You might have heard that the 2020 race season was postponed due to the pandemic. Well, that was just the beginning. Over the next few months, we watched the entire motorsport world undergo huge changes.
While the world was still in the grip of the coronavirus, motorsport enthusiasts around the world started taking the opportunity to get behind the wheel and hit the road. Before long, we were treated to an eclectic mix of old and new racing series, from classic car to rally and everything in between. But, of course, there is also one racing series that has remained committed to its roots throughout this entire period – the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Now, more than a year after the first race of the season was postponed, let’s take a look at whether or not Texas Motor Speedway is open for business, or if Le Mans is still the king of the road racing hills.
Is Texas Motor Speedway Still Open For Business?
As the name would suggest, Texas Motor Speedway has always been a hub for motorsport activity in the Lone Star State. Hosting top-notch motorsport events such as the NASCAR Cup Series, the Lightning Lap, and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race have made the state-of-the-art facility a mecca for race fans. It seems only natural, then, that the owners of the iconic track would seek to make the most of this moment and reestablish themselves as a premier motorsport destination. And what’s more is they have something special in store for the 2021 race season. As a proud member of the NASCAR Community, we were treated to an extensive list of improvements in the aftermath of the pandemic.
The good news for Le Mans fans is that the Texas Motor Speedway has pledged their support to the legendary race and have committed to holding a 24-hour event on the fringes of the Lone Star State once again. While it would be great to see the entire racing community return to the iconic track, especially since it’s such a historic venue, these things take time and it’s not going to be easy to convince teams to travel so far just to compete in a 24-hour race.
Lightning Lap And Other Improvements
The list of improvements that the Texas Motor Speedway put in place for the 2020 season is a testament to just how much they value their loyal fan base. Before the pandemic, Lightning Lap had become an annual tradition at the track – the opportunity for fans to get up close and personal with some of their favorite NASCAR drivers. But, due to safety and social distancing protocols put in place by the state and local officials, the Lightning Lap was postponed for the first half of the season. The event was rescheduled for the final race of the season, which took place in November.
Other improvements that the track made were the construction of a new sound stage, which became the home of the Monster Energy News Desk. A fan hub was also added to the infield, which was a place where fans could congregate and have access to food and drink. The track also invested in new scoreboards and LED display screens, which were put in place at both the track and museum to provide fans with an all-encompassing motorsport experience.
Still The Mecca For Race Fans
When talking about the Texas Motor Speedway, one of the first things that come to mind is safety. After all, you want to be sure that you and your family are safe while attending one of the biggest races in the country, right? It’s an understandable concern and one that owners and management at the track take very seriously. For that reason, they implemented new safety protocols after the pandemic, which saw some familiar faces from the world of motorsport return for the first time in years. With a little bit of luck and some prudent planning, the Texas Motor Speedway is still the Mecca for race fans. And, if you want to get a taste of what the facility is like without the added safety measures in place due to COVID-19, then we recommend you attend one of their charity events, which are going to be running as usual this year. It would be great to see the full race season return, but safety must come first. The last thing you want is for anyone to get sick and jeopardize your trip to the Lone Star State. That would be a blow to the entire motorsport community. But, until then, we will continue to wait patiently for the day when we can all get back out on the track. Until then, the Texas Motor Speedway remains one of the biggest and best venues for motorsport fans in the country.