The city of Las Vegas will be well-represented during four consecutive days of NASCAR racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this week.
In addition to Kurt and Kyle Busch competing in Sunday’s South Point 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs kickoff race, five other local drivers will turn laps at LVMS over the course of the weekend. Spencer Gallagher is pulling double duty in Friday’s World of Westgate 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series playoff race and Saturday’s DC Solar 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series event at the 1.5-mile superspeedway, and Las Vegas natives Noah Gragson and Riley Herbst also are competing in the World of Westgate 200.
Brendan Gaughan is competing in the Star Nursery 100 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race at the LVMS Dirt Track on Thursday night, while LVMS Bullring veteran Stan Mullis is getting his second NASCAR Xfinity Series start of the season in the DC Solar 300 on Saturday. There are tentatively 39 entries for the South Point 400 and DC Solar 300, with 37 entries lined up for the World of Westgate 200.
Gallagher is one of seven drivers running in at least two races this weekend, with Ross Chastain on tap to compete in all three events at the superspeedway. Christopher Bell (DC Solar 300/Star Nursery 100), Landon Cassill (South Point 400/DC Solar 300), Joey Gase (South Point 400/DC Solar 300), Timmy Hill (South Point 400/DC Solar 300), Brandon Jones (South Point 400/World of Westgate 200) and B.J. McLeod (South Point 400/DC Solar 300) are the other drivers doubling down in Las Vegas this week.
On-track action begins at the superspeedway at 2:05 p.m. PST on Thursday with a NCWTS practice session, and a second practice session for the trucks follows at 4:05 p.m. The grandstands will be open on Thursday, but the Neon Garage in the speedway’s infield will be closed.
Gates open at 10 a.m. on Friday for a busy day that will include South Point 400 and World of Westgate 200 qualifying and the World of Westgate 200 playoff race, and the track opens for action at 8 a.m. on Saturday for MENCS and Xfinity Series practice sessions and the DC Solar 300. The World of Westgate 200 begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, with the green flag for Saturday’s Boyd Gaming 300 set for 2 p.m.
Sunday’s race-day festivities begin at 7 a.m., with the driver and crew chief meeting set for 10 a.m. in the Neon Garage and driver introductions slated for 11:20 a.m. prior to the noon race start.
Various ticket packages, fun extras and special-access passes for LVMS’ second NASCAR weekend of the year are available at www.lvms.com or by calling 1-800-644-4444.
THIS AND THAT QUICKLY:
The following article was written by Loretta St. John, and is about her friend of more than 30 years, Saxophonist, vocalist, band leader, and composer Jay Patten. Jay has released six well-received albums, including his CBS Sony album “Black Hat and Saxophone”, “Crystal Nights,” and “Impressions Of Christmas”.
Patten’s latest CD is called “Street Scene”, which is a tribute to his adopted home town of Nashville, Tennessee, and contains five vocals, eight saxophone instrumentals, and highlights eight of Jay’s original songs as well as five classics.
Born in Paterson, New Jersey, Jay grew up listening to Elvis, Sinatra, the Beatles, Ray Charles, Stan Getz, James Brown, and tons of jazz, blues, and country. He started playing gigs in the New York area when he was just 13. When the family moved to Clearwater, Florida, and while still in high school, Patten played for acts like Bobby Rydell, the Shangri-Las, The New Beats, Del Shannon, and he even played in a band that opened for The Rolling Stones.
Jay has had a career as a solo artist, songwriter, and studio saxophonist in Los Angeles and Nashville where he played on recording sessions for many of Nashville’s elite performers such as Johnny Cash, Bill Anderson, Riders In The Sky, Lobo, David Loggins, Delbert McClinton, Leon Russell, Nanci Griffith, and Crystal Gayle. He was awarded the NARAS “Super Pickers” award for musicianship.
Crystal Gayle took notice and hired Jay has her bandleader/music director some thirty years ago, playing saxophones, guitar, vocals, and mandolin. Jay has appeared with Crystal on some of the world’s greatest stages including the London Palladium, Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center to name just a few. He has conducted over 50 symphony orchestras for her, including the Chicago Symphony, The Philadelphia Pops Orchestra, and The United States Navy Band!
“Music… playing it, singing it, writing it, is all I’ve ever wanted,” Patten stated in an interview a few years ago.
Jay is a graduate of the Berklee College Of Music and was honored with The Berklee Outstanding Alumnus Award. After college, he toured the world (along with “Yours Truly”- local Las Vegas Strip vocalist Loretta St. John) as lead vocalist and guitarist with the new Glenn Miller Orchestra with jazz clarinetist Buddy De Franco as leader. Jay is featured on the “Live At Royal Festival Hall” album.
Patten was the first artist to perform at Nashville’s famous Bluebird Cafe, and he and his band have hosted the Anniversary and Holiday Shows every year since 1982. Guest artists who have appeared with Jay’s band include Vince Gill, Rita Coolidge, John Prine, Larry Gatlin, to name just a few of the famous. Due to Jay’s superb ability as an unbelievable blues player, he quickly earned the nickname “Blue Jay” Patten. Check out “Street Scene”, a gift of passion from a diverse musical talent, Mr. “Blue Jay” Patten.
Internet sensation Heather Land will bring her “I Ain’t Doin’ It” Tour, featuring her side-splitting comedy and original music, to Sam’s Town Live! at Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 18. Land rose to fame in the online world with her hilarious and witty videos, which have garnered more than 300-million internet views. As her popularity grew, Land went on to capture the attention of more than 2.5 million followers on Facebook, having her videos shared by celebrities like country star Miranda Lambert.
The live show will feature a solid night of comedy where Heather shares a string of crazy things she “ain’t doin’” and some of the mess she’s gotten into throughout her life. Audiences will be entertained with Land’s personal take on a variety of topics from ex-husbands to failed diets as she delivers her comedy in the charming, self-deprecating style that has made her adored by millions of fans of all ages. In addition to her comedy, she will showcase her songwriting talents by performing her original songs about love and loss as she plays the keyboard.
Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $39 plus tax and fees and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000; or in-person at gift shops inside Sam’s Town, The Orleans, Suncoast, and Gold Coast. Tickets may also be purchased the day of the show (depending upon availability) at the venue box office.
The summer of 1969 brought the world the historical Woodstock Music & Art Fair, and within those three days of peace and music, fans around the world were introduced to the Latin-infused sounds of Santana. This fall, as Carlos Santana continues his residency at House of Blues Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, we revel in the magic that took place 49 years ago with a celebratory ticket offer for locals in honor of Woodstock’s 49th anniversary. Locals purchasing tickets for the remaining 2018 dates can purchase a general admission ticket to An Intimate Evening with Santana: Greatest Hits Live for just $49*, plus applicable taxes and fees, with the code WOODSTOCK. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Tickets are limited and must be purchased at least 24 hours in advance and are available by visiting houseofblues.com/lasvegas/santana or at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets can also be purchased directly at the House of Blues Box Office with the code and valid Nevada ID. 2018 performance dates: Sept. 12, 14-16, 19, 21-23; Oct. 31, and Nov. 2, 3-4, 7, 9-11
Founded in 1992, the 11 House of Blues are located throughout the United States and form the country’s pre-eminent group of intimate music venues. Each features state-of-the-art sound and lighting technology in one-of-a-kind custom designed environments aimed to bring fans as close as possible to the artists. Every location’s restaurant and bar is adorned with signature original folk-art – part of the world’s largest collection – combined with the House of Blues legendary hospitality and tantalizing cuisine.
I’ll see ya at the speedway.