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According to USA Today, Lindsay Czarniak will be the first on-air television host for the Indianapolis 500.  This is big news for the racing world but also for our culture in this country.  We are far from where we need to be in the battle for gender equality but it is great to see barriers and walls being busted down everyday.  Unfortunately Danica Patrick will not be running in this year's Indy 500, otherwise we could have seen the first woman winner of the 500 on the same day that the first woman hosted the event.  However, Danica's presence in NASCAR and the sport of racing continues to bolster popularity of the sports among the female demographic.

History was made this weekend when Danica Patrick became the first woman to qualify on the pole position for the Daytona 500 or any other NASCAR Sprint Cup race.  Her first full Sprint Cup season could not be starting out any better.  Congrats to Danica and hopefully this serves as inspiration to women everywhere.  The racing world has been waiting for Danica to make her big splash and it might finally be here.  She has a realistic shot at winning the Daytona 500 and what a story that would be.  It seems her goal is to be good enough to challenge for a championship but her next hurdle is just to finish consistently in the Sprint and possibly win a race.  Thankfully Danica has a great team and owner  who has knowledge of what it takes to be successful in open and closed wheel racing.

Danica won't want to hear this but history tells us she won't win on Sunday.  Winning the pole is normally a nice accomplishment and comes with a nice paycheck but it is by no means a indicator of who will win the race.  The last Daytona 500 pole winner to win the race was current ESPN analyst Dale Jarrett in 2000.  That was DJ's third and he is one of just 5 drivers to win the 500 3 times (Petty, Gordon, Allison, Yarborough).  Since the opening race in 1959, the pole winner has only won the actual race on 8 occasions.

One of the most popular races on the NASCAR Sprint Cup series is the Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  Las Vegas is also one of the biggest tour attractions in the country.  Combining the natural excitement of a trip to Vegas and the thrill of stock car racing creates a recipe for an incredible experience.  Lucky for NASCAR fans that the race takes place on March 10, 2013 so the sun shouldn't be too intense for patrons attending the race.

Las Vegas: By the Numbers

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The 2012 season has came and went.  The season ended with a fury for some and a fizzle for others.  Brad Keselowski captured his first Sprint Cup championship and Jimmie Johnson came up short on his quest for a sixth championship.  The season literally ended in a fury for Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer.  Some contact at Phoenix turned into a forced accident which then transpired into an all out brawl that left Gordon at the bottom of a pile of members from both teams.  Pretty exciting stuff for NASCAR junkies.  Gordon, who most thought should have been suspended, then won his first career race at Homestead the following weekend.

Interestingly enough, Bowyer finished in second place in the standings and just 39 points behind Keselowski.  NASCAR got lucky that the point differential wasn't close enough that Bowyer could blame Gordon for not a having a legitimate shot at the championship.  In the end I would just call it a "no harm, no foul" situation.  This season is now in the history books so lets get up to speed with some new things starting at Daytona in February and brief look at the upcoming 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule.

The Aaron's 499 will return to Talladega Superspeedway on May 6, 2012!

NASCAR still has the new season smell to it as we go into the third race of 2012 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  At the moment Denny Hamlin leads all drivers in the Sprint Cup standings after his win at Phoenix last weekend.  It is still very early in the season but it is nice to see Hamlin back in good form after a disappointing season in 2011.

Many race fans enjoy the speed of Atlanta or the four-wide racing at Talladega or Daytona, but some race enthusiasts love the short track.  Short track racing is highlighted every NASCAR season with 2 races at the unique half-mile track in Martinsville, VA.  This track is noted for being unique because of the "paper clip" like shape that makes Martinsville Speedway so identifiable.  The long straightaways and suffocating turns are a recipe for great racing every year at Martinsville.  2012 will be no different.  This year the Goody's Fast Relief 500 returns to the same slot on the schedule for the eighth consecutive year.

The Las Vegas 400, also known as the Kobalt Tools 500, is one of the most exciting events for all race fans. In recent years, this race has brought us close finishes, tight driving, and thrilling rivalries.

2012 Las Vegas 400 Race Packages Now On-Sale!

Start planning your trip to the 2012 Las Vegas 400. Purchase your full race package today with all these great inclusions:
- Accommodations in Las Vegas
- Great Tickets to the race
- Roundtrip Transportation to the track on race days
- On site staff to assist
- All taxes
- VIP Options are available for Neon Garage Passes, Ticket Upgrades, Hospitality, & Pit Passes

Please note the dates have not yet been confirmed by NASCAR. Do not book your airfare until these dates have been approved.

View 2012 Las Vegas NASCAR Packages

Yesterday's Daytona 500 was definitely a race for the ages. After an early crash that knocked out 14 drivers, 20-year-old rookie Trevor Bayne captured one of the most improbable victories in NASCAR history. What a great moment for the 160,000 fans who attended the race!

Book Your 2012 Daytona 500 Package with a low deposit!

The 2012 Daytona 500 Packages offer many options for the different NASCAR fan and can include some of the following amenities:
- Accommodations in the Daytona or Orlando Area
- Options on Great Seats for any of the Races
- Roundtrip Transfers to the Speedway
- Onsite Staff to Assist
- Options on Pre-Race Hospitality, Pit Passes, & Driver Appearances

View 2012 Daytona 500 Packages