Texas Motor Speedway - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S.

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

Fort Worth, Texas

Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...

– the portion located in Denton County, Texas

Denton County, Texas

Denton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 432,976; in 2009 the estimated population had reached 628,300. Part of the Dallas – Fort Worth Metroplex, it is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. The county seat is Denton. The county...

.

The track measures 1.5 miles (2.4 km) around and is banked 24 degrees in the turns, and is of the oval design, where the front straightaway juts outward slightly.

The track layout is similar to Atlanta Motor Speedway

Atlanta Motor Speedway

Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...

and Charlotte Motor Speedway

Charlotte Motor Speedway

Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...

(formerly Lowe's Motor Speedway).

The track is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc.

Speedway Motorsports, Inc.

Speedway Motorsports, Inc. or SMI is an American corporation that owns and manages racing facilities that host NASCAR, IZOD IndyCar Series, NHRA, WoO other racing series. The company's headquarters are located at Charlotte Motor Speedway, in the suburbs of Charlotte, NC. SMI owns nine racing...

, the same company that owns Atlanta

Atlanta Motor Speedway

and Charlotte

Charlotte Motor Speedway

Motor Speedways, as well as the short-track Bristol Motor Speedway

Bristol Motor Speedway

Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...

History

The speedway has been managed since its inception by legendary racing promoter Eddie Gossage. His creative, colorful, fan-friendly approach to managing the track has become the standard by which all other tracks have been measured. He was the first to introduce Personal Seat Licenses to the sport, as well as Season Tickets. His stance on allowing fans to bring their own coolers, even in the face of restrictive Texas laws that at one time prohibited the speedway from selling alcohol as a result, has made him a favorite of the fans.

Based on qualifying speeds in 2004, 2005, and 2006 (with Brian Vickers shattering the qualifying record at Texas with a speed of 196.235 mi/h in the 2006 Dickies 500 qualifying), the Texas Motor Speedway was once considered the fastest non-restrictor plate

Restrictor plate

A restrictor plate or air restrictor is a device installed at the intake of an engine to limit its power. This kind of system is occasionally used in road vehicles for insurance purposes, but mainly in automobile racing, to limit top speed and thus increase safety, to provide equal level of...

track on the NASCAR

NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...

circuit, with qualifying speeds in excess of 192 mi/h and corner entry speeds over 200 mi/h. However, as the tracks' respective racing surfaces continue to wear, qualifying speeds at Atlanta have become consistently faster than at Texas (2005 and 2006). Brian Vickers

Brian Vickers

Brian Lee Vickers is a American NASCAR driver. He was the 2003 Busch Series champion, and at age 20, became the youngest champion in any of NASCAR's three top-tier series...

holds the qualifying record at TMS. In 2006, he posted a 196.235 mi/h speed. Elliott Sadler

Elliott Sadler

Elliott William Barnes Sadler is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet Impala for Kevin Harvick Inc. in the Nationwide Series. He is one of only 23 drivers to have won in each of NASCAR's top three series...

beat the record before Brian, qualifying in the 49/50th spot. Being the last person out on the track, Brian nipped Elliott Sadler's

Elliott Sadler

qualifying time. http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/ The NASCAR records still fall short of the all-time TMS qualifying record though. Driving a Lola Ford Champ Car, Kenny Brack took pole for the aborted Firestone Firehawk 600, with an average speed of 233.447 mph in 2001.

Two racetracks formerly on the Winston Cup (now Sprint Cup Series) schedule were closed to make room for Texas Motor Speedway's two race dates, with the North Wilkesboro Speedway

North Wilkesboro Speedway

North Wilkesboro Speedway was a short track that held races in NASCAR's top three series from NASCAR's inception in 1949 until its closure in 1996...

being bought by TMS owner Bruton Smith

Bruton Smith

Ollen Bruton Smith is a promoter and owner/CEO of NASCAR track owner Speedway Motorsports, Inc. He was ranked #207 on the Forbes 400 list with an estimated worth of $1.5 billion in 2005, and fell to #278 in 2006. He is divorced with four children...

and New Hampshire International Speedway

New Hampshire International Speedway

New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as an IndyCar weekend and the oldest motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic...

owner Bob Bahre. The track was closed with one of the track's two dates going to both new owners. The North Carolina Speedway

North Carolina Speedway

Rockingham Speedway, formerly North Carolina Motor Speedway and later North Carolina Speedway is a racetrack located near Rockingham, North Carolina...

in Rockingham, North Carolina

Rockingham, North Carolina

Rockingham is a city in Richmond County, North Carolina, United States named after the Marquis of Rockingham. The population was 9,672 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Richmond County...

was also sold to Smith as a result of the Ferko lawsuit

Ferko lawsuit

The Ferko lawsuit is a common nickname for an American lawsuit that was challenged between plaintiff Francis Ferko, a resident of Plano, Texas and a shareholder of Speedway Motorsports, Inc.'s Texas Motor Speedway, and defendants NASCAR and International Speedway Corporation , which are both owned...

with the track's one remaining date also being handed over to Texas.

