As if Las Vegas weren’t loud and ostentatious enough in its own right, the city hosts the fire and fury of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series twice each year, this event in the spring and the crucial penultimate stop on the schedule in the fall. Contested at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a crown jewel befitting this glitzy city, the event has become a pivotal stop on the tour. This event is the home of the eight-car Pro Stock bonus event, the K&N Horsepower Challenge, the winner of which receives $50,000.

How to Get There: From the Las Vegas Strip and downtown, follow Interstate 15 north to Speedway Boulevard (Exit 54). Follow signs to the main parking area.

Visitor Information: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, 702-892-0711, www.lvcva.com; Las Vegas Reservation Systems, 800-397-3342; www.lvms.com