LVMS to launch major youth initiative for NASCAR Weekend

Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be an extremely youth-friendly place during the March 4-6 NASCAR Weekend.

Thanks to a partnership with Smith's Food & Drug Stores, the Smith's Youth Initiative will allow fans 15 years of age and younger to receive a 50-percent discount on all tickets for the March 6 Kobalt Tools 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series event on March 5 and the March 4 Stratosphere NASCAR Pole Day. Discounted tickets are available for weekend-package tickets as well as single-day events.

In addition, race fans 15 years and under will receive free admission to the Neon Garage fan experience when accompanied by an adult. Both kids and accompanying adults must have a race ticket to participate in the Neon Garage promotion. The Neon Garage gives race fans the best access to drivers, Las Vegas-style entertainment and is home to the post-race Victory Lane celebration. The discounts and half-price tickets can represent a savings of more than $300 per person. The promotion will begin Thursday and will run as long as supplies last.

Young fans also are invited to visit the new Extreme Sports Zone on the midway at LVMS during NASCAR Weekend. The Extreme Sports Zone will feature professional BMX exhibitions, a skate park and HobbyTown USA's R/C car racing track. Young fans are encouraged to bring their skateboards and bikes to enjoy the sports zone during breaks in the professional exhibitions.

To take part in the Smith's Youth Initiative parents and guardians should visit www.lvms.com or call the speedway at (800) 644-4444 and ask for promote code: Smith's.

"Through this partnership, Smith's is giving kids a great opportunity to experience the thrill of NASCAR racing," said LVMS president Chris Powell. "It is our goal to cultivate new, young fans who may never have experienced a NASCAR race. It also makes

attending the NASCAR event much more affordable for families. In addition to the 50-percent ticket discount and free Neon Garage access, we are crossing over into extreme sports and R/C car racing, both of which are very popular with today's youths.

"It's also important to note that some of the biggest extreme sports stars, like Ricky Carmichael and Travis Pastrana, are now involved in NASCAR competition."

Pastrana, who won 11 X Games gold medals and four Rally Car championships, will compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series later in 2011. Carmichael, a 15-time American Motorcycle Association (AMA) champion, races in the NASCAR Camping World

Truck Series and also made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut last year. Carmichael is expected to compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at LVMS in October.

T.J. Lavin, a pro BMX racer and host of MTV's Real World/Road Rules Challenge, participated in today's announcement.

"I think it's great that NASCAR and Las Vegas Motor Speedway are reaching out to today's youth," said Lavin. "There is a lot of crossover between the two sports, and this is another great example of two sports coming together."

Tickets for the NASCAR Weekend, including the March 6 Kobalt Tools 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series event on March 5 and the March 4 Stratosphere NASCAR Pole Day may be purchased by calling the LVMS ticket office at (702) 644-4444 or online at www.LVMS.com. Follow LVMS on Facebook and Twitter.