Texas Motor Speedway is home to two NASCAR Sprint Cup races: the Samsung 500

Samsung/Radio Shack 500

The Samsung Mobile 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas USA. Even though is advertised as a "500 mile" race, because TMS is a track, the actual distance is . There were 10 different winners in the first ten races, the longest such streak for...

and the AAA Texas 500, as well as two Nationwide Series races, the O'Reilly 300

O'Reilly 300

The O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 is a NASCAR Nationwide Series race that takes place each spring at Texas Motor Speedway, and was first held in 1997. In 2005, TMS was rewarded with a second Nationwide Series event in November, the O'Reilly Challenge...

and the O'Reilly Challenge

O'Reilly Challenge

The O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge is a NASCAR Nationwide Series stock car race that takes place at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. The race came about from the results of the Ferko lawsuit in 2004...

and the Indy Racing League IndyCar

IndyCar Series

The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and...

series race, the Bombardier Learjet 550. The track also hosts two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races, the Sam's Town 400

Sam's Town 400

The WinStar World Casino 400K is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race that takes place at Texas Motor Speedway.-Past winners:*2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, & 2011: Race extended due to a Green-white-checker finish....

(which takes place on the same weekend as the Indycar Bombardier Learjet 550) and the Chevy Silverado 250.

For a short time during construction in September 1996, the track's name was changed to Texas International Raceway. SMI's customary track naming convention had planned to have the "Motor Speedway" as part of the name. However, in August 1996, a small quarter-mile dirt raceway in Alvin, Texas

Alvin, Texas

Alvin is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area and Brazoria County. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 21,413. Alvin's claim to fame is Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, who moved with his family to the city in 1947 as...

(now known as Texas Thunder Speedway) had filed suit to use the name. On December 2, 1996, a settlement between the two tracks saw the "Texas Motor Speedway" name reinstated to the 1.5 miles (2.4 km) oval, and the small number of Texas International Raceway merchandise instantly became collectible. The following is a map of Texas Motor Speedway:
On August 17, 2010, a press conference was held and it was announced that TMS's spring race will become a Saturday night event in 2011. The Samsung Mobile 500 will be held on Saturday April 9, 2011.

Jeff Burton

Jeff Burton

Jeffrey Brian "Jeff" Burton , also referred to as JB or The Mayor, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver who drives the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet Impala for Richard Childress Racing. Burton is the younger brother of Ward Burton, who is a former Sprint Cup driver...

(1997) and Dale Earnhardt, Jr (2000) both earned their first Cup win at Texas Motor Speedway. Earnhardt's victory was a then-record for fewest races to notch a victory in the "modern era" on the Cup circuit, winning in just his 12th start, breaking the record held by his father, Dale Earnhardt (16 starts). (The record has since been broken three times, by Kevin Harvick (3 starts), Jamie McMurray (2 starts) and Trevor Bayne (2 Starts))

Firestone Firehawk 600

The Firestone Firehawk 600, a CART

Champ Car

Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...

race, was to be held on April 29, 2001. During practice and qualifying, however, 21 of 25 drivers http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/cart/2001-04-28-texas-qualifying.htm complained of dizziness and disorientation during two days of practice. Drivers experienced sustained G force

G force

The g-force associated with an object is its acceleration relative to free-fall.It may also refer to:* G-Force , a 2009 film by Disney** G-Force , a 2009 video game based on the film...

s over 5 Gs, more than the typical human tolerance. With their powerful turbocharged engines and superspeedway downforce packages, the Champ Cars were averaging speeds well in excess of 230 mph. Much faster than the speeds seen regularly by Sprint Cup cars, and faster still than IRL machinery of the time.

