LVMS owner wants second race after track upgrades

LAS VEGAS -- After entertaining the media for the better part of a half hour Saturday, Las Vegas Motor Speedway owner Bruton Smith aimed his considerable charm toward Gillian Zucker, the visiting president of California Speedway.

Despite the relative proximity of their racetracks -- roughly a three-hour drive -- the two had never met.

LVMS

Neon Garage

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The Neon Garage, the centerpiece of Las Vegas Motor Speedway's multi-million-dollar renovation project, is ready for the track's annual Cup race.

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Within minutes, Smith was doing everything he could to woo Zucker in an attempt to get her to part with one of her facility's two race dates. He desperately wants another one for his Vegas track. Smith even rubbed her back and played with her hair before playfully offering to triple her salary on a five-year contract and a $50,000 shopping spree at Nieman Marcus.

"And that's just for openers," Smith joked.

Zucker, whose track is owned by the International Speedway Corporation that rivals Smith's own Speedway Motorsports Incorporated operation, laughed and replied: "I love where I work and what I'm doing. I appreciate it. But I will say you're wonderful for the sport and I can see why these guys [in the media] love to talk to you. You're interesting and fun."

Smith pressed on despite the rebuttal of his advances.

"It's Friday. Let's wait until Tuesday morning. That will give you plenty of time to go talk to the powers-that-be and let's come back and you present a deal to me," he implored.

"I'm not going to have a deal," she replied.

"But you might," Smith insisted.

"I'm not going to have a deal," the smiling and resilient Zucker added. "But I love what you've done with the place."

Indeed, Smith has done a whole lot with the place since buying Las Vegas Motor Speedway roughly seven years ago. His latest renovation, begun basically the day after last year's race was in the books and amazingly completed just prior to this year's event, cost an estimated $75 million.

The banking of the turns on the racetrack was increased from 12 degrees to 20, pit road was moved 275 feet closer to the grandstands, and a new fan-interactive garage area -- called The Neon Garage -- sprung up in the infield. (Continued)