The 2025 Las Vegas Pennzoil 400 NASCAR Cup Series weekend gave our RaceAway guests a true VIP experience in the desert. We spent Sunday, March 16, 2025, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in North Las Vegas, Nevada, watching Josh Berry grab his first career Cup Series win in the Pennzoil 400 after a dramatic late-race battle. With fantastic seats, luxury accommodations at Park MGM, and private race-day transportation as part of our Las Vegas Motor Speedway NASCAR packages, it really felt like a race weekend for the ages.
Hosting Our RaceAway Crew at Park MGM
I’m Rick, your easygoing Midwestern host, and I had the pleasure of co-hosting this trip with Emily, our sweet-but-sassy North Carolina race fan. Park MGM on the Strip was our home base for the weekend, and it fit the VIP theme perfectly. Guests could walk to restaurants and shows, relax at the resort, then meet us in one central spot for race day.
Most of our group were new to RaceAway, which gave the weekend a fresh, energetic feel. At check-in, Emily and I double-checked that everyone knew the schedule and answered plenty of questions about the track, the Neon Garage, and what to bring along.
New guest Mike S. sent a note after his Las Vegas weekend that really captured the spirit of the trip. He shared that everything went great, that everyone was very friendly, and that his request for an end-of-row seat was honored. He especially enjoyed the pit pass and said he was already counting the days until the next Vegas race. When someone ends a message with “count me in, thanks again,” you know you did something right.
Return guest Bob E. also reached out after the weekend to say that the package deal for Vegas was very well done. He said that Emily and I were “no less than perfect” and that he planned to recommend our race packages back home in Canada. Hearing that from a returning guest means a lot to both of us.
From Park MGM to Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Saturday’s Xfinity day was a prepaid addition to the package. For this race, our charter departed Park MGM at 10:30 in the morning, picking everyone up near the rideshare area outside the main lobby. Las Vegas Motor Speedway is only about 17 miles from the hotel, but we always plan on about a 90-minute drive on race days. There are restrooms on the buses, and guests are welcome to bring a beverage on board as long as it isn’t in a glass container.
We arrived in time for Cup qualifying at 11:40, Xfinity driver introductions, and the LiUNA 300 Xfinity Series race in the early afternoon. After the checkered flag, I reminded everyone that our charters would leave one hour after the race ended, so people took their photos, grabbed a last snack, and made their way back to the bus without feeling rushed.
Sunday was all about the Pennzoil 400 Cup race. We left Park MGM at 8:30 in the morning, again from the rideshare area, and headed back out to the speedway. On the way, Emily and I went over the entry rules. As of March 2025, Las Vegas Motor Speedway did not permit coolers in the grandstands, and no alcohol could be brought into the speedway. Each guest could bring one unopened plastic non-alcoholic drink and up to two bags, each no larger than 18 inches at the largest dimension. Bags were inspected at the gate, and we recommended clear bags to make that process smooth. Concessions and merchandise were cashless, so having a card or mobile pay ready was important.
Guests who had pre-purchased Neon Garage passes used the escalator beneath the track near section 2L to head into the infield and soak up the behind-the-scenes atmosphere before the race. Others went straight to our grandstand seats, which looked out over the entire 1.5-mile oval and the busy pit road.
Cup Series driver introductions started at 12:05, with the 2025 Las Vegas Pennzoil 400 green flag at 12:30. Just like on Saturday, our group knew that the charters would depart one hour after the race concluded, so no one had to stress about timing once the checkered flag waved.
Josh Berry’s Breakthrough and the Vegas Vibe
Once the race got underway, the track delivered everything we love about Las Vegas: multiple grooves, big momentum runs, and that constant sense that things could change quickly. Early on, a few seasoned favorites took turns at the front, but as the laps ticked down, it became clear that Josh Berry was going to have a say in how this one ended.
From our seats, we watched Berry work his way into position, lap after lap. Emily leaned over to a few of our newer guests and said, “Y’all keep an eye on that car, he is not done yet,” and sure enough, she was right. In the closing laps, he found the grip and the timing he needed, trading moves in a late-race battle that had our whole section on its feet.
When Berry took the checkered flag for his first career Cup Series win, the place erupted. For many of our guests, it was their first time seeing a driver score that kind of milestone victory in person. Add in the clear desert skies, the view of the mountains, and the buzz that only Las Vegas seems to create, and it really did feel like a weekend that people will talk about for a long time.
Highlights from This 2025 Las Vegas Weekend
- VIP-style base at Park MGM on the Las Vegas Strip, with easy access to dining and entertainment and a convenient motorcoach pickup spot.
- Hosted charter transportation from Park MGM to Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday and Sunday, with restrooms on board and clear, on-time departures.
- Optional Xfinity day that included Cup qualifying and the LiUNA 300, giving guests two full days of racing at the track.
- Clear guidance on bag, beverage, and cashless-purchase rules so entering the speedway was simple and stress-free.
- A fun mix of mostly new guests, including first-timer Mike S., plus returning friends like Bob E. who want to share our packages with folks back home.
- Josh Berry’s dramatic late-race drive to his first career Cup Series win, set against the electric backdrop of Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Wrapping Up a Desert Weekend to Remember
By the time we rolled back to Park MGM after the race, the sun was starting to dip, the Strip lights were flickering on, and our bus was full of tired but happy race fans comparing photos and favorite moments. For me as the Midwestern guy who likes a good plan, and for Emily with her warm Southern way of checking on everyone, it was exactly the kind of Las Vegas weekend we hope to create.
If you are thinking about joining us for a future Las Vegas Motor Speedway race or exploring other NASCAR travel packages with RaceAway, we would be glad to have you along. We will take care of the details so you can focus on the racing, the city, and the memories you will bring home.