Las Vegas 350 Camping World Truck Series

 

It’s a long name for such a short race!  I love anything to do with racing so if they want to race pickup trucks around the Las Vegas Motor Speedway I am there!  This race is a “night” race so our day starts kind of late, I was ready to go at 8am, but we didn’t leave until 10am.  I took the PA with me for company and because she and I have done this race together several times.  She’s lots of fun to take to any “car event”, there is always lots of stuff to explain and point out.  That, and its nice to have a spotter watching your back when you’re shooting on your stomach in the garages!

We arrived at the speedway and set up our home camp in the photographer’s media room.  We then headed out to the garages to get some great behind the scenes shots.  The first thing that caught our eye was the orange Lamborghini pace car.  And I thought they would have Jeb Clampets old beater!

What makes the garages so interesting is that you never know what you’re going to find.  The teams are all busy working on their vehicles getting ready for qualifying runs, or fixing things that are indescribable.   Below you can see a couple of guys working on the back axle of a truck.  You really have to trust your jack!

While we were wondering around the garages I found some interesting cars.  Below is a photo of a Bandeliero race car.  These cars might come up to your waist if you aren’t real tall.  I was explaining to the PA that this type of car is usually driven by 7-14 year olds and she was amazed that any parent would let their child race.  Most race car drivers you see in the NASCAR series have been racing their whole lives, starting with carts and moving up the ranks.  The owner/dad of the car below saw us taking pictures and came out to introduce himself and tell us what a great driver his daughter is.

With a bumper like that I am betting she is damn good!  Below is the dash board of another class of cars.  I call them Super Chickens.  The outside typically looks like a stylized corvette, and the drivers are usually older guys who never made the circuit.  Just the same, I think they are fun and truly understand the spirit of racing.

Remember when you’re making all left turns it helps to customize that dash board so you can read it at high speeds.

Next the PA and I checked out the Neon Garage.  The Neon Garage is unique to this race track and is literally located between all the team garages.  It even has an upper deck where fans can look thru windows at their favorite team.  In the center of the Neon Garage is a stage where there is live entertainment thru out the day.  This being Las Vegas you get to see some very interesting stuff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I spent some time watching the qualifying rounds and was amazed how fast a pickup truck could go.  These guys were coming in at 170MPH!  In a truck!  So I thought I would position myself right at the gate where they come off the track and head for the garage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

While out on pit road waiting for the race to start I got some great shots of the pits and the crews.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally it was time for the race to start!  We had a red flag immediately because some of the grandstand lights hadn’t come one.  I did get a great shot of it finally lit though!

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see the crowd was a little bit light, but it always is for this particular race.  The crowd was on its feet and loud as the trucks for the green flag.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I didn’t get any great crash photos from this race as I had sent the PA to shoot my favorite corner where all the action is.  I did however catch this guy attempting to “mow the lawn”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this guy lost the front bumper and missed the exit for pit road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All in all the 219 miles and 146 laps were over to quickly.  The number 13 truck driven by Johnny Sauter brought home is first win in the Truck Series.  There was no champagne spray in victory lane; Jonny is only 20 years old!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would say a good time was had by all and I got my dose of NASCAR racing until the big boys come back in February.  The Ace Reporter will be joining me for that weekend so look for reports from the track, behind the garage, and probably the principles office.