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124-583: Announced prior to the Las Vegas Formula D round on July 14, at $ 50,000, it boasts of the largest prize money in a drifting contest and the largest TV production for a drift contest. The inaugural event was won by Rhys Millen , incidentally sponsored by Red Bull, taking home $ 25,000. As there are 32 places for the event, drivers from all over the world are given a place should they meet these following criteria: Taking place on 90-acre (360,000 m) lot of newly laided up asphalt on Port of Long Beach , in

248-451: A Ford Torino from Starsky & Hutch . The Auto Collections closed on December 30, 2017. Rob Williams, the general manager and a part-owner, said about the closure, "It's time; it's basically that simple. We've had a great run here … It's just time to close it down and move on to our next endeavors." Although visitor attendance had slightly declined, it was not a reason for the closure. The Imperial Theatre showroom, with 850 seats,

372-419: A 1.500 mi (2.414 km) oval on the track's complex, which was completed in 1996. In 1998, SMI and its founder Bruton Smith bought the complex. Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) in its current form is measured at 1.500 mi (2.414 km), with 20 degrees of banking in the turns and nine degrees of banking on the track's frontstretch and backstretch. Before 2006, the track had 12 degrees of banking in

496-449: A 10-year lease with the city to lease the complex. Although the complex was able to see off-road racing, management problems soon plagued the complex; by August, Ellis began looking for a new partner to replace Ainsworth. As a result, Alex Rodriguez, a drag strip driver, sent pleas to fellow Las Vegan racers to come to meetings set up by him to try and clean up the facility. Rodriguez and his son, Alex Rodriguez Jr., were later appointed by

620-467: A 200 miles (320 km) race to christen the track, to be held on September 15, 1996. By August, construction was underway for the track, with a private opening for tire testing scheduled in May. Three months later, new NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races were added, with construction being "right on schedule". In January 1996, the track named Ray Wilkings as the general manager. By the end of February, LVMS

744-523: A NASCAR-style superspeedway. On October 16, 1994, the Review-Journal reported that Clyne and Juberg were interested in making a bid for a modern racing facility. At the same time, longtime motorsports businessman Bruton Smith , with the success of his newly formed Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (SMI), announced plans to build a $ 75 million facility west of the Mississippi River . According to one of

868-508: A casino the following year. He built additional motel buildings in 1974, and eventually added the 19-story Imperial Palace Tower in 1977. Engelstad renamed the entire property as the Imperial Palace on November 1, 1979, when a new casino facility opened on the site. The Flamingo Capri's casino was demolished to make way for the Imperial Palace's entrance, although some of the motel rooms would remain in operation for decades. The Imperial Palace

992-469: A course known as "Pier S". The entire venue had to be built from scratch, however temporary. Altogether, the venue in all, accounting for three grandstands, borrowed from those of the Long Beach Grand Prix and the 2,000 seating for VIP and sponsor are designed to accommodate up to 25,000 spectators. The course length is 1,200 ft (370 m), with another 100 ft (30 m) to allow for

1116-690: A driverless open-wheel race titled the Indy Autonomous Challenge as part of Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which has become an annual event. The Bullring dirt track hosted the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series from 1996 to 2006 and from 2009 to 2019. The High Limit Racing is scheduled to run at the venue in 2025 on the NASCAR Cup weekend. In 2014, the track hosted a race for the Red Bull Air Race World Championship ; however,

1240-484: A lease from Clyne to run the track complex. That same year, the complex was renamed to the Las Vegas Speedway Park by Juberg. In May, the duo took over the master lease to the track from Tom Villardi. Around this time, the track still had no major events, including off-road racing due to environmental concerns. Around 1993, the Review-Journal reported that Clyne was researching the feasibility of building

1364-622: A middle-class and value-conscious clientele throughout its history. The resort did little marketing, but still achieved high occupancy rates, due to its location on the Strip and its low room rates. At the time of opening, the resort included Court of a Thousand Treasures, a four-story shopping arcade with 60 stores, overlooking the east end of the 30,000 sq ft (2,800 m ) casino. An automobile museum, The Auto Collections , opened in 1981. A 650-room hotel tower opened in August 1982, bringing

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1488-546: A motor sports complex", stating a lack of proper racing facilities. By February 1971, the complex, initially known as the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, was being built with "work [progressing] daily". On May 16, 1971, the complex was recorded to have held its first races on a 1 ⁄ 2 mile (0.80 km) dirt oval, sanctioned by the Southern Nevada Off Road Enthusiasts (SNORE). By July,

1612-477: A new Las Vegas studio at The Linq, as part of its partnership with Caesars Entertainment to provide sports betting information. The 6,000 sq ft (560 m ) studio began operations in 2020, producing digital content related to sports betting, as well as its television program Daily Wager and segments for other programs. The studio closed in 2023 after ESPN signed with competitor Penn Entertainment on its ESPN Bet service, with Daily Wager (which

1736-656: A possible revocation of his gaming license, but eventually agreed to pay a $ 1.5 million fine to the state, settling issues related to the Nazi controversy and the destruction of records. It was the second-largest fine in Nevada gaming history. In 1997, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a sex discrimination lawsuit against the Imperial Palace, on behalf of six cocktail waitresses who worked there. The waitresses had become pregnant and their weight gain

1860-626: A race weekend from the New Hampshire Motor Speedway , with the first iteration being run in 2018. Along with its Cup Series races, the track has hosted lower-tier NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Truck Series races since the track's inaugural season of racing in 1996. The track hosted its first IndyCar races in September 1996, the first major races ever ran at the track. Until 2000, the Indy Racing League ran an IndyCar race at

1984-469: A reference to a sense of community that the project aimed to create. It also referred to the project's location, connected between the Imperial Palace and the Flamingo. The Imperial Palace's wedding chapel was among the facilities to receive renovation work. The resort's main entrance on Las Vegas Boulevard was closed on May 1, 2012, as part of the ongoing construction for Project Linq. A new resort entrance

