Drag racing drivers catch Vegas fever

Wednesday, July 21, 1999 | 9:35 a.m.

After getting a first-hand look at Bruton Smith's new Bristol Dragway two weeks ago, several National Hot Rod Association drivers on hand for Tuesday's announcement can't wait for next April's inaugural national NHRA event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

"After witnessing what Bruton did at Bristol, all of us as competitors are certainly looking forward to this facility because we know it's going to be probably a shining example of what drag racing facilities should be for the future," four-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson said.

Five-time national champion Kenny Bernstein, one of drag racing's early superstars and the first driver to break the 300-mph barrier, said he believed Las Vegas and drag racing are a natural fit.

"We're very proud ... to be able to come to Las Vegas," Bernstein said. "It is another star that shines bright for our sport. You have a great city, we will help you build some economy here by people coming in, we will give you tremendous racing and I think you'll enjoy it very much."

Gary Scelzi, the reigning NHRA Top Fuel champion, agreed.

"It's so exciting to be in Las Vegas and be associated with Bruton Smith," he said. "It's the most incredible thing to be involved with NHRA Winston Drag Racing right now -- we are soaring.

"All the drivers, all the teams, are so excited about being here. All I can say is: Las Vegas, you have got the last ingredient that you need to put your motor sports program on the map."

The addition of Las Vegas to next year's 23-race schedule also will help the NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series grow in popularity, according to eight-time Funny Car champion John Force.

"We have to grow and we have to go into bigger markets like Chicago and Bristol and there's no bigger market, in my opinion, than Las Vegas," Force said. "People come here to be entertained ... and why not bring sports here?

"We're going to bring them live action from the drag strip. This track is unbelievable. People want good facilities, they want good food, they want to be able to see the race -- and that's what they're going to get here."

Force added that state-of-the-art facilities such as the new LVMS drag strip can help the NHRA experience the type of growth NASCAR's Winston Cup Series has enjoyed this decade.

"NASCAR leapfrogged everybody -- Formula One, Indy Cars, everybody -- because they had a marketing strategy and they had super stadiums to go along with that," Force said. "All of a sudden, we've got super stadiums here and in Chicago and Bristol."

According to figures compiled by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, the NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series was the third-most attended motor sports series in 1998, drawing 2,204,194 fans for 22 dates.

NASCAR's Winston Cup Series led all motor sports in attendance with more than 6.3 million fans in 33 races and CART was second with more than 2.5 million fans for 19 races.