Winner winner, get Jimmie another chicken dinner!  Jimmie Johnson won the Sprit Cup at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last weekend.  It wasn’t a super exciting race, the boys ran pretty clean all day long.  There were a couple of cautions, but some of them were mistakes.  There was one good crash on turn four when McMurray got a little bit loose and tried to take out Montoya.

I look forward to NASCAR weekend every year.  Its really my happy place.  The people are nice, friendly, and over all just happy to be there.  I love that.  I love hearing the national anthem sung by 150,000 americans.  And let me tell you, Terry Fator has a voice that is incredible.  Match that with the Thunder Birds fly over and you have the makings of an all american weekend.

I like to camp out on turn four during the race.  This seems to be the corner were things are likely to go sideways.  While I was there I found this little guy and his mom.  NASCAR fans start young.

This year the best place to be was pit road.  I love pit road before the race.  The cars are lined up, the fans are milling around, and there is a general air of excitement.

Then there is all the action during the race.  This year was the year for Pit Road.  Before my Mother asks, I wasn’t in the pit box, and I didn’t get in anyones way.  Promise!

All in all we had a great time.  If you haven’t heard it yet listen to The Vegas Tourist podcast with Ace and the Chippendale Magnet.  www.TheVegasTourist.com The folks go into great detail on all the fun and adventures we incountered.  Also is an excluse interview with Tony Stewart!

Next weekend we are back out at the track for the Lucas Oil trophy truck race.  This should be a fun one!  Trophy trucks on a tight dirt track built just for them.  We will all be on the track and I will be shooting from the dirt!  Don’t know what a trophy truck is?   Take a look…

We are up before dawn and hit the track.  We find clouds, wind, cold and the threat of rain.  No matter, this is NASCAR and our on track official assures us in our morning briefing that NASCAR will do everything possible to make the race happen today.  Good thing NASCAR fans are not afraid of a little rain!  They were out in full force today regardless of the weather.   Ace found this father daughter team having the time of their lives out on pit road.

Kind of reminded me of all the tracks dad and I went to when I was a kid. 

Fans lined up in the Neon Garage for looks at their favorite cars, drivers, and teams. 

We hit the track running this morning just in case the rain came early.  Got lots of photos of the cars, Nationwide drivers, practice, qualifying, and everything we could possibly find. 

Then we packed it all up and headed over to Lagasse’s Stadium at the Palazzo.  (after a two hour nap and a couple of showers)  We had a big interview lined up and we didn’t want to be late.  Here you can see Ace getting set up and ready to interview Tony Stewart.

The exclusive interview will be posted on The Vegas Tourist.  Check out www.TheVegasTourist.com for the latest updates from Ace and Tony.  After the interview we were on hand while Tony was presented with the Legends in Sports award by Lagasse’s.

Tomorrow is the big Shelby American race and your TVT Sports reporters will be on hand to bring you all the action.  The boys have been working hard, and I have photo’s for miles!  Everyone will be on the track tomorrow to catch everything we can! 

This year is all Amp’d Up baby!  We walked into the Neon Garage early this morning and we knew it would be different.  The energy filling this place was incredible.  We did our usual and got the base camp set up and then split up to see what we could find.  What we found were NASCAR fans everywhere!  This place was two and three deep on the viewing decks.  Getting special attention where the Go Daddy Team (Mark’s personal favorite) and Jimmie Johnson.

But then Jeff Gordon and Jaun Pablo Montoya walked thru the garages on the way to there cars and I thought the fans on the gate would lose it!

Look’s like NASCAR is cool once again.  Everyone is wearing their gear, myself included!  And it seems everyone is getting in on the action.  Kim Kardashian now has her face and name on a new car.

But my favorite of the day and the biggest crowd pleaser in the media room because of the free stuff was the Target shopping cart.  This cart was in the Neon Garage early this morning and Jaun Pablo was spoted going for a spin.  Its all about the marketing and the sponsors!

We did eventually get down to business.  The Ace reporter spent most of his day attending the media Q &A and we will have some great stuff on The Vegas Tourist podcast soon from that.  But before we go into our predictions for the big race on Sunday we have to talk about Danica.  The media frenzy surrounding her is out of this world and she is one of the reason’s this weekend will be so successful.  She was asked about all the media attention and was very down to earth when she said she was thankfull for it, and would miss it if it wasn’t there.