2108-530: A reputation for being "old, dirty, and tattered". At this point, little hope was shown for the track's revival; Review-Journal writer Greg Bortolin estimated millions of dollars for renovations to attract major racing leagues, with no guarantee of interest as at the time, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas ' (UNLV) sports teams were the only major sports events in the city. In interviews with track media manager Neal Reid, Clyne stated that he initially wanted to turn

2232-442: A rolling start with six corners outlined by a Red Bull sign. Drivers who had driven on the track are said to be capable of reaching 104 mph (167 km/h) during test runs. With the exception of Formula D, each series are allocated two entries, including D1GP, who following negotiation, were given six invites When negotiation broke down, D1 drivers were discouraged from taking invites, therefore they were approached directly by

2356-512: A self-serve beer wall and a food truck; the latter was added due to popular demand by millennials. The food menu and sports betting are accessed through tablet computers . Caesars intended for The Book to serve as a testing ground for new concepts, which could potentially be implemented at its other properties to attract millennials. By 2019, the casino included a video game arcade, and three-dimensional LED sculptures that react as people walk by. In 2019, ESPN announced that it would construct

2480-438: A spacious appearance. The hotel-casino was modernized and designed to target a millennial demographic. The property featured self-check in, while touchscreens allowed guests to make reservations for restaurants and entertainment. Outlets for cellphones and laptops were added throughout the property, and digital televisions in the hotel rooms were used to order room service. A bar and lounge area known as 3535 – referencing

2604-525: A technologically advanced, 11,000 sq ft (1,000 m ) sportsbook, The Book, on September 6, 2018. It is a reimagined version of the traditional sportsbook concept. In addition to sports betting, patrons can also order food from the resort's restaurants and can play sports video games in The Book. It is divided into 12 rentable areas known as Fan Caves, each one including TVs, an Xbox One game console, and virtual reality headsets . The Book also features

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2728-578: Is a casino hotel on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada . It is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment . It opened as the Flamingo Capri on October 30, 1959, on property located directly north of the original Flamingo resort. The Flamingo Capri was a 180-room motel, owned by George E. Goldberg and Flamingo employee Bill Capri. Ralph Engelstad purchased the Flamingo Capri in 1971, and added

2852-523: Is located in Las Vegas, Nevada , in-between Interstate 15 and Las Vegas Boulevard . At its peak, the track held over 140,000 seats. As of 2023, according to the Las Vegas Sun , the Las Vegas Motor Speedway has a stated capacity of 80,000. At the time of the track complex's opening, it was situated upon 200 acres of land with a capacity of 3,000. The complex has since expanded extensively, and as of 2015

2976-587: Is situated upon over 1,200 acres of land according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal . Numerous amenities exist on the track's complex; most of which were built as part of a 2006 renovation project on the track. As part of the 2006 renovations, the track built a redesigned, interactive garage that is known as the Neon Garage that spectators could access for an extra fee during race weekends. A three-story, 60,000 square-foot media center, currently known as

3100-455: The 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship on the race's 11th lap. In 2017, the drag strip was expanded to four lanes to accommodate four cars racing at once. In 2018, the track won rights to host another NASCAR Cup Series weekend in the fall. Since the mid-2010s, the track has decreased its capacity multiple times. In 2015, the track announced the removal of 15,000 seats in the track's third and fourth turns to make way for RV parking. In 2017,

3224-535: The IZOD IndyCar World Championship to become the season finale of that year's season, with the IndyCar Series' CEO, Randy Bernard , stating that he hoped it would become a major IndyCar event. To try to increase the race's stakes and to promote the event, Bernard put up a $ 5 million bounty to any non-IndyCar driver who could win the race. However, after numerous drivers rejected it, the challenge

3348-532: The $ 2-million, 180-room Flamingo Capri motel, owned by George E. Goldberg and Bill Capri. The motel was built directly north of the Flamingo Hotel and Casino , where Capri was an employee. The original Flamingo agreed to provide hotel services to guests at the Capri. The motel began construction in May 1959, and opened on October 30 of that year. Douglas Honnold and John Rex, both of Beverly Hills, California, were

3472-443: The 1990s, the sportsbook also gained a reputation for posting more futures and proposition wagers than any other Las Vegas sportsbook. In the early 1990s, the resort launched a weekly series of luau parties known as Hawaiian Hot Luau. It offered a buffet of Asian food and performances by hula dancers and fire eaters . In 1993, the Imperial Palace added a medical center for its employees and their families, as well as tourists. By

3596-500: The 78,000 sq ft (7,200 m ) Brooklyn Bowl , which includes a restaurant, music club, and a two-floor bowling alley with 32 lanes. Caesars decided to build the project in 2007, and eventually announced its plans in July 2009, under the name Project Link. It would contain an outdoor collection of restaurants and bars that would be built between the original O'Sheas and the Flamingo. These plans were considered again in 2010, with

3720-602: The Air Force lobbied the Clark County government to refuse the lodging. The track complex features numerous adjacent tracks; two of which were built before the main track. In 1985, the complex built a 1 ⁄ 3 mile (0.54 km) oval that was assisted with donations of barriers that were used in the Caesars Palace Grand Prix . In 2000, the track was modified to become 3 ⁄ 8 mile (0.60 km) and

3844-557: The Clark County Board of County Commissioners for a 520-acre plot of land that was also directly near Nellis AFB. However, on December 21, the board rejected Horten's plan. The now-named Las Vegas International Speedrome's drag strip held its first races on February 26, 1972, on the 1 ⁄ 4 mile (0.40 km) to host the first day of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Open Drag Championships. By May,

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3968-528: The Clark County government approved plans to create an oval and a drag strip. In August, SNORE held another event, this time opening a 3 ⁄ 4 mile (1.2 km) buggy course. In December, Price announced that the track would hold its first drag strip event in January 1972. In December 1971, Larry Horten announced a bid to rival Price's track named the Las Vegas Raceway Park, seeking approval from

