Thursday, Feb. 24, 2000 | 2:03 a.m.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway officials and state and local law-enforcement agencies unveiled a new traffic and transportation plan that will improve significantly the flow of traffic in and out of the speedway during the March 2-5 NASCAR weekend during a news conference held Tuesday at the speedway.
"We said following last year's event that we were going to make traffic flow our No. 1 priority," said Chris Powell, executive vice president and general manager at LVMS. "Thanks to the cooperation of representatives from many different organizations, we have implemented a comprehensive traffic plan that will ensure safety and minimize delays for fans traveling to and from Las Vegas Motor Speedway during the NASCAR weekend."
Approximately a quarter of a million people are expected to visit the speedway during the four-day weekend. The CarsDirect.com 400 NASCAR Winston Cup event, scheduled for Sunday, March 5, is expected to attract more than 140,000 spectators, making it the largest one-day spectator event in Nevada's history.
The widening of Las Vegas Boulevard from two lanes to seven traffic lanes, a new right-of-way from Interstate 15 at the Speedway Boulevard exit and a secured bus route from the Las Vegas Strip and downtown will alleviate much of the traffic congestion usually associated with such a large event.
LVMS officials are encouraging all commercial vehicles and people needing credentials to use Las Vegas Boulevard. All private passenger vehicles should use Interstate 15 and exit at Speedway Boulevard. Race fans are encouraged, however, to use the Citizen's Area Transit (CAT) buses, which will run continuously throughout the four-day weekend with a $3 fare each way.
Race fans traveling to the speedway on Sunday also can receive updated traffic information by listening to KKLZ-FM 96.3. The classic rock station will provide traffic updates with a representative from local law-enforcement agencies every 15 minutes beginning at 6 a.m.
Fans attending the Pennzoil World of Outlaws' events on March 2, 3 and 4 should use the Apex exit (Exit 58) off of Interstate 15 and follow Las Vegas Boulevard to the speedway.
The race weekend begins Thursday, March 2 with qualifying for the Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Busch Series event. The Orleans Pole Day will be Friday, March 3 as first-round qualifying for the CarsDirect.com 400 NASCAR Winston Cup race gets under way. The Sam's Town 300 will begin at 1 p.m. (Pacific Time) on Saturday, March 4. The CarsDirect.com 400 gets the green flag at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 5.
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