NASCAR's Fall Race Weekend Comes to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and Kids Get In for $10

by Ryan Rose

What Happened: The Fall NASCAR Chase Weekend Is Here

Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosts two NASCAR Cup Series weekends a year, one in the spring and one in the fall. The fall weekend is the one that matters most for the championship, because it falls inside NASCAR's postseason, now called the Chase. The speedway announced the full weekend lineup in early September, 30 days before race day.

"Crossing the 30-day mark means race weekend is right around the corner," said Patrick Lindsey, the speedway's Senior Vice President and General Manager, in that announcement.

Here is how the three days break down, based on the official schedule posted by the speedway.

Friday, Oct. 2: Short track night at The Bullring. Parking lots open at 9 a.m. The Fan Zone is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. At 2 p.m., the NASCAR Cup Series Hauler Parade brings the big team trucks in. Gates at The Bullring, the speedway's small oval, open at 3:30 p.m. Opening ceremonies start at 5:30 p.m. The ARCA Menards Series West race goes green at 6:10 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., the night wraps up with several races, including the Kyle Busch Classic presented by Star Nursery on the CARS Tour West, plus Legends and Modifieds.

Saturday, Oct. 3: The Focused Health 302. Parking opens at 9 a.m. and the Fan Zone at 10 a.m. The Neon Garage, VIP suites and ticket gates A, B, C and D open at 11 a.m. The O'Reilly Auto Parts Series practices and qualifies in the late morning. The Cup Series practices at 1:30 p.m. and qualifies at 2:35 p.m. Then the Focused Health 302, an O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase race of 301.5 miles, starts at 4:30 p.m. Las Vegas vocalist Dezi sings the national anthem.

Sunday, Oct. 4: The South Point 400. Parking opens at 8 a.m. and the Fan Zone at 9 a.m. The Neon Garage and ticket gates open at 10 a.m. Jade Eagleson plays the pre-race concert at 1 p.m. Driver introductions are at 1:50 p.m. The green flag drops at 2:30 p.m. The race runs 267 laps and 400.5 miles, with stage breaks at lap 80 and lap 165. Grammy-nominated vocalist Matthew Santos sings the anthem.

The Ticket Deals Families Should Know About

The headline deal is for kids. According to the speedway's ticket page, kids 12 and under get in for just $10 for Sunday's South Point 400 when they come with a ticketed adult. On Saturday, kids 12 and under get in free for the Focused Health 302 with a ticketed adult. Kids also get in free to races at The Bullring on Friday.

There are a few rules. Kids still need a ticket or credential to get through the gate, even when the ticket is free. The deal is limited to two kids per ticketed adult. It only works in the grandstands and terraces, not the premium areas. Kids 12 and under also get into the Neon Garage free with a ticketed adult. To set up the kids tickets, the speedway asks you to call 800-644-4444.

There is also a deal for students and teachers. The speedway lists an Educational Ticket Offer for Sunday that gives students and faculty a South Point 400 ticket for $19, plus taxes and ticket fees. You have to qualify to buy it, so check the ticket page or call the ticket office first.

Two more deals are on the ticket page. Military discounts are available on single-day tickets. And a Dollar Tree promotion gives you a free $10 Dollar Tree gift card when you buy at least two South Point 400 tickets, up to eight per order, while supplies last. Adult ticket prices depend on where you sit, so check the ticket page for current pricing. The speedway notes prices went up 30 days before the event.

Why It Matters to Las Vegas Residents

Most big events in this town are priced for tourists. Pro sports tickets on the Strip can add up fast for a family of four. A NASCAR Sunday where each young kid costs $10 is a real chance to take the family to a major league event without blowing the month's budget. Saturday is even easier on the wallet, since kids get in free with an adult.

The timing also works for locals. Early October is when Las Vegas finally starts to cool off. An afternoon at the track in October is a lot more comfortable than it would be in July. And because the race is on a Sunday afternoon, families can be home by dinner on a school night.

The other reason it matters is traffic. Race weekend pulls a lot of cars toward the far northeast part of the valley. The main route is I-15 north to Exit 54 at Speedway Boulevard. Las Vegas Boulevard North is the other main way in, and the speedway sends drivers from Henderson and the southeast up US 95 to Las Vegas Boulevard North and into Entry 3. That means the I-15 corridor and Las Vegas Boulevard North will be busy before the gates open Sunday morning and again after the checkered flag.

If you live in North Las Vegas, Aliante, Centennial Hills or near Nellis Air Force Base, it is worth planning your Sunday errands around the race. If you are heading to Mesquite, the Moapa Valley or Utah on Sunday, you will be driving right past the speedway on I-15. Leaving early in the morning or waiting until the evening can save you a slow crawl.

For Friday and Saturday, crowds are smaller. But Saturday afternoon still has practice, qualifying and a 4:30 p.m. race, so expect some extra cars on I-15 north that day as well.

Background and History

Las Vegas Motor Speedway opened in 1996. It is not just one track. It is a big racing complex with the 1.5-mile oval, The Bullring short track, a drag strip and more. According to the speedway's own history page, the first NASCAR Cup Series race here was the Las Vegas 400 on March 1, 1998, and Mark Martin won it.

For 20 years, Las Vegas had one Cup race a year, in the spring. That changed in 2018, when a fall race was added. The first South Point 400 ran on Sept. 16, 2018, and Brad Keselowski won. Since then, the list of fall winners reads like a who's who of the sport: Martin Truex Jr. in 2019, Kurt Busch in 2020, Denny Hamlin in 2021, Joey Logano in 2022, Kyle Larson in 2023, Joey Logano again in 2024, and Denny Hamlin again in 2025. That makes Hamlin the defending winner this Sunday.