With the possibility of drivers blacking out on the track, CART cancelled the race two hours before the scheduled start.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Stats

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Records

(As of 11/7/10)

Most Wins	3	Carl Edwards Carl Edwards Carl Michael Edwards, II is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #99 Fastenal/Aflac Ford Fusion in the Sprint Cup Series and the #60 Ford in the Nationwide Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
Most Top 5s	8	Matt Kenseth Matt Kenseth Matthew Roy "Matt" Kenseth is an American stock car driver. Kenseth currently drives the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
Most Top 10s	12	Mark Martin Mark Martin Mark Martin may refer to:* Mark Martin , American racecar driver* Mark Martin , American cartoonist* Mark Martin , American judge* Mark Martin , British murderer...
Starts	20	4 Drivers
Poles	2	4 Drivers
Most Laps Completed	6359	Mark Martin Mark Martin Mark Martin may refer to:* Mark Martin , American racecar driver* Mark Martin , American cartoonist* Mark Martin , American judge* Mark Martin , British murderer...
Most Laps Led	612	Greg Biffle Greg Biffle Gregory Jack "Greg" Biffle is a NASCAR driver who drives the #16 3M Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. After racing in the NASCAR Winter Heat Series in the mid-90s, he was recommended to Jack Roush by former announcer Benny Parsons...
Avg. Start*	9.3	Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
Avg. Finish	8.8	Denny Hamlin Denny Hamlin James Dennis Alan "Denny" Hamlin is an American race car driver. Though originally born in Tampa, Florida, Hamlin was raised for most of his life in Chesterfield, Virginia. After racing in go-karts for a number of years, he worked his way up to Late Models by 2004 and signed a development contract...

* from minimum 10 starts.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Winners

An asterisk (*) indicates that the race was extended beyond the scheduled distance due to the green-white-checker finish

Green-white-checker finish

The green-white-checker finish is a rule implemented into many levels of automobile racing in the United States. When the race would otherwise end during a yellow-flag caution condition , this rule gives the field an attempt to finish the race under a green-flag, racing condition...

