Full Throttle

Private suites at NASCAR venues have been the rage the last few years as it tries to wine and dine its way into the hearts and minds of corporate big-wigs and move up the Fortune 500 ladder.

Bruton Smith owner of Las Vegas Motor Speedway follows the trend and opens his private suite at the racetrack to legislators and other elected officials for a weekend of NASCAR racing, free food and beverages.

But where there’s politicians you normally find a bit of hanky panky lurking in the dark corners of financial transactions, whether they be free or not. The track places a value of $710 for a three day frolic at this March’s NEXTEL Cup event.

Lawmakers watching Jeff Gordon and his buddies run cars around the track at 170 mph at last year’s event did not list the gift on their financial disclosure statements Jan. 15.

A state law requires legislators and other elected officials to list on these statements all gifts worth more than $200. However, the speedway says it doesn’t place a value on the tickets given to lawmakers.

Ya see they were invited by Smith so it’s all on the up and up, and well… the gift tickets didn’t have a price listed. How convenient!

Some of the local politicians are ducking and running for cover (Along with Bruton Smith who wouldn’t comment.). Others are throwing up hands and saying, Who… me!?

Best quote of the piece comes from Sen. Maggie Carlton, I’d as a racing fan: “I have seen legislators there, North Las Vegas city councilmen, Las Vegas city councilmen. I’d be surprised if everyone wasn’t invited. When you are the invited guest of the owner, it puts you in another world.”

Yep, it sure does Senator, a world that would cost Bubba Q. Racefan over 700 smackers and you not only get it free but potentially skirt a State law in the process.

But the above story is hardly the biggest news out of Vegas. Smith has plans, big plans to the tune of $300 in LVMS construction. He has long sought a second Cup date for the desert something his closest rivals, California Speedway Phoenix International Raceway already possess. When asked by a reporter what that amount of cash could be spent on he tipped his hand. He has plans to make an offer to purchase drag racing’s National Hot Rod Association and go in search of his coveted second Cup date:

“Would I add a date somewhere and where would I take one away?” Smith asked. “Certainly, I’d add a date in Vegas. Where I’d take it away from, I’m not going to tell you because that’s going to create a lot of controversy, so I’m not going to tell you where we would take it from.”

It’s lead pipe cinch it won’t be one of his own tracks targeted. That leaves “convincing” NASCAR to pull someone else’s date or Smith buying a track and snatching a date for Vegas.

Can you spell, P.O.C.O.N.O?