It’s easy for racing enthusiasts to get revved up about a visit to the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World. Only here can you watch the best street drivers in the world use the dazzling Las Vegas Strip as their canvas, or enjoy the thrill of safely drifting on a racetrack in a supercar just a few minutes away.
Whether you’re trackside watching the excitement or sitting behind the wheel, you’ll find plenty of over-the-top racing experiences that will have you moving full throttle with adventure.
A Packed Calendar of Live Racing Events
If you’re a fan of street racing, stock cars zipping around an oval track, drag racing or off-road competitions, mark your calendar. You’ll find them all in Las Vegas throughout the year.
The world’s most famous street transforms into a high-speed track each November when the Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix takes place on the Las Vegas Strip. The race is the centerpiece for an all-encompassing weekend filled with exclusive viewing packages, unrivaled entertainment and unique trackside dining experiences.
The best stock-car drivers in the world converge on Las Vegas Motor Speedway twice a year for NASCAR Weekend events. Fans at both races (usually in March and October) can upgrade their ticket and explore the Neon Garage, an interactive staging and fan area where you can get up-close access to the teams, cars, and even the drivers.
Also at the speedway, top dragsters eclipse speeds of more than 300 miles per hour during the NHRA Nevada Nationals, usually held in late October or early November. It’s one of only two locations in the country that uses a four-wide qualifying format, where four drivers compete simultaneously in separate lanes, and the race is a pivotal late-season stop in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
For off-road enthusiasts, the Mint 400 is America’s oldest and most prestigious event on dirt, held annually every March, since 1968. Prerace festivities include a free parade down the Strip and The Mint 400 Off-Road Festival in Downtown Las Vegas, where fans can interact with exhibitors and get a close look at desert racing’s most competitive vehicles.
Explore Unique Driving Experiences
Looking to test your driving skills? Shift your Only Vegas adventure into high gear with multiple experiences available at SPEED VEGAS, just south of the Las Vegas Strip. Drive a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche and other exclusive sports cars at Exotics Racing, or steer powerful go-karts with Vegas Superkarts. You can even do a little off-roading in a Baja Race Truck. SPEED VEGAS is great for hosting bachelor parties and other group events.
You can also satisfy your need for speed in an exotic supercar at Dream Racing, or by taking a stock car for a spin at the NASCAR Racing Experience. While you’re at either of these year-round Las Vegas Motor Speedway attractions, you can tour each of its nine tracks and the Neon Garage for an Only Vegas excursion.
The new Grand Prix Plaza features several interactive Formula 1-themed experiences. Take a tech-driven ride through a cutting-edge 4D course with F1 X; try kart racing powered by advanced DRS technology with F1 Drive; or immerse yourself in state-of-the-art simulators inside F1 Hub. While you’re there, check out the flagship F1 store for some new gear, and enjoy tasty food and beverage options.
If you’d rather leave the driving to someone else, hop inside the massive CartZilla. Cruise the Strip in a massive shopping cart – technically, a street-legal shopping cart limo – in this one-of-a-kind, Only Vegas ride.
Must-See Car Shows and Exhibits
Las Vegas also has several events geared specifically for automotive enthusiasts. The annual Las Vegas Concours show features more than 250 unique and innovative vehicles displayed on the golf course at Wynn Las Vegas. From hot rods to luxury automobiles, you’ll find it all here.
Ready … action! See some of the most revered cars from television and film at the Hollywood Cars Museum. Whether it’s the DeLorean from “Back to the Future,” the Batmobile, or a 40-foot pink hot tub convertible limo profiled on “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” you’ll see some of the most popular cars from the big and small screens in this 30,000-square-foot warehouse. Be sure to peruse through the new Liberace Garage, home to some of Mr. Showmanship’s classic vehicles.
Take a free, self-guided tour of the Shelby Heritage Center and see more than 30 custom vehicles and learn about the history of this legendary automotive company. The showroom is open daily and VIP tours are available.
Another Only Vegas car showcase is the Nostalgia Street Rods Museum, where you can check out a private collection of more than 150 vintage rides, from street rods to rare scooters. This hidden gem, about two miles from the Strip, also houses an array of memorabilia featuring signed items from sports legends and music icons.
If you’re a fan of personalized mean machines, Count’s Kustoms offers a free tour of the vehicles made famous from the TV show, “Counting Cars.” Browse through Danny Koker’s assortment of custom-built cars and motorcycles.
Make the most of your racing experience with these tips for visiting Las Vegas on a budget, and be sure to check out some of the newest restaurants, shows and attractions in the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World.