Most of you know that I am always rooting for the home town boys.  Kyle and Kurt Busch.  Kurt is all reved up and really wants to win at this track.  He is using information from his brothers success here last year to really dial it in.  So much so that he qualified first with a new track record of 188.79 miles an hour.  Last year Kyle was first on the pole and ended up starting last because of an engine change, this year Kurt will be on the pole and the home town is screaming for him to win it.

The TVT team is planning on hitting the ground running at 6:30 Saturday morning.  We have a meeting at 8 and a possible announcement by Garth Brooks and Jimmie Johnson at 9:40.  The weather man is calling for an 80% chance of rain for the Nationwide race tommarrow but we have poncho’s, no problem!  As soon as the race is over we are going to be racing to Lagasse’s Stadium of Tony Stewarts induction into the Legends of Sports.

So this last photo is for all our friends, family, husbands, wives, and co-workers we left behind this weekend.

We will be home on Monday, tired, hungry, limping, but happy.

Everyone on staff at The Vegas Tourist has new camera gear, earplugs, sugary snacks, and energy drinks.  We are packed and ready to go! 

See you at the track!

Sazzy is the co-host of the popular Vegas focused, politically incorrect podcast “The Vegas Tourist.” Sazzy is normally pretty mild mannered, laid back, and a fun girl to be around. But, if you mention NASCAR in Vegas, give her a soapbox with a microphone… well she will light up and talk your ear off… in a good way.

NASCAR buffs and Sazzy fans will enjoy this clip from a recent podcast where she talks about her passion for the sport. Sazzy shares her thoughts on the recent events in Las Vegas, the players, and the future of NASCAR’s two media darlings: Kyle Busch and Danica Patrick.

Fan favorite Kyle Busch a Las Vegas native, started his own truck team, and has a never-ending love for the sport.

Danica Patrick has expanded her driving duties to include the Nationwide Series. Is she good for the sport? Will she be able to make the transition? Will she attract more viewers? Is she going to bring the female view to the sports?

We Want To hear from YOU!!

This is not an official TVT Sports podcast, yet it could be thought of as one. So we would like your thoughts on the idea of a sports podcast, as well as what Sazzy and I talked about.

Like to hear more? Is Sazzy off her rocker? Is Mark not getting a clue? What ideas and Suggestions do you have for us. Tell us what you think.

Click the play button to hear the podcast

This is the time of year that NASCAR holds news conferences, makes announcements, and teams re-align for the coming season.  All ready the 2010 season is looking to be like a winner.  Lets start with my home town favorite Kyle Busch.  Kyle won the nationwide series for 2009, and has big plans for the truck series in 2010.  He announced this week that his company, Kyle Busch Motorsports will field two Toyota trucks in the Camping World Truck Series for 2010.  With that announcement Kyle said he would be sharing driving duties in one of the trucks with protege Brian Ickler.

What Kyle doesn’t say in his announcement is that “sharing” the driving duties in the truck series could give him more time and energy to concentrate on the Sprint Cup Series driving.  He had a great year in the cup series but failed to make the cut.  Could 2010 be the year?  I personally would like to see Kyle concentrate on the Cup Series this year.  The man can drive like a bat out of hell.  Sure he can be a hot head sometimes, but to me that shows great passion.  He has grown up a lot in the last couple of years.  I believe 2010 could be the year he gets the balance right between his incredible talent and passion for the sport.

Now on to the worst kept secret in NASCAR.  Danica Patrick.  Danica announced this week that she would be driving a limited schedule in the Nationwide Series.  She will be driving limited dates around her Indy Car schedule for Jr. Motorsports.  Danica will be driving the number 7 Chevy sponsored by Go Daddy.com.  Her first race will be the IRCA race in February at Daytona.  There have been female drivers in the Nationwide Series before but none have made the transition to the Cup Series.  I think it will take a couple of years, but this girl can do it.  She is a hell of a driver, and talented enough to make the transition from open wheel to stock cars look easy.  Danica has proven she can not only keep up with the boys but also earn their respect.  She has paired up with the best possible team, Jr. Motorsports and Kelley Earnhardt.  Danica’s schedule has not yet been released, but you can expect her arrival at any Nationwide race to be a breath of fresh air that series badly needed.