4092-485: The Craig Road Speedway to First Interstate Bank due to satisfy debts from his family business, leaving the local stock car racing community without a track. Van Norman stated that he hoped Rodriguez would build a paved oval like Craig Road Speedway at LVIS' complex. In 1984, LVIS opted to host stock car racing events, essentially reviving the local stock car racing community after a year of relative silence. In 1985,

4216-526: The FD management to find out that they invited entrants, the former D1GP champions in particular, had to decline their entries for the reason of scheduling conflicts. Kumakubo declined his as he was due to take part in a drift demo in Dubai , Kazama, despite no longer involved in the series, declined because of schedule clash. Former D1GP judge, competitor and Super GT driver, Orido was forced to decline his invitation as he

4340-602: The Flamingo Capri were relocated and converted to become part of Engelstad's other property, the Kona Kai motel. Engelstad's construction company added a three-story wing at the east end of the motel, as well as a northern addition, both of which opened in 1974 along with the Shangri-la pool. By 1976, the motel was being operated as part of the Best Western hotel chain, while retaining the Flamingo Capri name. An expansion project

4464-693: The FoodieLand Night Market, a food festival. Since 2012, Enrico Bertaggia , a former Italian Formula Three driver, has run the Dream Racing program at the track, a program where the general public can drive exotic cars around a road course on the track's complex. The track also hosts the "Driver's Edge" program, a driving education course. As of October 2024, the fastest official race lap records at Las Vegas Motor Speedway are listed as: Imperial Palace (hotel and casino) The Linq (formerly Flamingo Capri , Imperial Palace and The Quad )

4588-399: The Imperial Palace name. The name change to Imperial Palace took place on November 1, 1979, with the opening of the new casino building. Demolition simultaneously began on the Flamingo Capri's casino building, clearing way for the Imperial Palace's entrance, which was expected to be finished within a month. The number of employees increased to 1,000. Merlin J. Barth was the architect of

4712-513: The Imperial Palace or its neighbors. In 2009, the Imperial Palace added The King's Ransom, an exhibit of Elvis Presley memorabilia. A year later, Harrah's was renamed as Caesars Entertainment Corporation. In August 2011, Caesars announced that the Imperial Palace name would be replaced, with a new name to be chosen at a later date. The property would also be renovated. Later that year, Caesars began construction on Project Linq, an outdoor collection of restaurants, bars, and retailers. The project

4836-467: The Imperial Palace was the 10th largest hotel in the world and the world's largest privately owned hotel. That year, Engelstad opened a second Imperial Palace in Biloxi, Mississippi . In 2000, Engelstad said that he would sell his properties in preparation for retirement. Analysts considered Harrah's Entertainment as a likely buyer for the Imperial Palace, given that the company's Harrah's Las Vegas resort

4960-419: The Imperial Palace would remain open into 2007, while redevelopment options were considered. The hotel had 2,640 rooms, and the casino included 1,600 slot machines and 56 table games. Harrah's leased the Imperial Palace name through a deal set to expire in 2012. Harrah's redevelopment plans were delayed in 2006, when two firms announced plans to purchase the company. In 2007, Harrah's decided not to demolish

5084-653: The International Motorsports Association scheduled races for the rest of the year at the complex's 1.6 miles (2.6 km) road course. However, by August, the track was displaying issues; the lighting system on the track's road course was reported to malfunction during races. In September, the West Charleston Lions Club of Las Vegas signed a 15-year agreement to run the drag strip. After 1972, almost all major racing, especially drag racing, ceased due to mainly financial issues; though, this

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5208-476: The Linq retail and entertainment complex. Further renovations would modernize the property and would take place in phases, lasting through 2013. The hotel would retain its 2,543 rooms and several restaurants. The name change to Quad became official on December 21, 2012. The property's design was changed entirely. The Asian theme was removed, and a giant "Q" replaced the Imperial Palace exterior logo sign. A portion of

5332-563: The LocaliQ Digital Center for sponsorship reasons, was also constructed in 2006 within the track's infield. A 127-unit condominium tower was also slated to be built overlooking the track's first turn; however, the plan saw opposition from Nellis Air Force Base and United States Air Force officials, who did regular flight training and drills near the track, later clarifying that it was due to safety risks. Although SMI CEO Bruton Smith initially refused to comply, he relented after

5456-483: The Quad as The Linq Hotel & Casino, matching the new promenade. Jon Gray, the general manager for the promenade, said the change would provide a "complete, seamless experience. The new name clears up any confusion. It's all Linq." The name change took place on October 30, 2014, and was accompanied by a $ 223 million renovation. The hotel rooms were remodeled, and the resort's interior was brightened and opened up more for

5580-625: The Speedrome Racing Association to conduct the rest of its races. In 1975, the track was used as the starting point for the Mint 400 . In September of that year, the NHRA returned, with the complex holding its first major drag racing event in almost three years. On September 17, the city of Las Vegas considered revoking Price's lease, with stated reasons including that Price owed around $ 3,400 on monthly payments, increased cases of vandalism to both

5704-439: The addition of a new Olympic-size swimming pool , a heated spa, and a poolside bar. The final phase of the expansion – including a race & sportsbook , and fitness center – extended the resort to the sidewalk along Las Vegas Boulevard . The sportsbook was completed in September 1989, and a drive-through option was created in 1991. Located on Koval Lane behind the hotel, the drive-through became popular among customers. During

5828-457: The annual Imperial Palace Antique Auto Run. In 1985, the parking garage was expanded to include more than 1,000 additional parking spaces, becoming one of the largest parking facilities in Las Vegas. In December 1985, the foundation was laid for a 560-room hotel addition, which was completed in 1986, bringing the room count total to 2,100. The Imperial Palace became the seventh largest hotel in

