Texas Motor Speedway
If history is any indicator, fans will be entertained during race weekends at Texas Motor Speedway.
Complete ESPN SportsTravel NASCAR Guide | 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule
Overview
Texas Motor Speedway has evolved to become one of the key tracks on the NASCAR circuit.
The 1½-mile tri-oval in Fort Worth, Texas, is famous for the cowboy hats it gives its winners and for the fact that Jeff Gordon had eluded victory here until taking the Samsung 500 on April 5. Teammate Jimmie Johnson earned his first Texas victory in 2007 during his red-hot run to the title.
The series returns to Forth Worth on Sunday with the Dickies 500, the third-to-last race of the season and eighth race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship format.
Texas is known for having many grooves to pass on. It also has a habit of spreading the wealth. Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett and Kasey Kahne have all won here & once.
It took 11 seasons before any previous winner at Texas won again at The Great American Speedway. Jeff Burton, winner of the inaugural race in 1997, became the first to accomplish the feat when he won the Samsung 500 in 2007. Last season, Carl Edwards became the first driver to complete a season sweep at TMS, winning the Samsung 500 in April and Dickies 500 in November. Edwards has the most W's at the track with three.
Address
3545 Lone Star Circle
Fort Worth, TX 76177
texasmotorspeedway.com
More track news is available through jayski.com.
City Guide: Dallas
Notable events (All times CT)
Dickies 500 Weekend
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009
• Practice and 7-Eleven Qualifying (trucks), 7 p.m.
NASCAR Camping World Series
NASCAR Nationwide Series
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Gates open at noon
Friday, Nov. 6, 2009
• Practice and 7-Eleven Qualifying (Cup), 3:40 p.m. and (Nationwide) 5:35 p.m.
NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series
• WinStar World Casino 350, 8 p.m.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Gates open at 8:30 a.m.
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009
• O'Reilly Challenge, 11:30 a.m.
NASCAR Nationwide Series
Gates open at 8 a.m.
Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009
• Dickies 500, 2 p.m.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Gates open at 10 a.m.
Tickets:
Ticket office: 817-215-8500
Online: Buy tickets for April and November | Seating chart
Pit passes: Available to season-ticket holders only.
Fan hospitality and special packages: Call the track ticket office for details.
Track specs
Track length: 1.5 mile
Banking: Corners -- 24 degrees; dogleg -- 5 degrees;
backstretch -- 5 degrees
Frontstretch: 2,250 feet
Backstretch: 1,330 feet
Race length: 501 miles
Grandstand seating capacity: 138,122
Opened: 1997
Carry-in items
Coolers: allowed (14-inch by 14-inch by 14-inch limit)
Glass containers: not allowed
Alcoholic beverages: allowed
Cameras/binoculars: allowed
Souvenirs and displays
Merchandise: driver and NASCAR merchandise haulers on-site in the Midway, located on the outside of the frontstretch grandstands.
Scanners: available for rent on-site.
Autographs
Check local newspapers and TV for driver appearances; drivers rarely available on race day.
Pit area guidelines
Pit passes available; call the track ticket office for further information.
Camping
Burnout Alley: available
Reserved: available
Unreserved: available; call the track ticket office for further information
Associated driving schools
Team Texas High Performance Driving School
940-648-1043
Web site
Texas Driving Experience
817-430-4343
Web site
Getting there
Take I-35W north of downtown Fort Worth to State Route 114.
• From Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport:
Take north exit, then west on State Route 114 to speedway.
(Note: From Dallas this way, State Route 114 tends to get backed up.)
• Suggested race-day route:
Travel north from Dallas on I-35E to Denton.
At the junction of I-35E and I-35W, turn south on I-35W.
Drive to Dale Earnhardt Way or State Route 114; exit right to speedway.
Parking
Free parking: All parking is free.
Reserved parking: available
Handicapped parking: available
• Complete ESPN SportsTravel NASCAR Guide
• 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule
