Las Vegas Trip

It is both sad and lots of fun to think that at this time last Sunday we were sitting at the Las Vegas Motor speed Way watching the Shelby 427.

Last Wednesday morning we woke up, loaded the car, and Mike, Dad H, RaeAnn and I were off for 5 days in sunny Las Vegas for a NASCAR weekend. We stopped for a quick break in Tremonton to say HI to Megan and Christopher. Just outside of Vegas we came to a dead stop for about 40 min and could only see police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks. When we finally started going a RV was on the side of the road with only the frame left. Too bad for whoever owned it. Then it was off to the condo.

Mike and I booked a two bedroom condo on Las Vegas Blvd just down from the strip. The condo has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full size kitchen, dining area, and a living room. Some of the amenities also available are a game room, exercise room, 4 pools and 4 hot tubs. It was very relaxing every night to come back and soak in the hot tub. The weather was in the 70's all week long. Check out the view from our patio, very serene.

On Thursday we decided to head down to the strip and have some fun. We parked and walked through the MGM Grand to get to the M&M's store. Where we stopped to watch the lion being fed.

Then we wandered around the M&M's store and watched the 3-D movie playing. Check out how funny we looked in the glasses.

We then drove to the NASCAR cafe and had lunch. By this time we were tired and I wasn't feeling well so we headed back to the condo.

On Friday it was off to the track to watch qualifying for the NASCAR race and practice for all races. We spent most of the day at the track. Mike and I walked around on what is called the "fairway" where all the trailers for the drivers and vendor booths are located. It is fun because you can have your picture taken with different cars or backgrounds or choice when you upload the picture online.

Tony Stewart's car at practice.

On Saturday we watched the Nationwide race. The Nationwide race was a lot of fun to watch. It is not a race that we watch on a regular basis so we didn't know very many of the regular drivers and the cup drivers who race are always changing. I was cheering for Denny Hamlin who was driving the No. 20 car. He was doing really good and even lead a few laps, but with 2 laps to go he cut a tire and slammed the wall. The race ended up going over 9 laps and the race this year was already longer than previous years. Greg Biffle won the race.

Denny Hamlin's wrecked car.

Greg Biffles's winning car.

On Sunday was the "big day," the Nascar race. We arrived at the track and Mike and I met up with Mom S. and Krystal. They were staying in St. George with Auntie and Grandma at a friend of Aunties. We then walked around together and bought more souvenirs. After getting food we parted and went to our seats. The race was a lot of fun to watch. There were a few wrecks right by us, of course every time it happened I had just put down my camera. It is amazing to see how the difference in the speeds of the cars. Mike commented that on TV when they talk about slower or faster cars it is hard to tell but, at the track it is easy to see.

Tony Stewart was doing fairly well until Jeff Gordon cut a tire down and Tony was in the pits for the second time fixing a loose tire and was caught one lap down. Tony ended up 26th and Ryan Newman 25th. Kyle Busch in the No. 18 M&M's car won the race.

View of the track looking left toward turn 4.

View of the track looking right toward the start/finish line and lined up for pre-race.

Stewart moving forward at the start.

Caution lap.

Joey Logano pit stop. He finished 13th.

Mike and I at the track. This picture was taken with me holding the camera, not bad!

Dad H., RaeAnn, and Mike at the track.



Kyle Busch celebrating after winning.

On Monday we loaded up the car and drove home to snow and cold weather. The week was a lot of fun and great memories. It will be a while before we are able to go again but look forward to another great season.

P.S. The Atlanta race just finished; Tony Stewart finished 8th, Ryan Newman 22nd, Joey Logano finished 30th, and Kurt Busch in the No 2, who dominated all day, won the race.