Letter: Allow speedway fans food, drinks

Tuesday, March 22, 2005 | 9:05 a.m.

I have been attending NASCAR races at various locations on the East Coast for many years. I recently decided to attend a NASCAR race in Las Vegas. I was very disappointed to find they would not allow the fans to bring in food or drink. Even the food or drink bought outside the track was not allowed in. In Las Vegas it is all about the dollar.

On the East Coast fans are allowed to bring in soft coolers with food and drink. It would not be so bad if there were enough vendors to serve the fans efficiently and quickly. A trip to buy some lemonade and barbecue sandwiches resulted in waiting in extremely long lines only to find out they were out of certain items. A trip to another vendor involved the same long lines. This resulted in missing about 50 laps of the race. I find that totally unacceptable.

I will never attend another NASCAR race at the Las Vegas Speedway. The speedway concessions will never be able serve that many people quickly and efficiently and they should allow the fans whom don't want to miss one lap the convenience of bringing in food and drink. It has been done on the East Coast tracks for many years. They understand that they cannot serve everyone. There are just too many people.

Las Vegas fans should complain to the owners of the speedway or perhaps try attending some East Coast races instead of the ones in Las Vegas. We would be happy to show the newbie's what a real NASCAR racetrack is like and how a fan should be treated.

WILLIAM STARR

Goose Creek, S.C.