Las Vegas Weekly

September 26, 2010 · 4:52 PM

Photos: Holly Madison, Angelica Bridges, Austin Dillon dazzle at LVMS

By Robin Leach

Holly Madison at the 2010 NASCAR Smiths 350 Truck Race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sept. 25, 2010.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

Austin Dillon became the youngest winner in all three national NASCAR series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway over the weekend, while Holly Madison played the role of celebrity grand marshal and Angelica Bridges and her pop group Strawberry Blonde sang the national anthem after the driver introductions -- and before Holly shouted four of the most famous words in sports: “Gentlemen, start your engines!”

Rookie driver Austin led the final 35 laps of the NASCAR Smiths 350 Truck Race, only his second Camping World Truck Series Race of the season. In all, he led 93 of the 146-lap race.

He is the grandson of NASCAR owner Richard Childress, and Peepshow and Holly’s World star Holly was there to celebrate his victory before she took her Maverick Helicopters ride back to McCarran Airport for her evening performance of Peepshow in Planet Hollywood.

Drivers Johnny Sauter, James Buescher, Todd Bodine and Matt Crafton rounded out the Top Five behind Austin. It was the first helicopter ride for Laura Croft and Angel Porrino, Holly’s co-stars on the E! Entertainment reality TV show. The ride took them from McCarran to Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“It was a really exciting race, and we were thrilled to be a part of it,” Holly said. “That was the first time I’ve been right on the racetrack to start a race. I’m not going to forget that for a long, long time.”

Angelica added: “It’s a very emotional high to sing the national anthem on a racetrack in front of thousands of people -- a real thrill! NASCAR fans are truly patriotic!”

Thanks to contributing photographers Scott Harrison, Chris Williams, John Bisci of Las Vegas Motor Speedway and David Griffin of Icon/SMI for their images for our Vegas DeLuxe photo gallery. These are Chris, John and David’s first photographs for Vegas DeLuxe -- and hopefully not their last.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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