What’s Happening?

The trio of NASCAR National Touring Series heads to Las Vegas this weekend to start an abbreviated West Coast Swing. Weather has generally been pretty kind to NASCAR in Las Vegas through the years, but, will it stay the same in 2024? The forecast looks a bit damp, windy, and, potentially snowy.

• Las Vegas Motor Speedway opened in 1998, and it has hosted the third race of the season in all but 2 years of its existence. The track was reconfigured before the 2007 season, and that reprofiling increased the track’s banking to 20 degrees along with a new surface. The track has not been repaved since.
• As far as weather goes, Las Vegas is primarily known for hot, desert temperatures when the Cup Series heads there in the fall. While the spring race has been fairly clean in terms of weather, it’s not been a perfect stretch.
• Fans are excited for the race this weekend, and the weather is one reason why. Being in the desert, Las Vegas rarely deals with weather issues, so, this race goes off without a hitch most years. However, this may change this year.

Weekend Weather Forecast via National Weather Service

Friday, March 1: Truck Series Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 (9:00 PM ET)

• Forecast: Patchy Blowing Dust before 2 am, Mostly Clear
• Temperature: High 65°F, dropping into low 60s°F/upper 50s°F
• Rain: 2-3%
• Wind: SW 22-27 MPH; Gusting to 31-40 MPH

***The National Weather Service is calling for potential “Patchy blowing dust” before 2 am on Friday. This could effect on-track activity throughout the afternoon on Friday. NASCAR raced through a short dust storm in Las Vegas in 2016.

Saturday, March 2: Xfinity Series The LiUNA (5:00 PM ET)

• Forecast: Patchy Blowing Dust, Mostly Sunny
• Temperature: High 63°F; Dropping into upper 50s°F
• Rain: 12-13%
• Wind: SW 33-36 MPH; Gusting to 49-54 MPH

***The National Weather Service calls for “Patchy Blowing Dust”. This could affect on-track activity with the Xfinity Series race and Cup Series practice and qualifying happening around midday local time.

Sunday, March 3: Cup Series Pennzoil 400 (3:30 PM ET)

• Forecast: Mostly Sunny
• Temperature: High 61°F
• Rain: 9-12%
• Wind: SW 20-22 MPH; Gusting to 30-32 MPH

Las Vegas Weather History

Las Vegas Motor Speedway has one rain-shortened event in its history. That came in 2000, with Jeff Burton taking home the win after only 148 of 267 laps were completed.

The wildest weather moment at Las Vegas came in 2016. Rain and wind delayed the start of the race, and wind played a factor later as a desert sandstorm came through during the race.

Bookmark this page as we will keep you posted on the latest Las Vegas weather updates!