rule

Season	Date	Winning Driver	Car #	Sponsor	Make	Distance	Avg Speed	Margin of Victory
1997 1997 in NASCAR - 1997 Team Chart :- Busch Clash :The Busch Clash, a race for polewinners from the previous season, and drivers who have won the event before, was run on February 9 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Terry Labonte drew the pole...	April 6	Jeff Burton Jeff Burton Jeffrey Brian "Jeff" Burton , also referred to as JB or The Mayor, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver who drives the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet Impala for Richard Childress Racing. Burton is the younger brother of Ward Burton, who is a former Sprint Cup driver...	99	Exide Batteries Exide Batteries Exide Technologies is the world's second-largest producer of automotive lead acid batteries for automotive and industrial applications. The Company’s four global business groups – Transportation Americas, Transportation Europe and Rest of World, Industrial Power Americas and Industrial Power Europe...	Ford Thunderbird Ford Thunderbird The Thunderbird , is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States over eleven model generations from 1955 through 2005...	501 mi (806.3 km)	125.111 mi/h	4.067 sec
1998 1998 in NASCAR See Also: 1998 in NASCAR Busch Series-1998 Team Chart:-Bud Shootout Qualifier:The Bud Shootout Qualifier, a race for the fastest second round qualifier, from each race from the previous season, was run on February 8 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Sterling Marlin drew the pole...	April 5	Mark Martin	6	Valvoline	Ford Taurus Ford Taurus The Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near-continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...	501 mi (806.3 km)	136.771 mi/h	0.573 sec
1999 1999 in NASCAR The 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Season began on Sunday February 7 and ended on Sunday November 21. Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett was crowned the champion...	March 28	Terry Labonte Terry Labonte Terrance Lee Labonte is a semi-retired NASCAR driver who occasionally drives in the Sprint Cup Series when called upon and is a two-time Winston Cup and IROC champion. He currently drives the #32 U.S. Chrome Ford for FAS Lane Racing. Labonte was introduced to the sport through his father, who had...	5	Kellogg's	Chevrolet Monte Carlo Chevrolet Monte Carlo The Chevrolet Monte Carlo was an American-made two-door coupe introduced for model year 1970, and manufactured over six generations through model year 2007. It was marketed as a personal-luxury coupe through most of its history, with the last model version being classified as a full-sized coupe...	501 mi (806.3 km)	144.276 mi/h	UC
2000 2000 in NASCAR The 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Season began on Sunday February 13 and ended on Sunday November 20. Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte was crowned champion at season's end. The NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship was won by Ford when they captured 14 wins and 234 points to better Pontiac's 11 wins...	April 2	Dale Earnhardt Jr	8	Budweiser Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch) Budweiser is a 5.0% abv American-style lager introduced in 1876 by Adolphus Busch and one of the highest selling beers in the United States. It is made with up to 30% rice in addition to hops and barley malt. Budweiser is produced in various breweries located around the world...	Chevrolet Monte Carlo Chevrolet Monte Carlo The Chevrolet Monte Carlo was an American-made two-door coupe introduced for model year 1970, and manufactured over six generations through model year 2007. It was marketed as a personal-luxury coupe through most of its history, with the last model version being classified as a full-sized coupe...	501 mi (806.3 km)	131.152 mi/h	5.920 sec
2001 2001 in NASCAR The 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup season began on February 11 at the Daytona International Speedway and ended on November 23 at the New Hampshire International Speedway. Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports was crowned series champion for the fourth time in seven years. The season was marked by tragedy,...	April 1	Dale Jarrett Dale Jarrett Dale Arnold Jarrett is a former American race car driver and current sports commentator known for winning the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship...	88	UPS United Parcel Service United Parcel Service, Inc. , typically referred to by the acronym UPS, is a package delivery company. Headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States, UPS delivers more than 15 million packages a day to 6.1 million customers in more than 220 countries and territories around the...	Ford Taurus Ford Taurus The Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near-continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...	501 mi (806.3 km)	141.804 mi/h	0.73 sec
2002 2002 in NASCAR The 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup began on Saturday, February 10, and ended on Sunday, November 17. Tony Stewart with Joe Gibbs Racing was crowned the Winston Cup champion. The NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship was captured by Ford after winning 14 events, and gaining 245 points over second place...	April 8	Matt Kenseth Matt Kenseth Matthew Roy "Matt" Kenseth is an American stock car driver. Kenseth currently drives the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing...	17	DeWalt DeWALT DeWalt is a worldwide brand of power tools for the construction, manufacturing and woodworking industries. It is a subsidiary of Stanley Black & Decker.- History :...	Ford Taurus Ford Taurus The Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near-continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...	501 mi (806.3 km)	142.453 mi/h	0.888 sec
2003 2003 in NASCAR The 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup began on Saturday February 8 and ended on Sunday November 16. Matt Kenseth with Roush Racing driving a Ford was crowned the Winston Cup champion, despite winning only one race all year. Chevrolet took home the NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship after capturing 19 wins...	March 30	Ryan Newman Ryan Newman Ryan Joseph Newman is a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He drives the #39 United States Army/Tornados/Haas Automation Chevrolet Impala for Stewart Haas Racing under crew chief Tony Gibson. Newman graduated from Purdue University in 2001 with a B.S. in vehicle structure engineering...	12	Alltel Alltel Alltel Corporation is a wireless service provider, primarily based in the United States. Before an acquisition by Verizon Wireless, it served 34 states. After the merger, Alltel continues to serve six states, mostly in rural areas...	Dodge Intrepid Dodge Intrepid The Dodge Intrepid is a large four-door, full-size, front-wheel drive sedan car model that was produced for model years 1993 to 2004. It was mechanically related to the Chrysler Concorde, Chrysler LHS, Chrysler New Yorker, Eagle Vision, and also the 300M sedans...	501 mi (806.3 km)	134.517 mi/h	3.405 sec