5952-411: The architects. Maurice N. Aroff of Beverly Hills was the general contractor. Capri departed the property soon after the opening, with Goldberg becoming the sole owner and operator. The Flamingo Capri Restaurant was added in 1964. Ralph Engelstad purchased the motel in 1971, and added a casino in 1972. Prior to the addition of a casino, the motel had 250 employees. In 1973, four motel buildings from

6076-457: The area into an industrial park, but was convinced otherwise by motorsport businessmen Bob Bahre and Tom Wheatcroft. The track held its first races under Clyne's leadership with the newly rebranded Nissan 400 (now known as the Mint 400). By 1991, the complex aimed to expand its events, along with general renovations to the complex. In 1993, David Juberg and Craig Graham, both amateur racers, took over

6200-434: The casino and portions of the motel. The Imperial Palace's parking garage was also built over the wash, suffering the same consequences during storms. In 1983, the casino was briefly closed while eight feet of water rushed through the parking area and garage, leaving mud in the pool area and in more than 20 ground-floor rooms. In 2004, two men had to be rescued by firefighters after their car stalled in flood water behind

6324-528: The center Strip. Harrah's had long wanted to acquire the Imperial Palace, and there was speculation that the company would demolish it for a new project. Harrah's chairman Gary Loveman said that plans were underway to develop the area for long-term success, stating that properties such as the Imperial Palace "are going to require very substantial modifications or complete tear-downs and rebuilds." Harrah's completed its purchase in December 2005, and announced that

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6448-417: The changes, in contrast to Review-Journal writer Ron Kantowski, who praised the changes and Bruton Smith. In 2011, the track won rights to host the flagship branch of Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) after EDC oversaw controversy in its previous location, Los Angeles . That same year, the track experienced its first fatal auto racing accident when longtime IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon died in an accident in

6572-414: The city to replace Ainsworth, due to the partnership being strained between the two. Rodriguez, within the first months, invested $ 75,000 on improvements and a repave of the track. Drag racing saw an overall uptick; Mike Henle viewed Rodriguez so highly that he declared, "Rodriguez has done a commendable job – and drag racing is up from the canvas because of him". In 1982, Van Norman gave up ownership of

6696-513: The city; the withdrawal was considered a big blow by the city to repair the track, with the city claiming that the track could not see any serious proposals for racing in the next 18 months. However, by June, the complex was able to hold the Silverbird Race of Champions, a race that featured numerous movie stars; however, the race flopped, seeing a lack of spectators. By January 1979, the city of Las Vegas began looking for potential leasers, with

6820-493: The complex costing the city thousands of dollars. Later that month, a group of five businessmen, including Van Norman and Horten, formed Las Vegas Recreation, Inc. in efforts to make a bid on temporary ownership for the track. On February 21, the city's commission unanimously approved the lease, essentially reviving the complex; however, the permanent lease was not guaranteed until the Nevada Supreme Court's case with Price

6944-486: The complex's operating permit. In February 1980, Price lost his appeal, with future bids expected to take place the following year. The next month, Las Vegas Recreation's lease was extended until the end of 1980. However, by November 5, the partnership gave up after "several months of horrible luck", with poor timing systems, lighting, and the amount of effort required to maintain the complex being key issues. The next day, businessmen Terry Ainsworth and Harold Ellis signed

7068-472: The destruction of such records. Several other lawsuits were filed during the mid-1980s, accusing the resort of sexual and religious discrimination. In 1988, agents for the Nevada Gaming Control Board inspected the Imperial Palace and discovered that Engelstad had a "war room" there, containing a large collection of World War II Nazi memorabilia. Among the items was a portrait of Engelstad in

7192-576: The drag strip was expanded to four lanes. On August 14, 1970, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that businessman Carl "Curly" Price was aiming to sign a lease for a plot of land near the Nellis Air Force Base from the City of Las Vegas to build a drag strip, a "small" road course, and a proposed oval. The proposal received an endorsement from the Review-Journal , which wrote "We hope Curly can get on this on since [North Las Vegas] badly needs

7316-418: The end of the decade, the resort partnered with Reno Air to provide guests with baggage check-in at the hotel, ahead of outgoing flights. In 1984, a couple staying at the hotel were robbed, and the wife was also raped. They filed a security negligence lawsuit against the Imperial Palace, and later accused the resort of destroying records that were sought for the lawsuit. Casino executives later admitted to

7440-450: The end of the year. Just before the end of 1977, the track was temporarily leased out for the first three months of 1978 to car clubs. In February 1978, Bob Van Norman, owner of the Craig Road Speedway, submitted a proposal to take over the complex from the city, offering a proposal of $ 300 a month to lease the complex. However, the proposal was withdrawn just over a week later, claiming that he did not want to be accused of favoritism from

7564-420: The escalator. The property reopened later that night, after two hours. In June 2005, Harrah's Entertainment purchased Caesars Entertainment, Inc. , which included the acquisition of the O'Sheas Casino and the Flamingo, both directly south of the Imperial Palace. Two months later, Harrah's announced plans to purchase the Imperial Palace for $ 370 million, giving the company a sizable and contiguous ownership of

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7688-411: The existing track. Major changes announced in the press release included changing the banking in the turns from 12 to 20 degrees, increasing capacity to 141,000, a new infield media center, a redesigned garage, and narrowing the racing surface to 50 feet; a 20 feet difference. The track changes were met with mixed reviews at the time; drivers Jeff Burton , Kyle Busch , and Tony Stewart all criticized

7812-560: The first and only zipline on the Strip. Construction of the $ 20-million zipline was underway in April 2018. It opened on November 9, 2018, and features 10 side-by-side ziplines that travel over the promenade. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel partnered with Caesars to create Jimmy Kimmel's Comedy Club, which opened at the promenade in 2019. Later that year, the promenade added the world's largest ice bar , measuring 1,200 sq ft (110 m ). In 2024, Caesars announced that it would sell

