, on a site that had been occupied by a motocross circuit for more than a decade.

The multi-tiered track is being built by Lucas Oil Motorsports, which plans to have at least two Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series events this year at the speedway, on May 22-23 and Nov. 6-7.

Contact reporter Jeff Wolf at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0247.