Las Vegas Online Entertainment Guide

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 13 - Boyd Gaming Corporation announced today that Sam's Town Hotel & Gambling Hall will be the title sponsor of the NASCAR(R) Busch Series Grand National Division race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the next three years. The announcement made by Boyd Gaming Chairman and Chief Executive Officer William S. Boyd marks the first time a major gaming company has made an ongoing commitment to NASCAR(R) racing.

The sponsorship includes additional races beginning Saturday, November 7, 1998, with the Sam's Town NASCAR(R) Winston West Finale, and the Sam's Town NASCAR(R) Southwest Finale Featherlite Southwest Series races at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. On Sunday, November 8, the Sam's Town 250 NASCAR(R) Craftsman Truck race, televised live nationally on ESPN2, will culminate a weeklong schedule of activities.

The 1999 Sam's Town race calendar begins with the Sam's Town 300 NASCAR(R) Busch Series Grand National Division race scheduled for Saturday, March 6, 1999. The Sam's Town 300 will again precede the Las Vegas 400 NASCAR(R) Winston Cup event, scheduled for March 7, 1999.

Last February, the inaugural Sam's Town 300 marked the first time any Las Vegas resort had sponsored a major NASCAR(R) event. The event drew several Winston Cup drivers who participated in both events. Among the Winston Cup drivers who also ran the Sam's Town 300 Busch event were Joe Nemechek, Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett, Jeff Burton and Dick Trickle. The race, won by Jimmy Spencer, drew a crowd of more than 70,000 fans and attracted a record television audience on ESPN.

"Las Vegas continues to redefine and reinvent itself as we mature into an international travel destination," said William S. Boyd, Boyd Gaming Chairman and CEO. "The addition of NASCAR(R) racing has been successful in attracting new customers to our city. Our alliance with the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and NASCAR(R) events position Sam's Town with NASCAR(R) racing, the fastest growing spectator sport in America today."

"The first Sam's Town 300 was successful on several levels," said Joe Fuscaldo, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Sam's Town. "We benefited during race week from the influx of thrill seeking visitors. We also received national and regional exposure in conjunction with the race. This helps bring the Sam's Town name to race fans, a 'brand loyal' audience with discretionary income. They come to Las Vegas to attend the races and have a good time, and that's our kind of customer," Fuscaldo added.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway President Richie Clyne, who accompanied Mr. Boyd during the announcement added, "Racing brings a new dimension to Las Vegas tourism. We are pleased to see Boyd Gaming Corporation leading the gaming industry here in its commitment to motorsports."

Also present at the announcement were NASCAR(R) Featherlite Southwest Series driver Kurt Busch of Las Vegas; NASCAR(R) Craftsman Truck driver Kevin Harvick of Bakersfield, CA; and Butch Gilliland, the 1997 NASCAR(R) Winston West champion from Anaheim, CA.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway, situated near Nellis Air Force Base in the northeast Las Vegas Valley, was opened in September of 1996. The facility features various motorsports-related venues, including a 1.5-mile super speedway, which has been lauded by both drivers and fans from all over the world. Its super speedway currently plays host to NASCAR(R), Indy Racing League and AMA events. Last February, the Las Vegas 400 was won by Mark Martin, who powered to the triumph before more than 125,000 fans, the largest-ever attendance mark for a Nevada sporting event.

Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall is owned and operated by Boyd Gaming Corporation. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Boyd Gaming Corporation is a leading diversified owner and operator of 11 casino entertainment properties located in Nevada, Mississippi, Illinois and Louisiana. The Company recently entered into an amended joint venture agreement with Mirage Resorts pursuant to which the parties will develop and operate a $750 million casino resort on the H-Tract in the Marina district of Atlantic City.