NASCAR: South Point GM Ryan Growney talks Las Vegas playoff race

We recently had the opportunity to interview South Point general manager Ryan Growney, who talked to us a little bit about the NASCAR Cup Series playoff opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

For the second consecutive, Las Vegas Motor Speedway is the site of the opening race of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. The South Point 400 is scheduled to get the playoffs underway on Sunday, September 15.

We had the opportunity to interview South Point general manager Ryan Growney ahead of this 267-lap race around the four-turn, 1.5-mile (2.414-kilometer) Las Vegas Motor Speedway oval in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Growney discussed South Point in general as well as its NASCAR partnership and why this partnership has seen so much success over the years, now in the form of the title sponsorship of the playoff opener.

Beyond the Flag: With South Point being a casino, it being the title sponsor of the Las Vegas playoff race just fits. But what makes the NASCAR partnership in particular, compared to a partnership with another sports team or league, so successful?

Ryan Growney: Las Vegas has become a booming sports destination these last few years; however, with the opening of Allegiant Stadium it will be the Entertainment and Sports Capital of the World. For us, it was a no brainer to be the title sponsor of the playoff race. The same goes for our partnership with NASCAR in general. There are so many opportunities for partnerships with major sporting leagues now that Las Vegas has professional hockey and soon professional football; however, South Point Hotel and the Gaughan family have always had a close connection to NASCAR and the racing world.

At the end of the day, it is more than a smart business decision but about family and loyalty. A large percentage of our customers are NASCAR fans, and we are always looking for opportunities that are going to create new experiences for our customers. This partnership was one of those opportunities that we knew we had to be part of and was such an organic fit.

BTF: Last year was the seventh year in a row in which South Point and Richard Childress Racing partnered for at least one car. Does South Point have any plans to return to a car as a full-time sponsor?

Growney: From Michael Gaughan to his son Brendan Gaughan, racing is more than just a passion – it is part of the family. In fact, Mr. Gaughan’s grandson just raced in his second off-road race. The Gaughan family and the property has always had a tie to the racing world so though there are no plans at this time, I would never rule anything out.

BTF: Could we see a South Point-sponsored car in the South Point 400 at any point, even if not in 2019?

Growney: Going off of what I mentioned in the earlier question, South Point and the Gaughan family have been part of the racing community for more than 50 years. We are proud to be the title sponsor of the first race of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup playoff series and are always looking for new ways to be involved in the industry. Right now, there aren’t any plans for a South Point-sponsored vehicle in the South Point 400; however, that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.

BTF: How does the South Point 400 differentiate from other NASCAR races throughout the year? Also, sponsors usually put their own spin on a sponsorship. Can you talk about what South Point has done to make it its own?

Growney: We want ticketholders to have the best experience possible, whether it is race day or the days leading up to the South Point 400. One thing that I think really set this race apart from others is how we have worked to expand the race experience to be more than just cars racing around the track. We have created programming that is unique to South Point and brought it to the track as well as bringing the track experience to the hotel property.