South Point 400 moves under the lights in Las Vegas

Racing fans around the country and the world will gather for the South Point 400 Weekend at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in September.

The weekend includes the South Point 400 (the first race of the Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series playoffs) at 4:15 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15. The DC Solar 300 Nascar Xfinity Series race will begin at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, and the World of Westgate 200 Nascar Gander Outdoors Truck Series will be at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13.

Last year, the weekend drew ticket buyers from all 50 states and from 23 countries, including Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the U.K. Attendance was 68,000 for the South Point 400 and 122,000 for the entire weekend.

Because of later start times instituted by race officials this year, fans will get a break from the desert heat. Most will be in the shade for the green flag and under the lights when the checkered flag waves for all three races -- a lesson learned from last year's grueling temperatures.

"We're excited about this change to our start time for the South Point 400 and feel it will be a big hit with fans," Speedway president Chris Powell said. "We listened to fan feedback about the heat we experienced at this race, and we applaud Nascar and NBC Sports Network for working with us to provide a more favorable starting time for our attendees."

South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa owner Michael Gaughan, a longtime off-road racer and son of iconic casino owner, Jackie Gaughan, has been a motorsports enthusiast for decades. He has also sponsored race teams led by his son Brendan in the Nascar Camping World Truck Series and Nascar Xfinity Series through the years.

"Racing is in their blood. Michael has raced across the deserts of Nevada back in the Mint 400, and then his sons got involved. That need for speed really resonated for his youngest son, Brendan. It's their passion," said Ryan Growney, South Point's general manager.

Growney says the race sponsorship is an important opportunity for South Point to be a part of the city's momentum to becoming a major league sports destination.

"Las Vegas has always been the entertainment capital of the world. To be the sports capital of the world, you have to have a stadium. We're going to have that. We're going to have an NFL team. You can't make many arguments that Las Vegas isn't going to be the sports capital of the world," Growney said. "This gave us an opportunity to be involved in the professional sports landscape, keep our name relevant, do our part to help promote this town being an international sports destination."

This is the second year of South Point's three-year sponsorship of the race. It has a number of ways that it will become race central for Nascar fans, Growney says. Its main bar, the South Point 400 Bar, will display a replica trophy and racing helmets. Table felts, water bottles and napkins will be among the items specifically branded for the race.

South Point will also host the Brendan Gaughan Celebrity Bowling Tournament on Thursday, Sept. 12. Nascar personalities and other celebrities will be part of the event. Fans can purchase a spot in the tournament for $250. Proceeds from the bowling tournament and accompanying silent and live auctions will benefit the Las Vegas chapter of Speedway Children's Charities.

Shuttles will take fans from the hotel to all the sights and the sounds of the races at the 1.5-mile Speedway track, which also hosts a Nascar weekend each February. The speedway's Neon Garage pass, which gives fans an extra-close look at the action, is well worth the price of admission, Growney said.

"When they come in for a pit stop, it is a well-oiled machine. To watch how excited the teams get when they shave one second off, that's probably my favorite part," Growney said.

Various ticket packages and special-access passes for the weekend are available at lvms.com or by calling 1-800-644-4444.