THE ELEVATOR

A special NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Las Vegas 350 edition of whoÕs going to the penthouse in local sports — and whoÕs getting the shaft:

HeÕs got it covered

A design by Robert Krause, a 26-year-old Las Vegas native, Clark County Public Works maintenance worker and freelance artist, was selected to be the cover of this yearÕs souvenir race program. The Elevator operator submitted a stick figure drawing of Ron Hornaday Jr. pitting for right-side rubber but apparently didnÕt apply sufficient postage.

Arriving early

Because of construction on Interstate 15, some ticket gates at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as well as the Neon Garage will open at noon today, a full 6 hours before the race. Admission to the Neon Garage is only $10, and there will be a Beatles tribute band after the race trucks are through qualifying. A round-trip ticket on a well-appointed bus leaving from the Golden Nugget costs $25, for those who prefer not to sit in traffic and admire the orange cones. A big, smoky victory doughnut to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for at least trying to make the best of a less-than-ideal situation.

Flooring it

Lumber Liquidators, sponsor of Todd BodineÕs No.Ê30 Toyota Tundra, is offering race fans $100 off any flooring order of $2,000 or more by clicking on a special discount Web site (LLFLOORS.com) during the race. Hey, does anybody know if Pizza Hut, Budweiser or Viagra is sponsoring a truck in tonightÕs race?

Greased lightning is the word

I know who Danny Zuko and the Burger Palace Boys are going to be cheering for in tonightÕs race — Mikey Kile of West Lake, La., driver of the No.Ê29 Greased Lightning Chevrolet. Fess Parker-types, however, may be hopelessly devoted to Jason WhiteÕs Gunbroker.com Dodge. (Wait a minute — did I just reference Fess Parker, TVÕs Daniel Boone?) Johnny SauterÕs truck is sponsored by Curb Records, as in Mike Curb of the Mike Curb Congregation, which sang ÒBurning Bridges,Ó the theme song of ÒKellyÕs Heroes.Ó The 1970 war movie starred Clint Eastwood as Pvt. Kelly, Donald Sutherland as Sgt. Oddball and Don Rickles as Staff Sgt. Crapgame. Trust me, you lay this information on the guy from Kannapolis sitting next to you tonight and heÕs liable to buy the next round of beer.

Sorry, Boss

After last weekÕs truck race in New Hampshire, an angry Kevin Harvick stomped over to Ron HornadayÕs truck to complain about the latterÕs failure to move over after they finished second and third, respectively, to Las VegasÕ Kyle Busch — which would be almost routine, were it not for the little matter of Harvick owning the truck that Hornaday drives. Apparently, there are team orders in NASCAR, at least when one guy signs the other oneÕs paycheck. In a related note, Dagwood Bumstead apologized for putting Mr. Dithers into the wall under yellow.

Ron Kantowski can be reached at 259-4088 or at ron@lasvegassun.com.