Stardust International Raceway

Motorsports Meets the Mob in Vegas

by Randall Cannon and Michael Gerry

Professional motorsports came to Las Vegas in the mid–1950s at a bankrupt horse track swarmed by gamblers—and soon became enmeshed with the government and organized crime. By 1965, the Vegas racing game moved from makeshift facilities to Stardust International Raceway, constructed with real grandstands, sanitary facilities and air-conditioned timing towers. Stardust would host the biggest racing names of the era—Mario Andretti, Parnelli Jones, John Surtees, Mark Donohue, Bobby Unser, Dan Gurney and Don Garlits among them.

Established by a notorious racketeer, the track stood at the confluence of shadowy elements—wiretaps, casino skimming, Howard Hughes, and the beginnings of Watergate. The author traces the Stardust’s colorful history through the auto racing monthlies, national newspapers, extensive interviews and the files of the FBI.

About the Authors:

Randall Cannon is a freelance writer and lifelong motorsports enthusiast. He lives in Henderson, Nevada.
Michael Gerry is a race vehicle constructor and has worked on several championship drag racing teams. He resides in North Las Vegas, Nevada.

Format
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 429
Bibliographic Info: 290 photos (27 in color), notes, bibliography, index

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments viii
Preface 1
Introduction: The Play: Joseph Smoot’s Vision and Vice Bring Professional Motorsports to Las Vegas 3
One—Trifecta: Three to Go at Las Vegas Park Speedway 15
Two—The Street: Roots of Racing in the Las Vegas Valley 42
Three—Sawdust Joint: Industrial City Drag Strip, 1958–1961 68
Four—Wild Card: Henderson Dragway Becomes Thunderbird Speedway, 1961–1962 97
Five—Discard: Thunderbird Loses Its Thunder, 1962–1964 125
Six—Carpet Joint: The Gravel Road to Stardust International Raceway 152
Between pages 170 and 171 are 16 color plates with 27 photographs
Seven—High Roller: Moe Dalitz Bets Large 171
Eight—Doubling Down: Stardust Adds a Strip 190
Nine—Outside Bet: Welcome the ­Can-Am Series 219
Ten—Full House: Stardust Fills Its Slate 242
Eleven—Numbers Racket: The Cashiering of Stardust International Raceway 278
Twelve—Capped Bet: Racing into the Shadows 314
Thirteen—Down to the Felt: The Far End of Stardust International Raceway 345
Chapter Notes 371
Bibliography 380
Index 385