The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway takes on a different feel this weekend. Our Jerry's Nugget Championship Drag Racing Series is behind us and now we're preparing for the 'special events season,' when the various racing groups make their way into town for season-ending championship events. Over the course of the next two months The Strip will host more than 2,500 racers from all areas of the country. This Friday night we continue with our popular test 'n' tune and Midnight Mayhem program.  The 2008 Mayhem season is winding down and we expect to see a great turnout of participants. 

Saturday, we will wrap up the final Short Line Express Market Junior Dragster Championship Series event of 2008. We've had a great season of junior drag racing with lots of new participants, a variety of winners and an overall fun racing atmosphere.  Several of our racers will be racing with us for the final time as they have reached the age limit and are now moving onto bracket racing, super categories and other adventures.  We've watched some of these kids from the first time they ever strapped on a helmet and now they are young adults who are graduating on to bigger and better things.  In some ways it's sad to see them move on but, at the same time, it's fun seeing them tackle a new challenge. 

As I said earlier, our junior program was great this season and we expect it to be even bigger and better in 2009.  We're expanding the schedule to 12 Short Line Series events, an NHRA Jr. Divisional race, a special event that will be co-produced with Lucas Oil, our first ever junior night race and a season-ending special event.  We know that some people are dreading having their cars in the garage for the four-month off season, but they will need that time to prepare for all the racing in 2009.

On Saturday night we have a really interesting show in store: Super Tuner Saturday Night.  This is the eighth season for this popular event that combines the "Supras Invade Las Vegas Show" with a variety of other local car clubs for an interesting night of racing. This year, the Supras will be joined by the Las Vegas Corvette Association, the Buick Grand National club, the Las Vegas GTO owners group, and local bracket racers. You'll be able to see everything from a street legal 13-second GTO, to a nitrous snortin' pro stock style Supra that will run close to 200 miles per hour, all in one night.

Then, on Sunday, we wrap up our weekend with the longest running touring show in Las Vegas drag racing, Bug 'o' Rama.  Steve Hole and the guys from Sacramento, Calif. have been pulling into Las Vegas with this show well before we had The Strip. They do an amazing job with hundreds of show cars, a unique midway and an interesting racing program.  Even if you aren't a fan of Volkswagens, this is one show that's just fun to see.

I plan on posting several blogs in the weeks to come. We have lots of great events coming up at The Strip, the Bullring and the Dirt Track. Every show is different from the next and there's some interesting stories behind each. 

Thanks again to all of the local racers who supported the Bullring and the Strip in 2008.  In spite of the current economy, these folks proved that racing comes first and they made a tremendous amount of sacrifices to keep the cars on the track this season. Our 2009 schedules are about 80 percent complete and we think everyone will be happy with what we have in store.

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