NASCAR drivers share favorite gambling story
LAS VEGAS — NASCAR drivers from the top three national touring series hit the racetrack for the third triple-header weekend of the year this past weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Las Vegas is the number one gambling destination in the United States, totaling $6.3 billion in revenue in 2015, according to USA Today.
Drivers we talked to across the three series shared their favorite gaming experience from Sin City. Their responses are below, organized by series the driver has declared points for and car number.
No. 13 Ty Dillon (Cup Series)
“My wife and I, a couple of years ago, with her family, did pretty well at the Cosmo play craps. We like to get together and play craps.
“But I think our gaming years are kind of over. We gambled and had a child, so that’s enough stress and putting it out there, and I get to gamble with my life behind the wheel every weekend too, so, we’re doing good on the stress.”
No. 20 Erik Jones (Cup Series)
“I actually came out on vacation with a buddy of mine last year, a couple of buddies, and we hung out at the BlackJack table for a while and actually made some money, so that’s probably my favorite story, maybe the one time I ever made money gambling.
No. 08 Gray Gaulding (Xfinity Series)
“I just turned 21, so I’ve been hitting the BlackJack table a lot lately. I’m not up very much, Lady Luck hasn’t been that good.”
No. 4 Ross Chastain (Xfinity Series)
“I don’t gamble man. Two years ago, I put $20 on red (roulette) one time, and that was it.
“That’s the only thing I’ve gambled out here. I don’t care for it, I don’t feel good doing it. I like to watch people, I like to play poker.
“I played poker with Ron Hornaday when I live with him. That was my rent, was giving him all my money in poker games, so miss those days, but no man, I walk through there and watch.”
No. 74 Mike Harmon (Xfinity Series)
“I do all my gambling every weekend on these cars, and on the racetrack. Don’t have time for anything else.”
No. 10 Jennifer Jo Cobb (Truck Series)
“My husband and I were at the BlackJack table, and I spilled some red wine on the table. I was so mortified, and freaked out, and I was apologizing, and I was like ‘I’m so, so sorry. It’s time to go, we’ll leave. I’m so sorry.’
“And the next thing you know, there was a towel, a waitress with another red wine and they were like ‘No, stay where you are!’
“We have a lot of fun at the South Point where most of the teams stay.”
