Jimmie
Johnson is no stranger to turning laps in Las Vegas, but Thursday’s experience
– his first on the famed High Roller – was certainly unique for the four-time
winner of Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s Kobalt 400.
Johnson,
the six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, joined media and a select group
of lucky fans for a few circuits around the world’s largest observation wheel
to promote the upcoming Kobalt 400, which returns to Las Vegas Motor Speedway
on March 8.
“First
trip on the High Roller; the laps speeds weren’t that high, but the altitude is
certainly shocking,” Johnson said of the views, some 550 feet above the Las
Vegas Strip. “You start looking around and you realize you’re really high up
there.”
Despite four
Kobalt 400 wins on his resumé – a record among all drivers – Johnson knows that
adding a coveted Kobalt wrench to his trophy case will be no easy task. But win
or lose, he said he always enjoys racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“The
track makes you step it up,” he said. “(Turns) 3 and 4 sit in the sun all day,
so it’s going to be slick. You have to be smart about lane selection in Turn 1.
And then the billboards provide a bunch of shade and give you a lot of grip. I
love the fact that the track throws these challenges at you and it’s not a
cookie-cutter, chase-the-bottom, follow-the-leader track. You’ve got to show up
and wheel it.”
The
Kobalt 400 is the main event of a packed racing weekend that kicks off with two
nights of World of Outlaws racing at the Dirt Track on Wednesday, March 4 and
Thursday, March 5. Stratosphere Pole Day follows on Friday, March 6 and the
Boyd Gaming 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race is Saturday, March 7. Tickets for
all events remain available at www.lvms.com or 1-800-644-4444. Fans also may
purchase Neon Garage, Lucky 7 preferred parking and driver introduction passes,
which will allow them closer access to all pre-race activities, including a
performance by Craig Wayne Boyd.
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