But when the facility opens Friday for practice and Cup qualifying, you won't find anything new except what's on the track.

(That might not have been the situation if the U.S. Air Force hadn't bombed the speedway's plan two years ago to build high-rise condominiums outside the first turn.)

While major facility amenities are now the status quo, there will still be changes awaiting, and plenty of them.

Topping the list is the new generation stock car in the Sprint Cup series -- which was Nextel Cup last year -- and several driver and roster changes.

What has been called the Car of Tomorrow is now just "the car." Sunday's UAW-Dodge 400 will be the second straight event it has debuted at a track after being used in 16 of 36 races last season.

The cover story of this NASCAR special section delves into what makes "the car" unique. It could help produce the most exciting Cup race since the series' first visit in 1998.

It was conceived by NASCAR seven years ago as project to build a safer race car and one that could cut costs for owners. As a box-like cousin to trucks in NASCAR's Craftsman circuit, the hope is that Cup races will emulate those of the truck series, which have produced closer and more compelling races than the Cup series over the past few years.

Time will tell if that comes to fruition Sunday in a race won the past three years by two-time reigning series champion Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports.

The new-fangled car won't be the only change in the Cup series this weekend.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn't in the red No. 8 Budweiser; Bud red covers Kasey Kahne's No. 9 Dodge, and the No. 8 will be on Mark Martin's Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet.

Earnhardt will be driving a mostly white No. 88 for Hendrick Motorsports, which has moved Casey Mears into the No. 5 Kellogg's/Carquest Chevy that had been driven by Las Vegas native Kyle Busch.

Busch is in Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 18 Toyota sponsored by M&Ms, which had supported the No. 88 Ford for Robert Yates Racing. But the No. 88 has changed to No. 28 on the unsponsored Ford driven by Travis Kvapil.

There are around 20 new driver-crew chief combinations.

Save this section to know who is driving what for whom.

Welcome to the 11th annual Las Vegas Cup weekend, where anything can happen.

After all, it snowed two years ago.

Here are some tips to maximize enjoyment and minimize aggravation:

WHAT NOT TO BRING

• Umbrellas, helium balloons and beach balls. Fireworks and weapons of any kind. Folding chairs, scaffolds, noise makers and horns. Alcohol, illegal drugs and glass containers.

• An appetite. A benefit of tailgating before and after the races is avoiding buying overpriced food at the concession stands.

• Animals. Unless you have a special-needs dog, why would you want to bring a dog or snake to a race? Someone seems to try each year.

• Alcohol. Like food prices, the cost of beer, liquor or wine should be priced highly enough to keep you sober. No BYOB at LVMS.

• Coolers. Containers, regardless of size, are not allowed through the gates. They will be treated like contraband. The speedway says it's a security concern, but many other tracks allow it. It's a buy-our-food concern.

• Your vehicle. Try car-pooling, ride a Citizens Area Transit bus or take a helicopter. When 150,000 people attend an event, most want to arrive at the same time and leave at the same time. It doesn't take a genius to realize traffic jams are inevitable.

WHAT TO BRING

• Water. You can carry in only one plastic bottle of water, but that will save you at least $5.

• Comfortable shoes and socks. This isn't a fashion show.

• Hidden snacks. Why not try? Body searches rarely are done.

• Sunscreen, hat. Musts if the forecast is for clear skies

• Jacket, hat. Musts if forecast is for possible rain. Stuff a trash bag in a pocket as emergency rain protection, just in case.

• Well-stocked trunk. Plan to hang around after the race, maybe even tailgate and watch others sit in line as they try to leave. Have a well-stocked cooler in the trunk, with sandwiches, snacks and soft drinks. You can rehash the race with other smart fans who aren't trying to beat the traffic.

• Sign up for Sirius satellite radio and listen to experts tell you what you just saw.

• Cigarettes. Just don't smoke them in the grandstand.

• Extra money. Not for souvenirs, because you can buy them cheaper at local stores or on the Internet than what you'll pay at the track. The extra cash will be needed if you don't heed "tow-away-zone" signs along Las Vegas Boulevard. The past few years, this has become a costly choice, as vehicles have been cited and towed.

• Courtesy: If you're a lowlife, able-bodied person who scammed a handicap parking placard so you get a preferred parking spot, be warned the speedway has beefed up security to check the validity of those placards.

If no one in your vehicle is physically challenged, then park where you're told and be thankful you can walk without assistance.

• Patience. Expect traffic delays if you arrive an hour before the race, and expect delays when you leave. Lines can become long at restrooms, so plan ahead. Anticipate by-products of a huge crowd, and you're more likely to have a good day.

Jeff Wolf covers motor sports for the Review-Journal. He can be reached at 383-0247 or jwolf@reviewjournal.com.