HISTORY OF THE LAS VEGAS MOTORSPEEDWAY

Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a 1.5-mile tri-oval located in Las Vegas, Nevada. The facility opened in 1996, built by the International Speedway Corporation (ISC), and quickly established itself as a key venue on the NASCAR calendar. Over the years, it has also hosted IndyCar, ARCA, NHRA, and other major motorsport events, making it one of the most versatile racetracks in the United States.

The NASCAR Cup Series made its debut on March 1, 1998, with Mark Martin scoring the first victory. IndyCar followed in 1996 with Richie Hearn winning the inaugural event, and the NASCAR Truck Series also visited early in the track’s history, with Jack Sprague taking the first win.

As NASCAR’s presence in Las Vegas grew, the Cup calendar expanded to include two annual races: a spring event and a fall race that forms part of the NASCAR Playoffs. This second date has raised the track’s profile, making it a pivotal stop in the championship battle.

The speedway is known for its close, unpredictable finishes. In 2011, permanent lights were installed, allowing for night racing and enhancing the atmosphere for fans. In 2024, the track delivered one of the closest finishes in NASCAR history when Kyle Larson beat Chris Buescher by just 0.001 seconds.

Over the years, several drivers have left their mark on Las Vegas. Jimmie Johnson leads the all-time Cup win list at the track with four victories. Other multiple winners include Brad Keselowski (3), Kevin Harvick (2), and Joey Logano (2). In recent seasons, Kyle Larson has become a dominant force, while Ross Chastain added his name to the winners' list with a Playoff triumph.

The lower series has also delivered memorable moments. Jeff Green won the first O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race in 1997, and hometown hero Kyle Busch has celebrated multiple times across both Xfinity and Trucks. Rising talents like Christopher Bell, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Corey Heim have also earned key wins at the track. In ARCA, Jason Jarrett scored the inaugural victory in 2001, followed in later years by champions like Frank Kimmel, Alex Bowman, and Ty Gibbs.