7936-427: The foundation. The parking garage was left unchanged during the transformation into the Linq, and the property continued to suffer from flooding. A 2017 storm left some cars in the garage partially underwater, and six people had to be rescued. Footage of the parking garage's flooding often goes viral . The Linq Promenade is an outdoor entertainment district, spread across a 1,200-foot-long pathway that runs along

8060-458: The garage. The Clark County Fire Department stated that such rescues had to be performed at the property on a regular basis. During floods, the garage is usually closed off, preventing guests from leaving. The resort had no plans for structural changes, stating that prior research had never turned up a viable solution. Efforts to prevent future flooding were hindered, as an underground drainage system could not be installed without possibly weakening

8184-502: The general public. The main track also features an infield road course that is used for sports car racing. After the closure of Stardust International Raceway in 1971, plans were made to build a new road course and drag strip in North Las Vegas by Craig Road Speedway owner Curly Price on city of Las Vegas-owned land. The then-named Las Vegas Speedrome was completed in 1972, with preliminary races being held before in 1971; however,

8308-575: The injuries of numerous people and the death of a 15-year-old. The track has held the event annually since. In 2013, the track hosted the World Long Drive Championship . In 2020, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic , the track held a graduation ceremony for Faith Lutheran High School , a private Lutheran school based in Summerlin . Since 2023, the track has hosted a Las Vegas branch of

8432-552: The land further. After Bruton Smith announced his plans to build what would eventually become the Texas Motor Speedway , the Review-Journal reported that chances for a modern racing facility in Las Vegas were all but killed. However, on November 30, Clyne announced plans to build his own $ 65-70 million, 100,000-seat facility near the Las Vegas Speedway Park that would be capable of holding NASCAR Winston Cup Series races, with an opening date scheduled for April 1, 1996. By

8556-688: The late 1980s, the Governor's Committee for the Handicapped named the Imperial Palace as "Employer of the Year". A few years later, the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities named the Imperial Palace "National Employer of the Year". The resort subsequently offered listening devices in its showroom for hearing-impaired audience members. A three-phase expansion began in August 1987 and concluded in July 1989. The three-phase expansion included

8680-418: The lease; however, he was still able to operate the track until December 1990. In addition, the city was now also considering selling off the land to a private operator. The sale was approved on November 17. Rodriguez defended himself, stating the improvements he made to the track; however, the track was still put up for sale on the condition that the buyer must maintain the track for 10 years. In May 1989,

8804-411: The likeness of Adolf Hitler . The control board also found that Engelstad had hosted Nazi-themed parties at the war room in 1986 and 1988, celebrating Hitler's birthday. Following these revelations, state officials accused Engelstad of bringing discredit to Nevada and its gaming industry. He apologized for the parties and stated that the collection was purely of historical interest. Engelstad faced

8928-703: The main Flamingo resort. Project Linq was inspired by The Grove and Third Street Promenade , both entertainment and retail complexes in Los Angeles. The Meatpacking District in Manhattan was another inspiration. The Linq project was developed by Caruso Affiliated , which previously created The Grove. Construction began in November 2011. Portions of it opened on December 27, 2013, and it celebrated its grand opening in February 2014. Additional tenants continued to open over

9052-697: The next day, Clyne also announced the renovations of all tracks within the complex. In January 1995, he officially confirmed plans to build the track along Interstate 15 on a 1,100 acre plot of land, along with a 40-acre industrial park; the original plan Clyne had for the track. However, Winston Cup dates were not guaranteed; NASCAR leadership, including Mike Helton , insisted that though numerous modern facilities were being built, such as ones in Texas and Las Vegas, "the Cup schedule can't grow much more". By May, Clyne and IndyCar Series president Tony George officially announced

9176-453: The next five years was announced by Clyne in early September in order to finish the track. By that same month, Sahara Hotel owner Bill Bennett also joined as part owner of the track. LVMS officially opened to the public on September 13, 1996 for IndyCar practice. Its first race, according to Review-Journal writer John Katsilometes , was "violent", with the race being marred by heavy winds and numerous crashes. In spite of traffic issues,

9300-581: The next several months. The promenade cost $ 550 million to construct. A multi-story structure, known as the Vortex, was built on the former O'Sheas land, marking the entrance to the Linq Promenade. The structure includes a top-floor deck that is used for events, and a vortex-shaped LED canopy that displays advertisements to people below. By 2017, the Linq Promenade had added the Strip's first In-N-Out Burger , and Caesars also announced plans to add Fly Linq,

9424-469: The order, security continued to hold him for a period of time. Grosjean filed and eventually won a lawsuit against the Imperial Palace, alleging false imprisonment . In the mid-1990s, Engelstad considered selling the Imperial Palace for $ 400-$ 500 million. At the time, the resort occupied 8.5 acres (3.4 ha), and Engelstad owned an additional 10 acres (4.0 ha) behind the resort. The casino measured 47,625 sq ft (4,424.5 m ). As of 1997,

9548-452: The people who ventured with Smith to scout a location, racing promoter Eddie Gossage , Smith initially preferred building a track in Las Vegas. He considered a location adjacent to the Las Vegas Speedway Park; however, he later found out that the parcel of land was owned by Imperial Palace Hotel owner Ralph Engelstad . According to Gossage, the two were friends, and as Engelstad had sought the land first, he agreed with Engelstad to not prospect

9672-468: The place of those that had been sold in the exhibit. Approximately half of the vehicles in the collection were owned by Williams and Clyne. A single mechanic was responsible for maintaining the vehicles. The collection occupied 125,000 sq ft (11,600 m ) of space, and included vehicles once owned by celebrities or state officials. Among these was a 1939 Chrysler Royal sedan, which Engelstad purchased from Johnny Carson for $ 1 in 1994. This

