LAS VEGAS - The fast and furious like 26-year-old James Hardwick are sometimes inclined to take dangerous car racing illegally on city streets.
"You just get a little bit more of that action out there – people willing to go around the street, then they actually come to the track," he said. "More the adrenaline rush for it. You know most of it."
Friday night, their tires were on the track at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The 11th season of Midnight Mayhem is aimed at steering reckless racers away from city streets.
Learn More About Midnight Mayhem
"This is all about being safe, the legal alternative to illegal street racing," said Chris Blair with the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The cars and pocket rockets at the speedway are of all makes and models - fully equipped with extra horsepower.
"I like coming out here, racing my own tires, racing friends, you know, just having a good time," racer Paul Allen said. "Keeps me off the street, out of trouble - just a safe environment to do it in."
Unlike some street racers, Allen says he never uses the highway as a racetrack. That is why he likes to take advantage of Midnight Mayhem.
"I'm happy they do do it. I've been coming here for the last eight years myself, because it's very safe. You don't have to worry about people jumping in front of you, especially for us on bikes," he said.
When racers roll up, they must also pass an inspection by seasoned auto-techs. Blair says the checks help keep the racers and other valley drivers safer.
"Lots of times, we've pointed out to them that they have tires that need to be getting fixed, because it's not safe to run on the highway, or they don't have a battery bolted in, or they're having exhaust issues," Blair said.
Midnight Mayhem starts at 7 p.m. and runs until 12:30 a.m. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosts at least 14 of these races a year. Drivers have to pay a fifteen dollar fee to participate.
