Wanna race? Take your turn at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, legally

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Sunday, Nov. 2, 2014 | 2 a.m.

A 1990 Honda Civic station wagon appears out of place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on this night of legal drag racing.

More than 100 cars are lined up to race in the speedway’s Mopar Midnight Mayhem program, which allows street cars to run on the quarter-mile drag strip.

The metallic gray wagon is driven by “Wagon” Mike Bosley, who takes pride in restoring cars destined for the junkyard and transforming them into vehicles of speed. The Civic is rebuilt with a 1.8-liter racing engine, replacing its standard 1.5-liter engine. Bosley has put more than $6,000 into the car.

“This is more than a hobby. It’s a lifestyle,” said Bosley, 31. “I don’t come out here to run in a slow car.”

The “Fast & Furious” movie series spiked the popularity of illegal street racing, especially with drivers in their teens or early 20s.

But those races are dangerous. The National Hot Rod Association estimates 135 people die each year in street racing crashes.

The speedway launched its program 13 years ago with ambitions of giving street racers an alternative. Midnight Mayhem is staffed by medical personnel and fire safety crews, and cars are inspected to make sure they function properly.

“That is what we are selling them on, a safe track,” said Jeff Foster, director of operations at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “We want them to come here to find what true side-by-side racing is.”

There are about a dozen nights of Midnight Mayhem from late January through October, mostly on Fridays. It costs $15 per vehicle for unlimited races; fan tickets cost $5. Gates open at 9 p.m., but drivers line up at least an hour before with hopes of getting more runs. Depending on the week, drivers run their cars about six times and races go past midnight.

“It’s an adrenaline rush,” said Stephen Poppett, part of the Sin City Mopars car club and a Midnight Mayhem regular. “But we show up for more than the races. It’s also about seeing all the cars.”

Some bring vehicles known for speed, such as the Ford Mustang with a V8 engine. Others have spent thousands installing nitro systems or other extras to increase speed in run-of-the-mill sedans such as the Toyota Camry. Some drive their family’s minivan or a pickup truck better suited for hauling. Drivers wait in line with their car hoods open, allowing their engines to cool from earlier runs and showing off their rides. Most of the cars are spotless, including under the hood, having been thoroughly detailed before heading to the speedway.

Howard Epstein’s ride, a three-window 1932 Ford Coupe, usually is the most unusual car lined up to race. Epstein, who spent about $40,000 restoring the car, reaches speeds of 105 mph and finishes the quarter mile in 12.5 to 13 seconds in the 82-year-old vehicle.

“I don’t care (if I beat the other driver),” Epstein said. “I’m racing against myself.”

The setup mirrors the speedway’s NHRA weekend. Times are posted on a scoreboard at the end of the strip, drivers receive printouts with their times and speeds, there’s an announcer, the concession stands are open, and fans line the rail to get close to the action.

Although races happen on the same track as the twice-yearly NHRA event, most of the drivers in the recreational drag racing program aren’t interested in joining the hot rod circuit. They are car enthusiasts who are addicted to speed and are eager to find someone to race against.

Drivers are required to be licensed, and cars must be insured and registered. Before entering the facility, cars are thoroughly searched for alcohol, firearms and other prohibited items.

Foster estimates 20 percent of the Midnight Mayhem drivers have participated in illegal street racing. Some surely continue to seek out illegal races.

“But we are giving them a place to get away from that,” he said. “We hope they tell others (what we offer).”