The Strip At Las Vegas Motor Speedway Is Going 4-Wide. Here’s The Progress So Far


The Strip At Las Vegas Motor Speedway Is Going 4-Wide. Here’s The Progress So Far

The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway has been under the knife for the past several weeks as construction is going on to expand the facility from two dragstrip lanes to four. Like their sister track ZMax in Charlotte, NC, Las Vegas is going to be a 4-Wide racing facility. At select events throughout the year, and especially at the NHRA National events being held there, racing will happen on all four lanes. In order to get the facility ready, the right side wall, both current lanes, and lots of dirt need to be demolished, moved around, or both.

Here are pictures of the lanes being torn up, the walls going down, and more. Check it out, we’ll keep you posted as more progress is made.

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25 thoughts on “The Strip At Las Vegas Motor Speedway Is Going 4-Wide. Here’s The Progress So Far

    1. Stu

      Totally agree…go back to quarter mile….4 wide is bs…sideshow rubbish…Wally would never have allowed it…

    2. Rick Wilson

      4 wide? That would put the 4th lane about the same distance, from me in the stands, as from my house. Oh Look, The Yellow dot just passed the Red dot.
      4 wide might be acceptable for Stock eliminator qualifying, based on 128 classes, but eliminations, No, back to 2 lanes. I could stay Home. I am really NOT interested in the various TWEEKS to enhance Drag Racing. I long for the days of 6 cylinder T buckets vs Corvettes, or Pro Stocks that were actually Stock Bodies.

    3. Rick Wilson

      4 wide? That would put the 4th lane about the same distance, from me in the stands, as from my house. Oh Look, The Yellow dot just passed the Red dot.
      4 wide might be acceptable for Stock eliminator qualifying, based on 128 classes, but eliminations, No, back to 2 lanes. I could stay Home. I am really NOT interested in the various TWEEKS to enhance Drag Racing. I long for the days of 6 cylinder T buckets vs Corvettes, or Pro Stocks that were actually Stock Bodies.

    4. Al K.

      As a real diehard drag racing fan, I feel compelled to respond to many of the comments made here. I have been going to big drag meets since 1968 and I have a history in the sport.I now crew on my son\’s Super Comp dragster. I am also blessed to call some well known experts as friends, so I consider myself qualified to respond to the following points brought up below :

      – Circus acts : They are SELLING OUT the event by putting real race cars on the track. Do you guys know that in the 70\’s they had actual circus acts at the drags like flying motorcycles, rock bands, streakers, wheelstanding tanks, actual porn stars handing out the trophies, etc. Would you prefer that kind of scene that you wouldn\’t want to bring your kids to ??

      – Pro Stock : I am sad to see what the very rich RACERS have done to Pro Stock, but glad to see that NHRA has worked very hard and has tried lots of things to save this class. Give them a chance.

      – Bruton Smith : Thank God for this guy. He has put the money where most people\’s mouths are, and has invested millions into the sport. He tried the 4-Wide format and has expanded on something that packs the stands with eager fans.

      – NHRA : I have seen many great sanctioning bodies either die altogether, or become a shadow of their former selves. Although I do not always agree with everything they do, I applaud them for doing everything to improve the sport. I honestly think that Wally would have been proud of how NHRA has changed with the times. If they hadn\’t, I think NHRA would have died with the other guys, and I am sure that Wally was smart enough to know that !

      – 1320 ft. racing : To be able to run the fast cars to the 1/4 mile again, they would probably have to cut their horsepower in HALF ! I doubt that would go over very well !

      Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but if you are a REAL fan, don\’t complain when people spend tons of money and effort to help the sport !

      Thanks for your time.

  1. keezling

    At least it’s not being replaced with hi rise condos, like southern California.
    How often does a drag strip get demolished to be replaced by…a drag strip?

  2. SwpmFan

    When I was at the SCSN last month, a track official said the GA grandstands are going to be behind the light poles. Hooefully they move them back. That would suck. I like sitting on the GA side in norning when the sun is on your back then moving over to the reserved side in the afternoon.

  3. Truckin Ted

    This is almost the equivalent to the question “If a tree falls in the forest and there’s no one there to hear it…..does it make a sound?”

