Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: LVMS may change starting date of ticket sales

Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2001 | 10:01 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. Reach him at bh@lasvegassun.com or 259-4089.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway general manager Chris Powell said he is considering changing the date on which the track puts its NASCAR Winston Cup race tickets on sale out of respect for the victims of last Tuesday's terrorist attacks.

For the past two years, LVMS has put its UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 tickets on sale on Sept. 11 and used the numerical date -- 9-11 -- in its advertising. Powell said Tuesday that the track likely would no longer put its Winston Cup tickets on sale on Sept. 11 in light of the significance that date now carries.

"We established that date to put tickets on sale because 911 was easy to remember," Powell said. "But that date may have such a negative ring to it now that we may have to change it."

Despite the horrific events of last Tuesday, Powell said ticket sales have been good for the March 3, 2002, race and he expects all 117,000 permanent seats to be sold "very soon."

"We did put tickets on sale (last) Tuesday and we were very, very happy with the response -- especially in light of the tragedy," Powell said. "I will not release numbers, but we are considerably ahead of last year's sales."

This year, LVMS did not erect the temporary bleachers above Turn 3 as it did for the 2000 race. Powell said Tuesday that there was a "very good likelihood" that the speedway would add the bleachers -- approximately 15,000 extra seats -- once it appears all the permanent seats will be sold.

"Our hope is to sell out all the permanent seats and all the temporary seats and convince (track owner Bruton Smith) to add more permanent seats," Powell said.

The fifth annual UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 Winston Cup race will be held Sunday, March 3, the Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Busch Series race will be run on Saturday, March 2 and the Pennzoil World of Outlaws will stage a three-night show at the half-mile dirt track at LVMS Feb. 28-March 2.

Track officials announced that coolers, backpacks or large bags would not be allowed onto the track grounds and that fans would not be permitted to leave these items at the gates. Also, all items will be subject to inspection by security as fans enter the track.

To compensate for not allowing fans to bring coolers into the track, Dover Downs officials said they would reduce the price of concessions this weekend.

Dover Downs also is hosting NASCAR Busch Series and Busch North Series races this weekend.

Busch remains the only Rookie of the Year contender to have started all 26 races this season.

"Maybe we need to get one of those (Dodge) Intrepids and put an M-50 on top of it and go take care of some unfinished business."