New local track to host big off-road series races
Many of the country's top off-road racers will converge on a new racing stadium this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, which had events in Primm last year, will bring its top racers -- including Carl Renezeder, Cary Hart and Las Vegan Bryce Menzies -- to town for the first two rounds of the season.
Several drivers from the rival The Off Road Championship Series also will compete this weekend, including Las Vegan Rob MacCachren, TORC's reigning two-wheel-drive truck champion.
MacCachren has tested the new 1.1-mile track, which had been the site of a seldom-used motorcross circuit. It is in the shadows of the speedway's 1.5-mile oval.
"It's pretty cool. There's a lot of detail work in the track," MacCachren said.
Grandstands for about 4,000 overlook the track, which was built into a bowl in less than a month. It features eight turns, multiple racing levels and the highest banking of any similar venue, according to Tony Vanillo, the competition director for Lucas.
He said by Thursday afternoon that 164 drivers had pre-entered, and he expects the number to climb before practice begins today. Vehicles range from two- and four-wheel-drive trucks powered by 800-horsepower engines to desert buggies and minitrucks for drivers ages 8 to 15.
The series opener was scheduled for this weekend in Lake Elsinore, Calif., but environmental issues forced Lucas to step up development last month of the Las Vegas track to conduct a race this weekend.
Las Vegas remains scheduled to host Lucas events May 22 and 23 and Nov. 6 and 7, which would be the finale for the eight-race series.
"Interest in this weekend's race grew after we changed the venue," Vanillo said. "This is a very serious track, and coming to Las Vegas is a lot more attractive for racers."
The track is a partnership between the speedway and Lucas, and Lucas is the sole event promoter and responsible for all aspects of races there.
Practice is from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. today, with racing from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Contact reporter Jeff Wolf at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0247.
