NASCAR DC Solar 350 race makes 20th stop in Las Vegas

By STAN HANEL SPECIAL TO drive

8 years ago

Courtesy Kyle Busch Motorsports Christopher Bell of the Kyle Busch Motorsports team is shown driving the No. 4 Toyota Tundra truck during NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in Joliet, Illinois, in September.

Courtesy DC Solar DC Solar also sponsors the No. 48 NASCAR Xfinity Series race car driven by Brennan Poole of Chip Ganassi Racing.

Courtesy Larry Gareffa A Tesla Motors Model S electric car plugs into a mobile ChargePoint charging station at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which is powered by the sun from photovoltaic solar panels and a lithium-ion battery pack. The portable trailer can me moved to any location on the speedway grounds or towed offsite for special events.

Courtesy Collin Burnell DC Solar mobile trailers contain onboard batteries and a gasoline generator that can provide portable electric power to LED lighting fixtures and electric vehicle charging stations.

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series stages the DC Solar 350 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located at 7000 Las Vegas Boulevard North, on Saturday, Oct. 1.

William Byron and Christopher Bell of the Kyle Busch Motorsports team will be in the chase, driving Toyota Tundra trucks in a field of eight during this NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event. The race marks the 20th time that the popular NASCAR series has been hosted by LVMS.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway and DC Solar partnered earlier this year to provide solar-powered EV charging stations and LED mobile solar-light towers during this spring’s NASCAR Weekend. This newly expanded partnership dramatically increased the number of LED towers in use throughout the LVMS property.

“We had a great experience at Las Vegas Motor Speedway during NASCAR Weekend, and it is a thrill to become title sponsor of such a prestigious NASCAR series race,” DC Solar CEO Jeff Carpoff said. “We look forward to a great day at the speedway on Oct. 1, and we are excited to continue developing our partnership while exposing race fans to the benefits of green technologies.”

The green flag for the DC Solar 350 will drop at 5:30 p.m., capping a busy day at the 1.5-mile speedway. The Neon Garage opens at 8:30 a.m.; NCWTS practice sessions run from 8:30-9:30 a.m. and from 10-11 a.m.; the “Show &Shine” car show benefiting Speedway Children’s Charities takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and the NCWTS driver autograph session is from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the Fan Engagement Area. Qualifying begins at 3 p.m.

Star Nursery, KVVU-TV Fox 5, KKLZ-FM 96.3, and the Las Vegas Review-Journal are co-sponsoring the second annual “350 Fest” prerace festival at the speedway, and admission is free to the general public.

“It really will be a one-of-a-kind day here at LVMS,” said Neal Reid, media relations manager for the speedway. “We think families will love the variety of activities and areas we will have set up in our Fan Engagement Area outside the speedway. From a petting zoo and Kids Zone, to food trucks and a NCWTS driver autograph session, there will be plenty of things for people to enjoy all daylong here on Oct. 1.”

The mission of Speedway Children’s Charities is to care for children in educational, financial, social and medical need to help lead productive lives. SCC provides funding for hundreds of nonprofit organizations throughout Southern Nevada that meet the direct needs of children. SCC directly helps children with everything from educational support, to basic needs like a coat or simple meal. During 2015, the organization awarded 55 local children’s charities with $257,000.

Registration to showcase a vehicle in the “Show &Shine” car show costs $30, but each registrant receives four tickets to the evening’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, courtesy of LVMS. Visit lasvegas.speedwaycharities.org for more information. Winners in the different categories of the “Show &Shine” will have an opportunity to drive a victory lap around the Las Vegas SuperSpeedway before the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race begins.

DC Solar is a clean-energy company that specializes in mobile solar products. Its flagship product, The Solar Eclipse, is a mobile solar generator that has revolutionized the solar industry by taking the technology off-grid. DC Solar serves a variety of industries, including emergency preparedness, disaster relief, construction, entertainment, sports and agriculture, to name just a few. To learn more information about DC Solar, visit dcsolardistribution.com.

For tickets to the DC Solar 350 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, call 800-644-4444 or log on to LVMS.com.

Stan Hanel has worked in the electronics industry for more than 30 years and is a longtime member of the Electric Auto Association and the Las Vegas Electric Vehicle Association. Hanel writes and edits for EAA’s “Current Events” and LVEVA’s “Watts Happening” newsletters. Contact him at stanhanel@aol.com.