Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Las Vegas, NV

After a 43-year absence, the NASCAR Winston Cup Series returned to Las Vegas in 1998 -- this time the venue was a paved track some 17 miles outside the city that's open 24/7. The track had been host to the NASCAR Winston West Series, Craftsman Truck Series, Featherlite Southwest Series under the 2,600 Musco lights affixed to 200 poles around the track. In March 1997, Las Vegas Motor Speedway became the first venue to host the NASCAR Busch Series west of the Mississippi.

The low banking allows for two-and-three-wide racing at speed and was an instant hit with the drivers in all series.

The 1999 event ended with a battle between the Burton brothers, who swapped the lead six times during the last 139 laps of the 267-lap race, interrupted just twice by Mark Martin (16 laps) and Jeff Gordon (1 lap). At the checkers, it was Jeff Burton who was the victor by 1.074 seconds over older brother Ward. Roush Racing holds a perfect record, two-for-two, at the sold-out speedway. Mark Martin won the inaugural event.