    Taken to the more realistic point of view, “If there’s no one there to watch 4 lane racing, does anyone care?”

    Probably not.

    1. Brian Lohnes

      NHRA has sold out Charlotte 4-wide 3 years in a row. The track’s advanced ticket sales for the spring race, which was horribly attended have increased by 10-fold or more.

      The fall race is on the weekend before SEMA and is always a crowd blowout.

      Bruton Smith built the first four wide track AGAINST NHRA’s wishes and he certainly is not doing this because NHRA asked. He is doing it because the concept has proven to be wildly popular with people and his Charlotte ticket sales numbers prove it.

      You don’t have to like it and you are entitled to your opinion but every now and again, facts should enter the argument.

      Brian

      1. Bryan Eddy

        Love me some Bruton .This is the same reason dogs lick their own balls.
        When I got my MAJOR dragstrip after that piece of crap Mayberry RFD International was replaced I was in heaven. Two events a year …now just 13 miles from my house.
        I’m minutes away from 2 -10,000 horse cars side by side,NOW DOUBLED.
        On top of that I buy tickets for 20 dollars some asshole got for free and didn’t want .
        We had reserved seats and stood at the starting line inches away from greatness for years .#neverevenbeentocharlotte
        I’m good to go.

  4. Dave

    More 4 wide drag racing ? I think I just threw up. Vegas is an awesome track. However I will go to a different national event from now on.

  5. Dave H

    another waste of time and money. 4 wide racing is a joke. when the NHRA is adding new rules to ProStock how do they expect to fill the stands for a shortened program?

  6. Steve Bingham (England)

    My Question is, will they run the 4-wide on the October Event as well ?
    As Charlotte only run the 4-wide in April and NOT at there Fall event.

    As the Sema Show is on around the same time plus Bakersfield the Weekend before.
    From my point of view….I would love to come over the pond to see a 4-Wide race But I would like to do The Hot Rod Reunion at Bakersfield then on to Vegas the following weekend……this would make a great 2-week vacation.
    If the 4-wide is running in October, then I\’m deftly booking a Flight. if not then I\’m staying at home.

  7. john christopher

    bring back 1320 ft race while you are re doin l v m s 4 wide is a joke all the races there wil be over in half the time dont agree with 4 wide if for some reason you are late gettin to the track such as traffic or weather or accidents you wil miss twice the amount of racing LEAVE THINGS ALONE make the track surfaces better if you want to spend money been goin to the races for 50 plus years 5- 6 races a year

  8. oldguy

    Prices !!! I live an hour from the NH track – Friday tickets are 46.00 this year
    Last year is was $50+ for Friday practice / qualifying runs!!
    and don’t even talk about Sunday traffic …

  9. Danno

    I will take the March Meet or the Hot Rod Reunion at Fomoso any day of the week and twice on Sunday over any NHRA event. Nostalgia racing is 100x better than any NHRA event. I would love to attend a no prep event if they had one out west.

    Thanks for the info Brian. Good to know. Bruton is clearly entitled to do whatever he wants with his facility. If it brings in note fans, especially young ones that is awesome. Drag racing is dying a slow death folks and needs new young fans to replace us old fart hot rodders that are all dying off. Whatever it takes to save strips from grunge plowed under and turned into condos I say.

    Just out of curiosity why did they have to tear out the existing lanes? Seems like a huge expense vs just adding two more lanes. Was it necessary to make sure all 4 lanes were comparable to appease the whiner NHRA pro racers?

  10. Craig Cushing

    I raced four wide (street classes) at Lions and San Fernando–in 1960. It was fun for the fans and the racers, and it really expedited the heavy turnouts of cars; eliminations became at least manageable from a time standpoint.

  11. Chris Hardesty

    I think its great and having been to the Spring race in Vegas and seen the empty stands (Fall race is followed by the SEMA show so the crowds are massive) maybe this will boost the Spring race attendance

  12. Mike

    4-Wide…

    Bad points:
    1) Having to watch twice as many throttle stops \’race\’ down the track.
    2) Half as much time time for food/touring the pits during throttle stop \’racing\’.

    Good point: That crap session is over in half the time.

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