2004 2004 in NASCAR The 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup season began on Saturday, February 7 and ended on Sunday, November 21. Kurt Busch with Roush Racing driving a Ford was the Nextel Cup champion....	April 4	Elliott Sadler Elliott Sadler Elliott William Barnes Sadler is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet Impala for Kevin Harvick Inc. in the Nationwide Series. He is one of only 23 drivers to have won in each of NASCAR's top three series...	38	M&Ms	Ford Taurus Ford Taurus The Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near-continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...	501 mi (806.3 km)	145.358 mi/h	0.028 sec
2005 2005 in NASCAR The 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series began on Saturday, February 12. The ten race Chase for the Nextel Cup started with the Sylvania 300 on Sunday, September 18, and ended on Sunday, November 20, with the Ford 400....	April 17	Greg Biffle Greg Biffle Gregory Jack "Greg" Biffle is a NASCAR driver who drives the #16 3M Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. After racing in the NASCAR Winter Heat Series in the mid-90s, he was recommended to Jack Roush by former announcer Benny Parsons...	16	Post-it/National Guard	Ford Taurus Ford Taurus The Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near-continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...	501 mi (806.3 km)	130.055 mi/h	3.244 sec
2005 2005 in NASCAR The 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series began on Saturday, February 12. The ten race Chase for the Nextel Cup started with the Sylvania 300 on Sunday, September 18, and ended on Sunday, November 20, with the Ford 400....	November 6	Carl Edwards Carl Edwards Carl Michael Edwards, II is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #99 Fastenal/Aflac Ford Fusion in the Sprint Cup Series and the #60 Ford in the Nationwide Series for Roush Fenway Racing...	99	Office Depot Office Depot Office Depot is a supplier of office products and provides many services. The company's selection of brand name office supplies includes business machines, computers, computer software and office furniture, while its business services encompass copying, printing, document reproduction, shipping,...	Ford Taurus Ford Taurus The Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near-continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...	501 mi (806.3 km)	151.055 mi/h	0.584 sec
2006 2006 in NASCAR The 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season started at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, February 12 with the Bud Shootout and ended on Sunday, November 19 with the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Chase for the NEXTEL Cup began with the Sylvania 300 on Sunday, September 17 at New Hampshire...	April 9	Kasey Kahne Kasey Kahne Kasey Kenneth Kahne is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #5 Farmers Insurance Group Chevrolet Impala for Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series....	9	Dodge Dealers Dodge Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide.... /UAW	Dodge Charger Dodge Charger The Dodge Charger is an American automobile manufactured by the Dodge division of Chrysler. There have been several different Dodge vehicles, built on three different platforms and sizes, all bearing the Charger nameplate...	501 mi (806.3 km)	137.943 mi/h	5.229 sec
2006 2006 in NASCAR The 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season started at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, February 12 with the Bud Shootout and ended on Sunday, November 19 with the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Chase for the NEXTEL Cup began with the Sylvania 300 on Sunday, September 17 at New Hampshire...	November 5	Tony Stewart Tony Stewart Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...	20	Home Depot	Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS	508.5* mi	134.891 mi/h	0.272 sec
2007 2007 in NASCAR The 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season began on February 10, 2007 at Daytona International Speedway with the Budweiser Shootout and ended on November 18 of that same year at Homestead-Miami Speedway with the Ford 400. The Chase for the NEXTEL Cup began with the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire...	April 15	Jeff Burton Jeff Burton Jeffrey Brian "Jeff" Burton , also referred to as JB or The Mayor, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver who drives the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet Impala for Richard Childress Racing. Burton is the younger brother of Ward Burton, who is a former Sprint Cup driver...	31	Prilosec OTC	Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS	501 mi (806.3 km)	143.359 mi/h	0.410 sec
2007 2007 in NASCAR The 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season began on February 10, 2007 at Daytona International Speedway with the Budweiser Shootout and ended on November 18 of that same year at Homestead-Miami Speedway with the Ford 400. The Chase for the NEXTEL Cup began with the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire...	November 4	Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....	48	Lowes/Kobalt Kobalt Kobalt is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. He first appears in Kobalt #1 , and was created by John Rozum and Arvell Jones.-Publication history:...	Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS	501 mi (806.3 km)	131.219 mi/h	0.944 sec
2008 2008 in NASCAR There were three NASCAR national series in 2008:2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - The top racing series in NASCAR2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series - The second-tier NASCAR racing series*2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series - The third-tier NASCAR racing series...	April 6	Carl Edwards Carl Edwards Carl Michael Edwards, II is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #99 Fastenal/Aflac Ford Fusion in the Sprint Cup Series and the #60 Ford in the Nationwide Series for Roush Fenway Racing...	99	Aflac Aflac Aflac Incorporated is the largest provider of supplemental insurance in the United States, founded in 1955 and based in Columbus, Georgia. In the United States, Aflac underwrites a wide range of insurance policies, but is perhaps more known for its payroll deduction insurance coverage, which pays...	Ford Fusion	508.5* mi	144.814 mi/h	0.399 sec
