VEGAS INC Magazine - Latest Las Vegas business news, features and commentaries about gaming, tourism, real estate and more
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IN BUSINESS MOTORSPORTS JARRETT GIVING RACE FANS A CHANCE TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL By Steve Green senior staff writer Las Vegas is getting a new tourist attraction in the form of a second stock car racing experience school at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure of Hickory, N.C, announced an agreement to begin operations for a western U.S. TRANSPORTATION DESERTXPRESS MOVING AHEAD ON CONTRACTS By Richard N. Velotta senior staff writer A representative of DesertXpress Enterprises, the company planning to build a 185-mile high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and Victorville, Calif., says as the company negotiates supply and construction deals, one of the considerations will be attracting contractors willing to manufacture materials in Nevada or Southern California. Andrew Mack, chief operating officer of DesertXpress, said the company was negotiating supplier contracts and hoped to have most of them in place by the end of the year so that engineering and construction of the rail line could begin in 2012. The company received environmental clearance to proceed with the project through a record of decision by the U.S. Transportation Department's Federal Railroad Administration in July. Mack was a speaker on a panel at the recent Western High-Speed Rail Alliance conference at the Bellagio. About 150 transportation experts and rail company representatives attended the event, which had its organizational roots in Las Vegas. The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada and Las Vegas-based transportation consultant Tom Skancke recruited transportation experts from Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Colorado to form the alliance and staged its first conference last year. The organization hopes to influence national rail policy with broad representation from western states. The privately funded DesertXpress project would be the first high-speed railway in the West. It is the furthest along in planning, the environmental review and financing. | 14 NOVEMBER 2011 | CNB.73NV Magnolia_VGSInc_Ad City National Business Banking Member FDIC 11 PROJECT MANAGER: BURCHMAN, S. ID#: 2944.01 DATE: NOVEMBER 2, 2011 2:18 PM hub at the Speedway, which already has a Richard Petty Driving Experience. The programs allow participants to either ride along with a professional instructor or drive NASCAR-type race cars themselves. While they are called schools, they're actually set up as one- day attractions and don't purport to teach people to be professional race car drivers. The stock car programs are in addition to similar attractions featuring open- wheel Indy-type racing vehicles and exotic cars at the Speedway. LVMS President Chris Powell said the Petty and Jarrett operations were the best-known stock car programs at NASCAR-sanctioned tracks. Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure said its agreement with LVMS includes 34 event days in 2012. The company on its website is selling tickets for the Las Vegas program beginning Jan. 20. Prices begin at $195. " City National's strength is a big advantage." One of the greatest things City National has allowed me to do is grow my business in a recession, both nationally and internationally. Th eir strength and stability means there's no hesitation about making loans, and that's the engine that drives growth. City National is Th e way up® for my business. Steve Abrams CEO, Magnolia Bakery Hear Steve's complete story at cnb.com/thewayup. Experience the Diff erence. Call (702) 425-6559 or visit cnb.com to fi nd a business banker near you. ©2011 City National Bank