Grand Prix Organizers Honor Driver's Edge Founder as Teen Driver Safety Week Gets Under Way in Las Vegas

Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc. has recognized Jeff Payne, founder and CEO of Driver's Edge, with a pair of tickets to the Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix 2026. The presentation took place at a press conference held at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's Traffic Bureau on Oct. 19, according to a news release.

Lori Nelson-Kraft, the company's senior vice president of community affairs, handed over the tickets as part of the Extraordinary Locals program, the release said. The ceremony was part of an event marking National Teen Driver Safety Week, which runs from Oct. 18 to Oct. 24.

"Jeff's work through Driver's Edge has made our community safer and we are proud to honor his work and welcome him to this year's race," Nelson-Kraft said.

Clark County and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department hosted the gathering to unveil a valley-wide traffic safety initiative aimed at Southern Nevada schools. The program is paid for by a $100,000 donation from Las Vegas Grand Prix, according to the release.

Clark County Commission Chairman Michael Naft and LVMPD Lieutenant Cody Fulwiler said the new measures fit with the work Payne has been doing, the release said. The package includes a unified safety messaging system reaching Clark County School District and charter school families, along with tip sheets covering school-zone safety, electronic device use and recent changes to Nevada traffic laws. Warning cards about parking regulations in local municipalities are also part of the effort.

The release pointed to the scale of the problem. Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for young people in the United States, and 427 children were involved in traffic crashes in Southern Nevada last year, it said.

Payne said the recognition carried personal weight. "As a lifelong Formula 1 fan and someone whose entire career has been shaped by motorsports, this recognition is incredibly meaningful to me," he said. "Our missions align so naturally with a respect for performance, a focus on education, and a relentless commitment to community impact."

Further details about the Las Vegas Grand Prix's community work are available at www.f1lasvegasgp.com/community.