Dale Jr.’s South Point Jackpot has LVMS phones buzzing

Dale Jr.’s South Point Jackpot has kicked off and already the phones at LVMS are ringing … and ringing … and ….

The speedway ticket services department fielded hundreds of calls within the first couple of hours of the promotion and there are no signs of a slowdown.

“I believe there are several factors that have turned this promotion into the success we hoped it would be,” said Chris Powell, LVMS general manager. “First off, race fans love coming to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and we have many loyal fans who make this a must-see event each year. Secondly, the promotion involves Dale Earnhardt Jr., easily the most popular driver on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit. And finally, Dale Jr.’s win in the Bud Shootout last Saturday night has race fans taking notice that this could be a special year for him and his team.”

Race fans renewing the first 8,888 tickets – reflecting Earnhardt Jr.’s car No. 88 – will be refunded the entire ticket amount for next spring’s Sprint Cup event on Sunday of NASCAR Weekend at Las Vegas – if Dale Jr. wins the 2008 Sprint Cup championship. As long as the number has not exceeded 8,888, the speedway will continue renewals until the scheduled start of the Daytona 500 on Sunday (12:30 PST). The only way to participate in Dale Jr.’s South Point Jackpot is to call the LVMS Ticket Services department at 1-800-644-4444 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. before Sunday’s scheduled start.

“As exciting as today is seeing the phones light up, it’ll be even more exciting for these race fans when September rolls around and Dale Jr. is in the hunt for the Chase to the Sprint Cup,” Powell said.

Tickets for the 2008 NASCAR Weekend, as well as credentials for the fan-interactive Neon Garage, are still available. Race fans can call 1-800-644-4444 or log on to www.lvms.com.

What would a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship by Dale Earnhardt Jr. mean to race fans?

Answer: For 8,888 fans who participate in a unique promotion offered by Las Vegas Motor Speedway, it would mean free tickets to the spring 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at LVMS.

In one of the most extraordinary promotions in sports history, Las Vegas Motor Speedway is offering free tickets to thousands of race fans should Dale Earnhardt Jr. power his No. 88 Chevrolet to the 2008 Sprint Cup title.

The promotion, known as Dale Jr’s South Point Jackpot, is sponsored by the South Point Hotel of Las Vegas. Fans can renew their weekend race tickets for 2009 – and be included in the promotion – Wednesday, Feb. 13 through Sunday, Feb. 17. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entries for the promotion will end at the scheduled start of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17 (12:30 p.m. PST)

“Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been the most popular driver in NASCAR for the past five years, and we’re excited to give race fans a stake in his quest for his first NASCAR Sprint Cup championship,” said Chris Powell, LVMS general manager. “This promotion is unprecedented in our sport. We’ve bought the best insurance policy available, so if Dale Jr. is fortunate enough to win the title, we’ll be ecstatic for all the fans who receive free tickets to our spring 2009 event.”

Said South Point Hotel owner Michael Gaughan: “The South Point has become synonymous with NASCAR, and we’re thrilled to be a part of Dale Jr’s South Point Jackpot. Our family has been involved in racing for many years, and we have a very strong relationship with Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the entire racing community.

Thousands of race fans stay at the South Point during NASCAR Weekend in Las Vegas, so we’re excited about the fans’ opportunities to take advantage of this creative promotion. We wish the best of luck to Dale Jr. and his legions of followers.”

Individual ticket-holders will have five days next week (Feb. 13-17) to renew their Weekend Package tickets for the spring 2009 NASCAR Weekend at LVMS. The people renewing the first 8,888 tickets – reflecting Earnhardt Jr’s car No. 88 – will be refunded the entire ticket amount for next spring’s Sprint Cup event on Sunday of NASCAR Weekend – if Dale Jr. wins the 2008 Sprint Cup championship. As long as the number has not exceeded 8,888, the speedway will continue renewals until the scheduled start of the Daytona 500. The only way to participate in Dale Jr’s South Point Jackpot is to call the LVMS Ticket Services department at 1-800-644-4444 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Feb. 13-16 and 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 17. (All times PST.)

Tickets for the 2008 NASCAR Weekend, as well as credentials for the fan-interactive Neon Garage, are still available. Race fans can call 1-800-644-4444 or log on to www.lvms.com

We had a few questions for Chris Powell. General Manager of Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Question: What was the motivation behind this promotion known as Dale Jr’s South Point Jackpot?

Answer: We’re always looking for ways to make racing more exciting for the fans. There is a tremendous amount of attention and anticipation surrounding Dale Jr’s move to Hendrick Motorsports, and this allows our race fans to share in his quest for his first-ever NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title.

Q: Given the cost involved with refunding ticket revenues, are you rooting against Dale Jr. this year?

A: Absolutely not. We’ve purchased an insurance policy that will cover every dime that we would pay out. So if Dale Jr. is fortunate enough to win his first Sprint Cup championship, we’ll be ecstatic for the race fans who’ll have the cost of their tickets refunded.

Q: Why did you pick Dale Jr.?

A: He’s been NASCAR’s most popular driver for the past five years, and I believe his popularity transcends NASCAR and motorsports. Combine his popularity with his switch to a new race team, and he’s the logical choice. Imagine the excitement if Dale Jr. makes the Chase for the Sprint Cup this year as 8,888 ticket holders sit on the edge of their seats hoping he wins the title.

Q: What about the ticket holders who don’t participate? Can they still renew their tickets in the same seats?

A: Absolutely. All Weekend Package holders are eligible to renew their same seats regardless of whether they participate in the promotion.

Q: What’s the role of the South Point Hotel?

A: There is no greater supporter of motorsports in the Las Vegas community than Michael Gaughan, owner of the South Point Hotel. As soon as we mentioned this promotion to Michael, he was captivated by it. Michael’s from “old-school Las Vegas.” He still works in the sports book on Super Bowl Sundays. He knows a fun wager when he sees one. And he immediately agreed for the South Point to become the sponsor. It’s not a coincidence that NASCAR fans flock to the South Point when they’re in town for our NASCAR Weekend.

Q: How does this promotion benefit Las Vegas Motor Speedway?

A: First off, we want it to benefit our returning ticket holders. We also want to entice people to purchase the few tickets that we have remaining for our NASCAR Weekend in three weeks. And I’m confident that Dale Jr’s South Point Jackpot will help build goodwill with the race fans who participate, and it should draw the attention of anyone who follows Dale Jr’s progress throughout the year. So this promotion benefits our speedway as well as NASCAR and its fans.