The Richard Petty Driving Experience, Las Vegas

Anyone that has ever watched a NASCAR race knows that Richard Petty is one of the top drivers; he has seven wins. He and Australian NASCAR champion, Barry Graham, joined forces in 1990 to start the Richard Petty Driving Experience.

NASCAR wannabe drivers get the chance to accompany a professional driver in a two-seater car around the track at speeds of at least 165 miles per hour. They may also get behind the wheel and drive the race car with a professional by their side. The Las Vegas facility opened in 1996 as the second permanent facility that is west of the Mississippi.

If guests choose to ride along they will be put into a NASCAR type stock car with the pro and take three laps around the track. There are many choices of driving experiences to choose from if the customer wants to drive. One requirement is that they be able to drive a manual transmission.

The price for a Ride Along Experience is about one hundred nine dollars. A driving experience has many choices that include: the Rookie, Las Vegas Ride Tour, Racing Experience, King's Experience and the Experience of a Lifetime. The Rookie costs three hundred ninety-nine dollars from June through August and four hundred forty-nine dollars for the rest of the year.

The Las Vegas Ride Tour is one hundred fifty nine dollars. A Racing Experience is available twice a year for twenty six hundred dollars. The Kings Experience costs seven hundred ninety nine dollars through August then the price goes up to eight hundred and forty nine dollars.

An Experience of a Lifetime starts out at one thousand two hundred and forty nine dollars through August to one thousand two hundred ninety nine dollars through the end of the year.

Six hundred horse power NASCAR style stock cars with four speed manual transmissions are what customers drive for the Driving experience. Drivers must have a valid driver's license from their home state. Ride along experiences don't need reservations and are on a first come first served availability. There are also Race Weekend Ride Alongs that must have a reservation, however.

There is no experience needed for most of the driving experiences except for the Advanced Racing Experience. Comfortable clothing should be worn as well as socks and close toed shoes. Guests are provided with a driver's suit, helmet and safety device. The suits came in sizes up to 3X. If participants can't reach the thirty six inch from the ground window to climb in the car they won't be able to ride in the vehicle. The hole that they must climb through is fifteen inches high by thirty inches wide.

A merchandise trailer on the premises sells snack food and refreshments for participants and their guests. Besides food and beverages, there are long and short sleeved t-shirts, sweatshirts, polo shirts and children's t-shirts. Baseball style caps and some with Richard Petty's signature are available. Accessories include a teddy bear; die cast cars, key chains, patch and an autographed helmet.