9796-555: The promenade, excluding the High Roller, to TPG Real Estate and Acadia Realty Trust. The $ 275 million sale is expected to close by the end of the year. The Auto Collections was a collection of classic vehicles on display at the resort until 2017. The museum opened on December 1, 1981, known then as the Antique and Classic Auto Collections. The museum initially consisted of Engelstad's own private car collection, worth over $ 10 million at

9920-454: The property's general manager. The four became co-trustees following Engelstad's death, and there were no immediate plans to sell the property, considering its popularity. In 2003, the casino added 600 new slot machines, and a monorail station was built, connecting with Harrah's Las Vegas. In July 2004, an escalator fire sent smoke into the casino and upper-floor restaurants, forcing an evacuation. The fire caused $ 500,000 in damage, mostly to

10044-406: The proposal now known as Project Linq. By that time, a Ferris wheel and retail space had been added to the proposed plans. Project Linq received final county approval in August 2011. The original O'Sheas, located along the Strip, was demolished to make way for Project Linq. The project also replaced an old parking garage and an alleyway, in addition to the Flamingo Capri rooms and tennis courts for

10168-501: The purchase and to sell off 300 acres of industrial space. He later appointed Chris Powell, a former media relations manager for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company as the track's general manager. In 2000, LVMS officials modified its 3 ⁄ 8 mile (0.60 km) oval and renamed it the "Bullring". In 2006, Powell announced a $ 25-27 million renovation project that aimed to overhaul

10292-553: The race was abandoned due to bad weather conditions, with results being based on qualifying speeds. The track hosted a race for the 2015 season, this time managing to actually run the event. In 2016, the track was scheduled to run the event, but high winds forced the cancellation of the entire event. In 2011, the Electric Daisy Carnival moved its flagship location to the track from Los Angeles following controversies of rampant underage drug use in Los Angeles, which led to

10416-470: The renovated casino was opened in March 2013, featuring red, silver, and gold colors. Friedmutter Group handled the interior designs. The casino floor received new slot machines and table games. The Quad also added several new restaurants, including one by Guy Fieri . Project Linq was eventually finished as The Linq Promenade, opening in December 2013. On July 1, 2014, Caesars announced that it would rename

10540-414: The resort's address – was added in the hotel lobby. It was among several other bars in the casino. Final renovations – including a new spa, fitness center, two new pools, and event space – were completed in July 2015. A year later, the Linq started offering 12 hotel rooms with bunk beds, being the only Strip property to offer such a feature. The hotel also rented board games to guests. The Linq opened

10664-419: The resort's southern edge. Most of the tenants are restaurants or nightlife businesses. A new version of the O'Sheas Casino is among the tenants, and is attached to the Linq's casino floor. A primary attraction at the Linq Promenade is the 550-foot High Roller observation wheel, which was the tallest in the world upon opening in 2014. It is located at the east end of the promenade. The Linq also features

10788-496: The resort, which was themed after an Asian palace. Engelstad chose the Oriental theme for its uniqueness, as there were no other Asian-themed resorts on the Las Vegas Strip . Barth chose blue tile imported from Japan for the roof of the resort, having been influenced by Japanese temples. The interior heavily featured the Oriental theme as well, and included carved dragons and giant wind chime chandeliers. The Imperial Palace catered to

10912-474: The resort, before deciding on a renovation instead. On December 21, 2012, Caesars renamed the resort as The Quad. The Asian theme was removed, and the property received a redesign. The Linq Promenade – an outdoor collection of bars, restaurants, and retailers – was opened by Caesars in 2013. It was built along the Quad's southern edge. A signature feature of the promenade is the High Roller Ferris wheel,

11036-789: The rest of the available slot. Las Vegas Motor Speedway Las Vegas Motor Speedway (track complex formerly known as Las Vegas Speedway Park from 1993 to 1996, Las Vegas Speedway in 1992, Las Vegas International Speedway from 1990 to 1992, as the Las Vegas International Speedrome from 1972 to 1990) is a 1.500 mi (2.414 km) tri-oval intermediate speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada . The track complex, since its inaugural season of racing in 1972 with off-road and drag racing, has seen expansion and has hosted various racing series, including NASCAR , IndyCar , and Champ Car . The track has been owned by Speedway Motorsports, LLC (SMI) since 1999, with Chris Powell serving as

11160-512: The road course with help from the Sports Car Club of America . In March 1988, the city council considered revoking Rodriguez's lease, accusing him of not paying rent and for selling food without proper sales tax permits. Rodriguez Jr. later admitted to it, blaming his father because he both left the United States for two years and was going through a divorce. The city approved terminating

11284-471: The second tallest in the world, only behind the Ain Dubai Ferris wheel. The Quad was renamed as The Linq on October 30, 2014, to match the new promenade. The name change was accompanied by a $ 223 million renovation, which modernized the resort in an effort to attract a new demographic of millennials . The Linq includes a 33,890 sq ft (3,148 m ) casino and 2,250 rooms. The property began as

11408-632: The show moved to an updated venue at Harrah's. In July 2003, the Imperial Palace casino opened its Legends Pit, named after Legends in Concert. It featured celebrity impersonators as blackjack dealers, known as Dealertainers. The resort's managers devised the concept after spotting an Elvis impersonator on the Las Vegas Strip. Dealertainers impersonated celebrities such as Michael Jackson , Cher , Britney Spears , and Buddy Holly . In addition to dealing, they would also provide musical performances on

11532-544: The stockpile of gravel needed in Price's contract. The next month, Price gave scathing comments to the city in an interview with the Review-Journal , reporting a lack of police response with vandalism and high costs and labor to maintain the gravel stockpile. The next year, the termination was finally approved by Clark County District judge Howard Babcock, immediately ordered Price to vacate the land and to pay $ 22,140 for failing to maintain his contract and unpaid rent. However, Price

