Mayfield's Map: Vegas

Each week throughout the season, Jeremy Mayfield will share his memories of that weekend's racetrack -- and the happenings around it.

This week: Las Vegas

Vegas is a fun racetrack. I consider it one of the fun places because you can gamble and all that stuff when you're not racing, so I have a lot of fun in Vegas. The track itself is a great racetrack. It's laid out a little bit different than a lot of places we go to. It's not really a superspeedway or a speedway or a short track. It's an intermediate track, for sure.

Just a great place, great racetrack. The fans are unbelievable -- how many of them show up for that race. I'm sure gambling has something to do with it, but there are a lot of people who come to that race. It's always exciting to be able to take our sport and go out there and race in front of them.

Pick your poison

	Jeremy Mayfield
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I get hooked on slots, and then I'll lose a little bit or win a little bit. My problem with slots is I'm always looking at that big number. I don't care about getting a couple cherries and winning five or six. I'm wanting that $150,000 jackpot or whatever it is. I've yet to win that for some reason.

I think that's what entices you. I've read all these books about gambling, and you hear all these stories. Everything you're not supposed to do, I do. When you're winning, walk away. Or when you're in a losing streak, walk away. That's not me. I'm going to play it until then end.

I'll throw some money in one machine, and if it's not hitting real quick, I'm gone to the next one. Whatever you do, if you see me playing slots, don't do what I do.

Cruising Las Vegas Boulevard

I get spun out, driving around looking at all these hotels. I about run into people or don't see a stoplight or don't make a right turn. There are so many things that can distract you running up and down the Strip out there. It's pretty wild.

It just amazes me how big everything is, how nice the casinos are -- not just the gambling areas, but the rooms are nice and huge. Of course, Trump has to come in and put his two cents worth and have the biggest one out there. But it's really neat to see, great scenery.

Good memory, bad memory

Credit: Autostock

I finished second there when I first started with Ray. That's one of my best runs there. I've always had decent runs there, but with 10 to go, we're leading the race. Sterling Marlin passed me with a few laps to go, but we certainly came close to winning.

I remember taking my teammate (Rusty Wallace) out in an accident. We both had great cars and we were racing each other like we should, and the caution's out, and we wreck.

Hurry up and eat

That's the only place to eat. You've got to try the casino buffet. You don't really have time to eat and get a full-course meal. You've got to eat on the run and get back to that machine. It's calling you. It just took everything you've got and you want to give it more.

That's the way it is. You've got to hurry up and eat and go back and give it everything it wants. The buffets are definitely the way I go.