NASCAR Cafe and Cyber Speedway
by Ted Newkirk
 The NASCAR Cafe opened race
weekend, joining similar operations in Myrtle Beach, Nashville, Orlando, and the Smoky
Mountains. I took the opportunity to visit on the Monday after the race.
If driving, park in the Sahara's lot in back of the hotel across Paradise Rd. A covered
walkway directs you right into the Cyber Speedway area, and the parking lot is usually
empty. Avoid the Sahara parking garage. It ranks right there with Paris and MGM on the
"complicated parking garage" list.
The Sahara has had racing simulator Indy cars for quite some time now. In keeping with
the new NASCAR theme, they have replaced most of the Indy cars with Winston Cup cars in
the "Cyber Speedway" area. For $8, you get in a car with a 180 degree screen
wrapped around you. The car tilts and moves as you drive around Las Vegas Motor Speedway,
along with different sound effects. (The one you don't want to hear is what it is like to
bounce off the wall)! You are "racing" against up to 5 other people at a time.
(Get in line at the "B" staging area, as staging area "A" only has 2
cars). I came in 2 out of 5. No credit to my driving skills, but more a credit to having
played a few computer games and getting the feel for stuff like that pretty quickly.
The place was buzzing with fans who came into town for the race and decided to make an
extended trip out of it. The new casino area adjacent to the Cafe features blackjack
(including a number of $1 games), roulette, and a few slots. Next to it is the gift shop,
featuring almost everything NASCAR. Just what Las Vegas needs -- another place selling $20
t-shirts. The entire downstairs if filled with NASCAR photos and memorabilia, much like
the Hard Rock is for rock music.
The restaurant is upstairs and overlooks the downstairs bar area. You are given a
number if there is a wait. The only place you can see the numbers are on the corners of
some of the TV monitors in the bar area. Drinks aren't cheap -- we took note of what
people were paying: domestic bottles of beer at $3 and premium shots at $4.50. You can
also order appetizers in the $7 range.
The restaurant is loud and busy, but much of that may have had to do with it being new.
It is the typical food selection you find at most theme restaurants. My steak was a great
9 oz. steak with a $16 price tag. Expect the tab for two including an appetizer, meals,
and a couple drinks to be $40-50. Well worth it for a NASCAR fan. Otherwise, just go look
around and take one of the cyber cars for a drive. You don't have to like NASCAR to enjoy
racing the cars or the $1 blackjack.
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