11656-652: The time of the opening. The exhibition was located in an air-conditioned facility on the 5th floor of the resort's parking garage. Don Williams and Richie Clyne took over operations of the museum in 1999. Because the museum was a significant attraction, the Imperial Palace leased the space to Williams and Clyne for only $ 1 a year. Under their management, the museum began offering its vehicles for sale and trade on February 1, 2000. Williams and Clyne sold off Engelstad's original collection of cars and gradually replaced it with new vehicles. Approximately 200 vehicles were kept in storage nearby; these would be put on display to take

11780-402: The total room count to more than 1,500. By 1982, the shopping arcade included the free Imperial Palace School of Gaming, for gamblers who did not know how to play. The school operated as a mini casino overlooking the main 40,000 sq ft (3,700 m ) casino. It later operated on the main casino floor. During the 1980s, the resort served as the starting and finishing location of

11904-440: The track and the Price's machinery, and angry residents stealing bleachers; a final decision was set to come on October 1. Although Price was able to pay back at least some of the rent, after a delay that moved the decision to December 16, Price forfeited his lease after failing to stockpile 35,000 cubic yards of gravel. However, he was given another chance. In July 1976, his lease was officially terminated after failing to maintain

12028-407: The track annually. In 2004, despite Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) going bankrupt, the track aimed to still host a race at the track. After a change in ownership, the newly-named Champ Car World Series announced races at the track on July 7, with the race occurring on September 25. Champ Car ran another race in 2005 before refusing to renew for 2006. In 2011, the track was slated to run

12152-435: The track built a new 1 ⁄ 3 mile (0.54 km) oval, using donations of old Caesars Palace Grand Prix barriers to build the track. The oval opened in November of that year. By 1987, with Rodriguez investing over $ 500,000 into the complex, the complex was regarded highly, including receiving honors from the NHRA as one of the best facilities in the United States. That same year, the complex announced plans to repave

12276-627: The track complex was sold to Richie Clyne, the director of the Imperial Palace Hotel 's (now called The Linq) automobile museum, for $ 1,070,000. Clyne and investor G. Robert Diero stated hopes of completely revamping what they declared as a dangerous and worn-out complex. Along with the purchase, the track complex was renamed to the Las Vegas International Raceway. By the beginning of 1990, the Las Vegas Speedrome gained

12400-420: The track decreased capacity to around 80,000 seats to make way for increased premium seating options. Two years later, the Review-Journal reported another significant decrease in capacity, with the track refusing to state the exact amount of seats that were still remaining; the report came after the track recorded its lowest attendance recorded for a NASCAR Cup Series race at the 2018 South Point 400 . By 2023,

12524-518: The track fell quickly into disrepair. The track was revived by drag racer Alex Rodriguez and his son for most of the 1980s. During Rodriguez's tenure, a 0.375 mi (0.604 km) oval was added in 1985, which is now known as The Bullring. In 1989, Richie Clyne , the director of the Imperial Palace Hotel 's (now called The Linq) automobile museum, bought the complex from the city. By the mid-1990s, Clyne, Imperial Palace owner Ralph Engelstad , and Sahara Hotel owner Bill Bennett announced plans to build

12648-417: The track received renewed attention for television visuals showing empty areas of grandstands at the 2023 South Point 400 . The track holds two NASCAR race weekends each year: the spring Pennzoil 400 and the fall South Point 400 . The track earned rights to host its first NASCAR Cup Series race weekend in the spring of 1998. In 2017, the track earned a second NASCAR Cup Series race weekend after taking

12772-509: The track saw double than what was expected, with a reported 67,132 attending the race. Two months later, the track held its first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. The next year, the track hosted its first NASCAR Busch Series race. In the same year, the facility won rights to host a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race weekend for the 1998 season . In December 1998, Bruton Smith announced plans to buy out LVMS and its complex for around $ 215 million, with Smith stating to renovate amenities with

12896-406: The track's general manager. It is served by Interstate 15 and Las Vegas Boulevard . The track has a capacity of approximately 80,000 as of 2023. The track's complex features numerous adjacent tracks, including a 0.375 mi (0.604 km) oval named The Bullring, a 0.500 mi (0.805 km) clay oval, and a road course with multiple layouts that is mainly used for sports car experiences for

13020-492: The turns. Different measurements have been used; in 2011, the IndyCar Series utilized a length of 1.544 miles (2.485 km). Within the main track's frontstretch, there is a 1 ⁄ 4 mile (0.40 km) oval that was built in 2006. Within the track's infield, there is a road course complex that was built as part of the track's construction in 1996. The track has also used a "roval" layout during select races. LVMS

13144-504: The world , and had more than 2,200 employees. The casino was expanded by 15,000 square feet (1,400 m ), and convention facilities were increased from 25,000 sq ft (2,300 m ) to 30,000 sq ft (2,800 m ). A final hotel tower, standing 19 stories with 547 rooms, was completed in July 1987, bringing the total to 2,637 rooms. The tower was the former location of the resort's pool. The Imperial Palace won several awards for its hiring of disabled people. Twice in

13268-479: The world . When Engelstad died in 2002, the Imperial Palace was the second-largest privately owned hotel in the world, behind the Venetian resort in Las Vegas. Following his death, operations were taken over by a group that included his wife Betty. Harrah's Entertainment (later known as Caesars Entertainment) purchased the Imperial Palace in 2005, for $ 370 million. The company considered partial or complete demolition of

13392-416: Was built at the property's north end. The Rockhouse bar and nightclub, which had operated at the original entrance for several years, was permanently closed. On September 17, 2012, Caesars announced that the Imperial Palace would be renamed as The Quad. Caesars stated that the name was chosen to denote a center of activity, similar to a college quadrangle . The Quad would serve as the primary entrance for

13516-403: Was built on land between the Imperial Palace and Flamingo. The Imperial Palace still had some rooms left from the earlier Flamingo Capri, which were among the oldest rooms at the resort; 90 of these rooms were demolished around late 2011, making room for the Linq project. The project was intended as an urban gathering place, targeting younger, budget-conscious visitors. The name "Linq" was meant as