2008 2008 in NASCAR There were three NASCAR national series in 2008:2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - The top racing series in NASCAR2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series - The second-tier NASCAR racing series*2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series - The third-tier NASCAR racing series...	November 2	Carl Edwards Carl Edwards Carl Michael Edwards, II is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #99 Fastenal/Aflac Ford Fusion in the Sprint Cup Series and the #60 Ford in the Nationwide Series for Roush Fenway Racing...	99	Office Depot Office Depot Office Depot is a supplier of office products and provides many services. The company's selection of brand name office supplies includes business machines, computers, computer software and office furniture, while its business services encompass copying, printing, document reproduction, shipping,...	Ford Fusion	501 mi (806.3 km)	144.814 mi/h	8.310 sec
2009 2009 in NASCAR There were three NASCAR national series in 2009:2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - The top racing series in NASCAR2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series - The second-highest racing series in NASCAR...	April 5	Jeff Gordon Jeff Gordon Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...	24	DuPont DuPont E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009... /National Guard GED Plus	Chevrolet Impala SS	501 mi (806.3 km)	146.372 mi/h	0.378 sec
2009 2009 in NASCAR There were three NASCAR national series in 2009:2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - The top racing series in NASCAR2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series - The second-highest racing series in NASCAR...	November 8	Kurt Busch Kurt Busch Kurt Thomas Busch is an American NASCAR and NHRA driver. He drives the No. 22 Shell Oil Company/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will race on an "opportunity permitting" basis in the Pro Stock division of NHRA...	2	Miller Lite Operation Home Front	Dodge Charger Dodge Charger The Dodge Charger is an American automobile manufactured by the Dodge division of Chrysler. There have been several different Dodge vehicles, built on three different platforms and sizes, all bearing the Charger nameplate...	501 mi (806.3 km)	146.372 mi/h	25.686 sec
2010 2010 in NASCAR There were three NASCAR national series in 2010:2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series – The top racing series in NASCAR2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series – The second-highest racing series in NASCAR...	April 19	Denny Hamlin Denny Hamlin James Dennis Alan "Denny" Hamlin is an American race car driver. Though originally born in Tampa, Florida, Hamlin was raised for most of his life in Chesterfield, Virginia. After racing in go-karts for a number of years, he worked his way up to Late Models by 2004 and signed a development contract...	11	FedEx Ground FedEx Ground FedEx Ground is a shipping company which is a subsidiary of the FedEx corporation. It is headquartered in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. Originally conceived as a lower cost competitor to UPS, Roadway Package System was created to take advantage of new barcode, material...	Toyota Camry Toyota Camry The Toyota Camry is a series of mid-size automobiles manufactured by Toyota since 1982, and sold in the majority of automotive markets throughout the world...	501 mi (806.3 km)	146.23 mi/h	0.152 sec
2010 2010 in NASCAR There were three NASCAR national series in 2010:2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series – The top racing series in NASCAR2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series – The second-highest racing series in NASCAR...	November 7	Denny Hamlin Denny Hamlin James Dennis Alan "Denny" Hamlin is an American race car driver. Though originally born in Tampa, Florida, Hamlin was raised for most of his life in Chesterfield, Virginia. After racing in go-karts for a number of years, he worked his way up to Late Models by 2004 and signed a development contract...	11	FedEx Office FedEx Office FedEx Office is a chain of stores that provide a retail outlet for FedEx Express and FedEx Ground shipping, as well as printing, copying, and binding services...	Toyota Camry Toyota Camry The Toyota Camry is a series of mid-size automobiles manufactured by Toyota since 1982, and sold in the majority of automotive markets throughout the world...	501 mi (806.3 km)	140.456 mi/h	0.488 sec
2011 2011 in NASCAR The following NASCAR national series are scheduled to be held in 2011:2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series – The top racing series in NASCAR2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series – The second-highest racing series in NASCAR...	April 9	Matt Kenseth Matt Kenseth Matthew Roy "Matt" Kenseth is an American stock car driver. Kenseth currently drives the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing...	17	Crown Royal Black Crown Royal Crown Royal is a blended Canadian whisky, 40% alcohol by volume, 80 proof. The brand is currently owned by Diageo, who purchased it when the Seagram portfolio was dissolved in the year 2000. It is the top-selling Canadian whisky in the United States....	Ford Fusion	501 mi (806.3 km)		8.315 sec
2011 2011 in NASCAR The following NASCAR national series are scheduled to be held in 2011:2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series – The top racing series in NASCAR2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series – The second-highest racing series in NASCAR...	November 6	Tony Stewart Tony Stewart Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...	14	Office Depot Office Depot Office Depot is a supplier of office products and provides many services. The company's selection of brand name office supplies includes business machines, computers, computer software and office furniture, while its business services encompass copying, printing, document reproduction, shipping,...	Chevrolet Impala Chevrolet Impala The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size automobile built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced for the 1958 model year. Deriving its name from the southern African antelope, Chevrolet's most expensive passenger model through 1965 had become the best-selling automobile in the United...	501 mi (806.3 km)

