Full Throttle

Las Vegas Motor Speedway is in for changes.

Shortly after the March 12^th UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 work will begin construction on the banking that will raise it’s current 12 degree configuration to 21 degrees. That is in addition to other planned improvements.

“Our company has announced it is going to make a significant capital expense investment at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but on the specifics of those projects I’m not ready to comment,” said Chris Powell, the speedway’s general manager since late 1998. He did say he expects the speedway to make an announcement about major improvements soon, possibly during an official NASCAR testing session at the track that runs from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1.

The Review-Journal has reported that most of the structures in the infield of the 1.5-mile tri-oval will be razed and rebuilt, including most of race-car garage buildings and the combination media center and suite building, after the March race. Pit road also is expected to be replaced by one moved closer to the main grandstand.

Currently under construction is turn one seating that will raise total capacity to over 141,000 for NASCAR events. How this will impact NASCAR’s current testing schedule is unknown. Las Vegas Motor Speedway is to be one of the six allowed tracks to hold “official” testing for the Cup cars.

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