13640-528: Was competing in the WTCC Guia Race at Macau on the same weekend, as was fellow judge and returning competitor Taniguchi, was taking part in a Super Taikyu race in Japan. Other than that, and 2003 champion, Imamura declined his as he was unable to attend, the 2007 champion Kawabata declined his entry, but it was revealed that " conflict of interest " led them to decline. Saito, who originally accepted his entry,

13764-434: Was considered unattractive by the resort, which gave them the option of taking lower-paying jobs or unpaid leave. The Imperial Palace eventually reached financial settlements with the women after three years. James Grosjean , an advantage gambler , was briefly detained by Imperial Palace security in 2001. The Nevada Gaming Control Board viewed Grosjean as a person of interest, but later ordered that he be released. Despite

13888-461: Was disputed by businessmen Ted Wiens and Mike Sellers. Although the track still held small local events before, the track did not see any major racing until May 19, 1974. By August, the financial situation had gotten so dire that local drag racers were pushing their profits to try and revitalize the track. In October, the complex aimed to host bi-monthly drag strip races, hoping to gain profits from frequently occurring local events, along with forming

14012-432: Was forced to decline his entry for the same reason, although it was rumored that he placed two cars in a container to make its way to the event. Millen backed this claim of the organisation's bullying tactic during an interview Only one FD driver, Tuerck, declined for budgetary reason as he is lacking a title sponsor, funding could not stretch for the event, therefore Mohan took his place. Santos, Bolger and Ruiterman made up

14136-405: Was located on adjacent property. Engelstad died of lung cancer in November 2002. At the time, the Imperial Palace was the second-largest privately owned hotel in the world, behind the Venetian resort in Las Vegas. The Imperial Palace had nearly 2,700 rooms and 2,600 employees. After Engelstad's death, his wife Betty oversaw operations with the help of his longtime attorney, his accountant, and

14260-461: Was opened in June 1980. It featured the dance show Bravo Vegas , with Engelstad as executive producer. Legends in Concert opened at the Imperial Palace in May 1983. The show featured musical performances by celebrity impersonators, and would continue running at the Imperial Palace for nearly 26 years. As of 2007, Legends in Concert was the third longest-running show on the Las Vegas Strip. In 2009,

14384-515: Was placed onto part-time driver Dan Wheldon , who had to start last. On lap 11 of the race, a crash involving 15 cars, including Wheldon, occurred. Wheldon died due to sustaining massive head injuries during the crash. IndyCar cancelled the race in the wake of Wheldon's death. As a result of Wheldon's death, the track and Speedway Motorsports requested a buyout of their contract with IndyCar, cancelling their IndyCar races in 2012. IndyCar later returned to Las Vegas Motor Speedway in January 2022 with

14508-492: Was renamed the "Bullring". A 1 ⁄ 2 mile (0.80 km) clay dirt oval opened in November 1996, hosting a World of Outlaws event. As part of the track complex's initial opening, the complex built a drag strip, which opened in 1972. In 1999, in the aftermath of Smith buying out the track, the track announced a new 1 ⁄ 4 mile (0.40 km) to replace the original strip built in 1972. The new drag strip opened in April 2000, being named "The Strip". In 2017,

14632-510: Was retitled ESPN Bet Live as part of the agreement) moving back to ESPN's main studio in Bristol, Connecticut . The Linq includes a 33,890 sq ft (3,148 m ) casino and 2,250 rooms. The Flamingo Capri was built over the Flamingo Wash , which the motel advertised as a "Venetian canal". The property was prone to flooding, including an incident in 1975 that left water damage in

14756-439: Was settled. By April, Review-Journal writer Mike Henle considered the track revived after "seven years of relative silence", with events scheduled for the next six months. In September, the complex grew to holding concerts. However, the concerts drew criticism from local government and local reporters for excessive violence, drug use, and underage drinking. Criticism grew so much that commissioner Ron Lurie considered revoking

14880-456: Was still the operator, and a decision to remove him from the position was delayed. In October, Price stated plans of appealing to the Supreme Court of Nevada , which would essentially kill all racing at the track complex for an extended period of time. In November, he confirmed this decision. Later that month, the city of Las Vegas temporarily leased the complex out to Show & Go Ltd. until

15004-407: Was the first Asian-themed resort on the Strip. It was popular among middle-class and value-conscious guests. Long-running attractions included The Auto Collections , a car museum that operated from 1981 to 2017; and Legends in Concert , a show that ran from 1983 to 2009. Engelstad added additional hotel towers from 1982 to 1987, increasing the room count to 2,637. It was among the largest hotels in

15128-407: Was the only vehicle from Engelstad's personal collection to remain part of the museum, having never been put up for sale. Other vehicles throughout its history included a 1955 Lincoln Capri convertible owned by Marilyn Monroe , and a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz owned by Elvis Presley . The museum sometimes displayed vehicles from films, including " Eleanor " from Gone in 60 Seconds , and

15252-512: Was underway in early 1977. It included the 19-story Imperial Palace Tower, which opened in July 1977, increasing the number of rooms from 300 to 650. A second phase of expansion began later in 1977, following the partial demolition of the Flamingo Capri motel. The expansion would include a new casino building and a showroom. There were plans to eventually rename the Flamingo Capri as the Imperial Palace. The Flamingo Capri's eastern motel structure continued operating for more than three decades under

15376-524: Was viewed optimistically; the track was projected to bring in over $ 890 million to the Las Vegas economy, with paving of the racing surface scheduled in March. In April, Clyne bought out the Las Vegas Speedway Park from Juberg, placing it directly under the Las Vegas Motor Speedway name. The next month, Engelstad was revealed by Smith to be funding the majority of the project, something that Clyne did not either confirm or deny. Construction saw no major issues throughout its duration; but, further construction for

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