NASCAR brings the playoff heat to Las Vegas today

Editor’s note: “Behind the News” is the product of Sun staff assisted by the Sun’s AI lab, which includes a variety of tools such as Anthropic’s Claude, Perplexity AI, Google Gemini and ChatGPT.

NASCAR’s Cup Series playoff race in Las Vegas today marks one of the sport’s most dynamic and economically impactful weekends, blending nearly three decades of motorsports history at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway with the city’s unique energy and a loyal local driver following.

The origins and growth of NASCAR in Las Vegas

Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a 1,200-acre motorsports complex located 15 miles northeast of the Las Vegas Strip[1]. The facility traces its roots to the Las Vegas Speedrome, a road course and drag strip that opened in 1972. A 3/8-mile short track was added in 1985, and in 1989, Ralph Engelstad and William Bennett invested heavily to transform the site, resulting in a new $72 million superspeedway debuting in 1996[2].

NASCAR’s premier Cup Series debuted at LVMS with the inaugural Las Vegas 400 in 1998, won by Mark Martin[3]. NASCAR racing quickly found a home in Las Vegas, leveraging the city’s entertainment brand and robust tourism infrastructure. The first few races helped establish the “Vegas vibe” in a sport traditionally rooted in the Southeast, drawing fans seeking both speed and spectacle[4].

In 1998, Speedway Motorsports Inc. acquired the property and modernized it into one of the premier racing venues in the U.S.[5]. The relationship grew stronger over time, with significant corporate sponsorships and partnerships with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority helping elevate both the race and the community profile.

Two LV Motor Speedway races each season

Las Vegas became the first facility on the NASCAR schedule to regularly host two annual Cup Series weekends in 2018[6]. This expansion was part of NASCAR’s decision to shift one of the race dates from New Hampshire Motor Speedway, making room for the South Point 400 fall playoff race alongside the traditional spring Pennzoil 400. Las Vegas is marking its eighth year with this doubleheader format, cementing its status as a key playoff stop[7].

NASCAR weekends among biggest for LV

NASCAR weekends in Las Vegas are among the city’s most lucrative sporting events. A typical Las Vegas NASCAR weekend generates a substantial economic impact, historically estimated between $200 million and $250 million for the local economy[8]. This figure includes revenue from out-of-town visitors on hotels, restaurants, rental cars, local transportation, entertainment and direct spending at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

In 2018, out-of-town visitors for NASCAR Cup races totaled more than 139,000, with weekend impacts as high as $277.1 million[9]. NASCAR weekends are considered one of Nevada’s largest annual sporting events, with over 70% of fans traveling from outside the region and a significant portion of those being international visitors[10].

The influx of tens of thousands of racing fans boosts hotel occupancy rates, drives strong hospitality and retail sales, and creates numerous temporary jobs in sectors tied to the event. Additionally, related spending extends to small businesses, travel agencies and local attractions — demonstrating that the impact spreads far beyond just the race venue itself[11].

Track features and characteristics

Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a 1.5-mile, D-shaped oval, commonly referred to as an “intermediate” track in NASCAR parlance[12]. Key features include:

• Progressive banking (12-20 degrees in the turns) allowing for multiple racing lines and sustained high speeds[13]
• A seating capacity of about 80,000, with the complex able to accommodate over 100,000 with infield camping and hospitality areas[13]
• A layout similar to other intermediate tracks like Charlotte, Kansas and Texas, but with Las Vegas’ desert environment and often windy spring/fall weather adding challenges unique to Nevada racing.

LVMS is lauded for excellent fan amenities, robust access to entertainment, and its integration with the Las Vegas hospitality industry — offering fans entertainment both on and off the track. Its events regularly feature concerts, interactive displays and fan fests, making race weekends festival-like[4].

Track history and signature moments

Some notable moments in track history include:

• Mark Martin’s victory in the inaugural Cup race in 1998[3]
• Both Kurt and Kyle Busch, Las Vegas natives, have notched wins and headlined their hometown event, giving local fans perennial rooting interests[6]
• The track has witnessed dramatic finishes and high drama; in 2025, Kyle Larson edged out Tyler Reddick by less than half a second after a tense restart late in the race[12]
• Jimmie Johnson holds the record for most Cup wins at LVMS with four victories. Other multitime winners include Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Larson[12].

Notable Las Vegas drivers: The Busches

Las Vegas is proudest of its Busch brothers:

• Kurt Busch: 2004 Cup Series champion, multiple-time Cup race winner, recognized for his adaptability and perseverance[6]
• Kyle Busch: Two-time Cup champion (2015, 2019), one of NASCAR’s all-time winningest drivers across all national series, known for track versatility and dominance in Las Vegas and beyond[6].

Their careers have put Las Vegas’ racing culture on the national map and inspired the next wave of Nevada motorsports talent.

2025 race favorites

Larson is the betting favorite to win the Las Vegas NASCAR Cup Series race this weekend, followed closely by Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, William Byron and Ryan Blaney according to top sportsbooks and predictive models.

• Larson: Odds range from +380 to +470, making him the consensus favorite due to his strong track history and recent performance.
• Bell: Odds typically between +380 and +550, seen as a close contender largely thanks to solid playoff stats.
• Hamlin: Odds around +425 to +600, popular among bettors and predicted as a threat due to competitive playoff momentum.
• Byron: Odds between +650 and +900, seen as a strong pick for those looking for a higher-payout favorite.
• Blaney: Odds around +650 to +800, included among the front-runners despite never having won at Las Vegas.

How to get tickets

Tickets for all Las Vegas races (including the spring Pennzoil 400 and fall South Point 400 playoff) are available directly from Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Visit the official LVMS website (lvms.com) or call 1-800-644-4444 for seating options, weekend packages, and camping information[4]. Tickets often sell out for premium seats and infield experiences, so advance purchase is recommended — especially for playoff races.

How to watch

Every NASCAR Cup Series race at LVMS airs nationally on TV (most commonly NBC, USA Network, or Fox, depending on the season) and can also be streamed via authenticated cable/satellite apps or the NASCAR.com platform (with active provider login). Radio coverage is available on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio[4].

Sources

[1] https://workingonmyredneck.com/index.php/2018/02/24/las-vegas-motor-speedway-history/

[2] https://sportsmatik.com/sports-corner/sports-venue/las-vegas-motor-speedway

[3] https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nascar/2025/03/10/nascar-las-vegas-race-pennzoil-400-history-winners-jimmie-johnson/81668893007/

[4] https://www.lvms.com/media/track-history/

[5] https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-dec-11-fi-52853-story.html

[6] https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/las-vegas-to-host-2-nascar-races-each-year/

[7] https://www.lvms.com/media/news/double-down-nascar-returns-las-vegas-twice-2026.html

[8] https://www.ktnv.com/news/pennzoil-400-draws-thousands-to-las-vegas-motor-speedway

[9] https://www.nbcsports.com/nascar/news/nascar-las-vegas-motor-speedway-extension-2031

[10] https://cber.unlv.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Sports-Economy-White-Paper_April-2023-FINAL.pdf

[11] https://fan4racing.com/2013/03/01/nascar-weekend-at-las-vegas-motor-speedway-to-provide-boon-to-southern-nevadas-economy/

[12] https://frcs.pro/nascar/tracks/las-vegas-motor-speedway/3

[13] https://www.lvms.com/tracks/

[14] https://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/2025/oct/09/roger-diez-nascars-round-of-8-in-las-vegas/

[15] https://www.hendrickmotorsports.com/news/articles/144554/nascar-stats-driver-averages-kyle-larson-william-byron-alex-bowman-las-vegas-winners