Current Races Hosted

Texas Motor Speedway

IZOD IndyCar Series – Firestone Twin 275s
Sprint Cup Series – Samsung Mobile 500
Sprint Cup Series – AAA Texas 500
Nationwide Series – O'Reilly 300
O'Reilly 300
The O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 is a NASCAR Nationwide Series race that takes place each spring at Texas Motor Speedway, and was first held in 1997. In 2005, TMS was rewarded with a second Nationwide Series event in November, the O'Reilly Challenge...
Nationwide Series – O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge
Camping World Truck Series – Sam's Town 400
Sam's Town 400
The WinStar World Casino 400K is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race that takes place at Texas Motor Speedway.-Past winners:*2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, & 2011: Race extended due to a Green-white-checker finish....
Camping World Truck Series – WinStar World Casino 350K
ARCA Racing – Rattlesnake 150

Other races such as the Lone Star Legends series take place during the summer. The dirt track facility hosts the occasional Monster Truck show as well as motocross and short course racing.

Other Events

June 14, 1997 Texas Motor Speedway hosts the Fruit of the Loom CountryFest for an estimated 185,000 spectators. Featured performers were Jo Dee Messina

Jo Dee Messina

Jo Dee Marie Messina , known professionally as Jo Dee Messina, is an American country music artist. She has charted nine Number One singles on the Billboard country music charts. She has been honored by the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music and has been nominated for two...

, Bryan White

Bryan White

Bryan White is an American country music artist. Signed to Asylum Records in 1994 at age 20, White released his self-titled debut album that year. Both it and its follow-up, 1996's Between Now and Forever, were certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, and 1997's The...

, Wynonna Judd

Wynonna Judd

Wynonna Ellen Judd is an American country music singer. Her solo albums and singles are all credited to the singular name Wynonna. Wynonna first rose to fame in the 1980s alongside her mother, Naomi, in the country music duo The Judds...

, Vince Gill

Vince Gill

Vincent Grant "Vince" Gill is an American neotraditional country singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman to the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s, and as a solo artist beginning in 1983, where his talents as a...

, The Charlie Daniels Band, Hank Williams Jr., Leann Rimes

LeAnn Rimes

LeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her...

, Travis Tritt

Travis Tritt

James Travis Tritt is an American country music singer from Marietta, Georgia. He signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1989, releasing seven studio albums and a greatest hits package for the label between then and 1999. In the 2000s, he released two albums on Columbia Records and one for the defunct...

, and Randy Travis

Randy Travis

Randy Travis is an American country music singer and actor. Since 1985, he has recorded 20 studio albums and charted more than 30 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, 22 of which were number one hits...

.

Ongoing classes & events are held regularly at the facility, such as the Texas Driving Experience and Team Texas.

The first annual Christian alt-rock festival FortyFest

Forty Fest

Forty Fest, also known as 40 Fest, Forty Music Fest, 40 Music Fest, 40 Music Festival, and Forty Music Festival, is an annual Spring Christian music festival in North Texas...

was held at the Texas Motor Speedway "Little Texas" facility in August, 2010.

Texas Motor Speedway made an unsuccessful overture to move the annual Texas-Oklahoma rivalry football game from the Cotton Bowl

Cotton Bowl (stadium)

The Cotton Bowl is a stadium which opened in 1929 and became known as "The House That Doak Built" due to the immense crowds that former SMU running back Doak Walker drew to the stadium during his college career in the late 1940s. Originally known as Fair Park Stadium, it is located in Fair Park,...

to the infield of the modern racing facility in 2004. http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/headlines/cup/08/26/bruton.smith.26/index.html

External links

Texas Motor Speedway Interactive Map
Trackpedia guide to driving Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway Official Site
Texas Motor Speedway Page on NASCAR.com
GNEXTINC.com: Texas Motor Speedway Page – Local area information, track specs, mapping, news and more.
Jayski's Texas Motor Speedway Page – Current and Past Texas Motor Speedway News
Texas Motor Speedway Fan Page – Photographs and articles on past speedway events.
Dale Jarrett Racing Experience at Texas Motor Speedway
High Resolution image from Google Maps

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.