Source: BGN firm in March; CART race still a possibility

Friday, Aug. 9, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

A Speedway source confirmed that when NASCAR gets around to releasing its 1997 Busch schedule, Las Vegas will be on it. The date, said to be firm, is March 16 -- an off weekend for Winston Cup.

That means the race could attract a healthy complement of marquee drivers, in addition to the likes of Dale Jarrett, Terry Labonte and Mark Martin, who normally compete in BGN when it doesn't conflict with their Winston Cup schedules.

The only negative for race fans is that March 16 apparently is the same date being requested by the CART Indy cars. But Speedway and CART sources said a Las Vegas race for next spring still is very much alive.

The CART board will meet at this week's Miller 200 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course to discuss the 1997 IndyCar schedule.

CART spokesman Adam Saal said Las Vegas is a "perfect fit" for the sanctioning body, which plans to expand from 16 to 18 races next year.

"We're determined to have a race in the Southwest and Las Vegas would be the ideal location -- if not next year, then certainly in the very near future," Saal said.

Saal indicated the matter of running on the speedway's infield road course or on the 1.5-mile tri-oval no longer is an issue in the negotiations.

The rival Indy Racing League will hold a Sept. 15 event on the oval, and Speedway president Richie Clyne has indicated he'll hold only one Indy-car race per season on the high banks.

But LVMS apparently isn't the only track interested in both series. A published report out of Dallas Thursday said NASCAR speedway magnate Bruton Smith also has entered into negotiations with both groups for separate races at his new Texas Motor Speedway.

By Ron Kantowski