DaimlerChrysler to drop name from Vegas race

Change was the buzzword before this year's Nextel Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and another change is expected.

It won't be on par with the additions of the infield's Neon Garage, a closer pit road on the front stretch and the higher banked tri-oval.

But the change will be noticeable.

DaimlerChrysler will be dropped from the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 title pending finalization of the sale of 80 percent of Chrysler divisions to a private equity firm.

LVMS general manager Chris Powell said he expects a name change and should know by June what the 11th annual Las Vegas Cup race will be called.

He said the sponsorship with the company is good through at least 2008 but would not disclose the length of agreement.

"Continuity is important, but it's not critical," Powell said of a name change.

The race was the Las Vegas 400 in 1998 and 1999 and the Carsdirect.com 400 the following year before becoming the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400. Las Vegas Review Journal