I am hoping that she will be driving at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in February.  You can expect the whole TVT gang will be there to catch the action!

This week Las Vegas got an extra treat, the boyz of NASCAR are back!  The top 12 drivers of the NASCAR Sprint Series paraded up and down Las Vegas Boulevard for one last victory lap on Thursday.  It wasn’t well publicized locally, but the fans were out in full force and so were we.  It didn’t take long for the city sidewalks to become crowded with fans and on lookers.

One of the best viewing spots for the victory lap was the two authentic pit stops on the boulevard.  The above shot is the pit stop at the Bellagio, drivers took turns stopping and the crowd got an up close and personal view of what happens at a race in real time.  But the very best spot turned out to be the corner of Spring Mountain and the Boulevard.  This is where 4 time champion Jimmy Johnson did his victory burn out.

(photo credit; Felix G Photography)

Jimmy did such a good job on the victory burn out that he hit the curb, and blew out the engine in his car!

(photo credit; Felix G Photography)

No worries though, officials quickly loaded up the number 48 on a flat bed and put the champ on the back of the Sprint car.

And the parade continued.  It was great being on the street for this event.  The sound of a stock car engine has always gotten my adrenaline going but the sound of the fans cheering on their favorite car and driver was even better.  Below are some of my favorites…

So Thursdays Victory Lap was for the fans, but Fridays Awards Dinner was for the insiders.  Lucky for you guys Mark and I managed to score a couple of credentials and mingle with the in crowd.  The awards dinner is a black tie affair held at the Wynn.  Mark and I got all gussied up and headed over…I’m the one wearing lipstick.

One of the first things we did was to find the champion in the trophy room.  Here he was posing with the Sprint Cup Trophy, his crew chief; Chad Knaus and team owner Rick Hendrick.

Once we saw the winners and the trophy up close it was time to go and find some fun.  Mark found the Sprint Lounge that was filled with all kinds of electronic toys and demos.  Thought I would never get him out of there!  Then we found the Sprint car.  The talented people at the Wynn were able to get this full stock car out on the patio next to the pool.  You know I just had to do my best Sprint Girl impression and pose with the car!

Next it was time for the red carpet.  (That should explain the shoes I was wearing, I don’t shoot in heels!)  The top 12 drivers and team owners walked the red carpet in their black tie attire.  I thought it would be hard to recognize the guys with out their fire suits but I was wrong.  All were handsome and well behaved for the red carpet.  Many of the drivers have beautiful wives/girl friends that can put a buckle bunny to shame!

Jeff Gordon and wife.

Some of the guys flew solo for the night like Casey Kahne seen above.  Girls, he’s better looking in person but my big thrill of the night come from this guy…

Michael Waltrip.  That’s right I like the old school drivers, and this one made my night.  While shooting the red carpet event he stopped right in front of me and asked me to take a picture of him with his phone!  Of course I said yes!  He handed me the phone and told me all I had to do was push the button.  I told him “you drive the car I will take the pictures”.  They don’t all me Sazzy for nothing!  He laughed and thanked me for pictures.  It was a great night, well worth putting a dress on for!  You can see more photos of the victory lap and the awards dinner red carpet over at The Vegas Tourist’s Flickr site, http://www.flickr.com/photos/thevegastourist/

The 2009 NASCAR Champions Week is coming to Las Vegas!!  December 2nd thru the 4th it will be all NASCAR all the time!!  Thank God I will be back from my vacation just in time to cover all the festivities.  We are still working on media credentials to get that insider view, but should that not come thru I have no problem just being another NASCAR rabid fan.  What I am looking forward to most is this…

The top 12 NASCAR driver will complete a victory lap along Las Vegas Boulevard.  The lap will take drivers north on Las Vegas Boulevard to Spring Mountain Rd.  At Spring Mountain Rd the Sprint Cup Series Champion will treat fans to a “victory burn out”.  During the lap all stock cars will participate in an authentic pit stop.

Me and my rowdy friends will be standing on the boulevard just waiting for those cars to come by.  You can expect that this guy will be doing the burn out at Spring Mountain Rd.

See you all on the corner!

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.