Busch.
Keselowski.
Danica.
Kim Kardashian?
What a weekend we've already had here in Vegas. We have an all-Penske pole weekend, rain coming and going, Danica Patrick's last race for four months, a battle of the Busch brothers, track records being made, and so much more.
Personally, my fun started on Thursday.
My morning started off by pulling into the Southpoint hotel, where some of the haulers were being kept. They were sitting in a parking lot behind the hotel and were open to the public to see. I walked in and out of the different haulers and even watched as some of the cars were being tweaked. I talked with some of the drivers of the haulers and even ran into Steve Addington, crew chief for Kurt Busch, who was helping out with Brad Keselowski's car. Haulers pulled in over time and the fans did as well. Daytona 500 winner Jaime McMurray got a spot right in the middle for all to see, with his new sponsor McDonald's already on his truck.
After I was done drooling over the hotness of the haulers, I headed to the ESPN Zone Las Vegas for the fifth annual Rookie of the Year Cook Off. This year's participants were Nationwide rookies Brian Scott, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Colin Brain, James Buescher, and Sprint Cup rookies Kevin Conway and Terry Cook. The winning team, who called themselves “Le Chef Dum Dums” because they bribed the voters – children from the local Boys and Girls Clubs – with Dum Dum lollipops, won with their mac'n'cheese.
With little time to spare, I made it in time to Pole Position Raceway, an indoor go-kart track made famous locally by Kurt Busch. I arrived a bit early, in time to watch Kevin Harvick race at a Coca-Cola sponsored event (he rain into a wall before his race was red-flagged for a dead car on the track). When his event was over, Kurt Busch and the rest of his participants arrived for the Second Annual Kurt Busch “Sprint for the Kids” Go Kart Race. Participants included Busch, Brad Keselowski, Sam Hornish Jr., Juan Pablo Montoya, Martin Truex Jr., and Kelly Bires, media members Jeff Gluck and Marty Smith as well as local up-and-coming racers. The event raised about $30,000 and everyone had fun ... well, maybe not Marty Smith, who got into an accident and has his helmet fly off (you can see the clip at NASCAR Now on ESPN.com).
I then hopped over to a Jimmie Johnson question and answer session. To be honest, it wasn't all that great. Fans just asked “can I have your autograph?” and “do you remember when you did this...?” Thank goodness for a moderator who knew what they were talking about.
Then qualifying day came. I headed to the track decked out in my Dale Jr. gear, with plans to switch to Brad Keselowski when I found his hauler. I hit up the “Neon Garage” and took pictures with the super-sized Target shopping carts promoting Juan Pablo and even watched a couple get married in Victory Lane. Only in Vegas, right?
Qualifying was intense, with 18 guys breaking Kyle Busch's old record. The official new record-holder? Kurt Busch. Only in Vegas. :)
I hit up a quick Rusty Wallace Incorporated autograph session with Rusty, Steven Wallace and Brendan Gaughan. The line wound through the entire Southpoint Hotel & Casino and lasted an hour. Nothing like seeing a race tire being carted through a casino to make your day complete.
Today has been interesting since the rain has been coming and going. Nationwide qualifying made it in just before the morning rain began, with Brad Keselowski taking the pole (and a new track record) and Cup practice almost finished both sessions before the rain started.
As I write this, driver introductions for the Sam's Town 300 just concluded but the rain is coming down – hard. Will we actually get the race in? Not sure.
But stay tuned to Skirts and Scuffs – I'll keep you posted!
Oh, and Kim Kardashian … her perfume line is sponsoring Mike Bliss' No. 36 tomorrow and she will be co-Grand Marshall of the race. She is not here yet though, but I will make sure to give you a play-by-play of her events. Or not.
Let me know what you want to know about!
Follow me on Twitter at @FarrahWrites for up-to-the-minute updates throughout the entire weekend.
The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not reflect those of this site or its other contributors.
Photo Courtesy: Farrah Kaye
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