One thing that makes this track different is the Neon Garage. It is the infield area that holds the NASCAR garages, the inspection bays and Victory Lane. The speedway says fans with Neon Garage access get a special pit road viewing area, Victory Lane celebrations, their own concessions and restrooms, and can come and go between the garage and their seats during the race.

This year, the fall race also has a new kind of pressure on it. For 2026, NASCAR brought back the Chase, its old name for the playoffs. Under the new format, the top 16 drivers in points after a 26-race regular season move on to a 10-race Chase. Their points reset, with the regular-season leader starting at 2,100 points and the 16th driver at 2,000. Race wins are now worth 55 points, up from 40. There are no elimination rounds, so every one of those 16 drivers stays in the hunt all the way to the end.

That means every Chase race counts, and Las Vegas sits right in the middle of it. A win here is a big swing in the standings.

What Happens Next

The weekend starts Friday, Oct. 2, with parking at 9 a.m. and the hauler parade at 2 p.m. The big day is Sunday. If you want to see the concert and driver intros, plan to be in your seat before 1 p.m. The green flag is at 2:30 p.m. A 400-mile race usually takes a few hours, so expect the crowd to head for the exits in the late afternoon or early evening, depending on cautions and weather.

If you are camping, the speedway's Inner Circle RV lot runs Sept. 28 to Oct. 5, and RV check-in hours are posted for each day on the schedule page. RV fans can add weekend wristbands, Neon Garage passes and race tickets.

After this weekend, NASCAR moves on to the rest of the Chase, and the speedway's calendar turns to its other events. The spring Cup race returns to Las Vegas next year. The speedway is already selling 2027 annual packages, which reserve seats for both the spring and fall weekends.

Getting There, Parking and What to Bring

Directions. The speedway's directions page says the easiest way from the south, including the Strip and Spring Valley, is I-15 north to Exit 54, Speedway Boulevard. From Summerlin and the northwest, take the 215 Beltway east to I-15 north, then Exit 54. From Henderson, Boulder City and the southeast, take US 95 north to Las Vegas Boulevard, go north on Las Vegas Boulevard North all the way to the speedway, and use Entry 3 for public parking. From Mesquite and Logandale, take I-15 south to Exit 54, turn left on Speedway Boulevard, and turn left again into the Blue Lot. The speedway suggests the free Waze app for turn-by-turn directions to each lot.

Parking. Parking is free in the Blue and Brown lots around the speedway. You can tailgate in any public lot, free or paid. Propane grills are allowed if someone is watching them, but no open fires and no glass. Canopies can be up to 10 feet by 10 feet and must be tied down.

What to bring. According to the speedway's fan FAQ, you can bring up to two bags per person through the gates, and each bag can be no bigger than 18 by 18 by 14 inches. Clear bags are recommended but not required. Coolers are allowed in the parking lots for tailgating, but not in the grandstand or terrace seating areas. Cameras are fine. Drones, monopods, tripods and selfie sticks are not.

Accessibility. The speedway says it offers accessible seating, tram service and parking for guests with disabilities. Call the ticket office at 800-644-4444 to set it up ahead of time.

Ryan's Take

I love seeing a big event in our own backyard that a regular Las Vegas family can actually afford. A $10 kid ticket to a major league race is a rare thing in this town. If your kids have never been to a NASCAR race, the sound alone is worth the trip. Just bring ear protection for the little ones. And in October, you are not fighting 110-degree heat.

From a real estate side, race weekends are a good reminder of how location shapes daily life here. The speedway is a big part of what makes the northeast valley what it is. If you live near Nellis or along the I-15 corridor in North Las Vegas, you already know a handful of weekends a year bring extra traffic and noise. That is not a deal breaker for most people. But it is the kind of thing I always tell buyers to look into before they write an offer. Drive the neighborhood on a Sunday afternoon, not just on a quiet Tuesday. Check the event calendars for anything nearby, whether it is a speedway, a stadium, an arena or an air base. Knowing the rhythm of a neighborhood before you buy is how you avoid surprises after you move in.

What You Can Do

If you want to go: Call the ticket office at 800-644-4444 to set up the $10 kids tickets for Sunday or free kids tickets for Saturday. Remember the limit is two kids per ticketed adult, and kids still need a ticket to get in. If you are a student or teacher, ask about the $19 Educational Ticket Offer for Sunday. Buying two or more South Point 400 tickets can also get you a free $10 Dollar Tree gift card while they last. You can find all the options on the speedway's South Point 400 ticket page.

Plan your day. Park in the free Blue or Brown lots, bring a clear bag, leave the cooler in the car for tailgating, and pack sunscreen, hats and ear protection. Get there early if you want the concert at 1 p.m. and driver intros at 1:50 p.m. Download the LVMS app or Waze to find your lot.

If you are not going: Avoid I-15 north near Exit 54 and Las Vegas Boulevard North on Sunday late morning and again in the late afternoon. If you have plans in North Las Vegas or a road trip north on I-15, go early or wait until evening. Saturday afternoon will be busier than normal too.

Want more weekend ideas this fall? Check out our stories on the San Gennaro Feast and the free Oktoberfest at Lee Canyon, both linked at the top of this page.

Have questions about how this affects your home or neighborhood? Reach out to Ryan Rose or text/call 702-747-5921 anytime.

Ryan Rose | Real Broker, LLC | 702-747-5921 | ryan@rosehomeslv.com | rosehomeslv.com