LVMS offers bargain

Friday, Oct. 24, 1997 | 9:25 a.m.

No one can blame Las Vegas Motor Speedway vice president Gary Bahre for turning a deaf ear to recent criticism.

In response to sharp remarks from fans, drivers and Indy Racing League founder Tony George following a disappointing turnout for the Las Vegas 500K earlier this month, Bahre has announced a special promotion for the Nov. 9 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Carquest 420K race targeted at local families.

All Nevada residents presenting proper identification will be able to buy one ticket at full price and receive a second ticket free for the popular truck series season finale. In addition, children 11-under will receive a free ticket when accompanied by a paying adult.

"We want Nevada families to be able to come out and see one of the newest attractions in their home state," Bahre said. "And, we want to thank those who have supported the speedway since day one."

Reserved tickets for the Carquest 420K are $75 and general admission tickets are priced at $45.

Following the Oct. 11 IRL race here, George was openly critical of the LVMS staff's promotion of the race, which drew about half the 67,000 the series attracted last September. George, however, was not alone in voicing displeasure about the sparse crowd.

"I'm amazed," IRL veteran driver Scott Goodyear was quoted in this week's "On Track" magazine. "They (LVMS) must have tried to keep it a secret. It's something that has got to change. It (LVMS promoting) is a problem that needs to be fixed."

Bill Elliott was the first NASCAR Winston Cup stars to announce his intention to drive in either the Carquest 420K or the Nov. 8 NASCAR Winston West 300K at LVMS. Last year, Elliott drove a Ford F-150 pickup to a second-place finish behind race winner Jack Sprague in the inaugural truck race in Las Vegas.

NASCAR

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series heads to Phoenix International Raceway next weekend with Jack Sprague holding a 121-point lead over Rich Bickle. Sprague can clinch the series title by finishing 14th or better at Phoenix and Las Vegas, but he can wrap up the title at PIR with a net gain of 60 points over Bickle. ... NASCAR legend Richard Petty will come out of retirement -- sort of -- and race against three local television sportscasters on Nov. 7 in a "Race Against Drugs" exhibition at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The event is being held in conjunction with the Carquest 420K weekend. ... A 58-year-old Missouri man was killed recently during a driving-school accident at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The man, Charles McNish, was driving a Fast Track Driving School stock car at about 125 mph when he lost control coming out of turn four and hit a retaining wall. His speed at impact was estimated at 85 mph.

CART

Las Vegas resident Jimmy Vasser will be one of 14 CART drivers participating in an open test session at the new Twin Ring Motegi motorsports complex in Japan next weekend. The PPG CART World Series will visit Motegi on March 28, 1998 for the Budweiser 500. Vasser, who finished third in earnings this season with $1,133,500, has earned a series-leading $4,205,000 over the the past two CART seasons and is 10th on the all-time earnings list with $6,554,994 in his six-year career. ... Paul Tracy, who joined Team Kool Green after his firing from Marlboro Team Penske earlier this month, is among the growing ranks of drivers who will switch to Firestone tires next season. Tracy won three races this season on Goodyears. Firestone won 13 of 17 CART races this year, including the last 11 in a row, and six of eight Indy Racing League events, including the Indy 500.

IRL

Treadway Racing and 1997 Indy 500 champion Arie Luyendyk this week announced a multi-year primary sponsorship deal with Sprint PCS, Qualcomm and Radio Shack for the 1998 and 1999 IRL seasons, with an option for 2000. ... Tony Stewart, who captured the 1996-97 IRL championship with his 11th-place finish in the Las Vegas 500K, earned $1,090,450 for the season but finished second on the money list to Luyendyk, who earned $2,079,150. ... Former International Karting Federation Grand National Champion Brandon Erwin has been named to drive the No. 16 Blueprint Racing Dallara/Aurora in 1998. The No. 16 was Henderson resident Sam Schmidt's ride before he left Blueprint Racing.

Backmarkers

Formula One driver Michael Schumacher, who is one win away from bringing the world drivers championship back to Ferrari after an 18-year absence, said he has no plans to defect to CART. "I can't imagine doing Indy-car racing," he said. "For me, Indy racing is far too dangerous. The risks are too great and there's no point to it. In the ovals, with the kind of speed you do, you can't even build a car that would be safe enough." ... Team Las Vegas driver Peter Zarcades finished second in the American City Racing League drivers championship after a crash took him out of the ACRL season finale last weekend in Reno. Zarcades' teammate, Chris Ronson, finished eighth in the race. ... The Las Vegas Motocross Club will be in action Saturday (practice) and Sunday (races in all classes) beginning at 9 a.m. each day at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

BRIAN HILDERBRAND is a Las Vegas SUN sportswriter. His motor sports column appears Fridays. He can be reached on the Internet at bh@lasvegassun.com. For the latest in the world of auto racing, check out the SUN Racing web site at http://www. lasvegassun.com/sun/sports/racing/