Texas World Speedway was one of the first dirt track racing venues that I ever attended, so it definitely holds a special place in my heart. I remember watching the trucks race on Friday nights and then heading over to the tent city on the inside of the track to see the cars on Saturday afternoon. It was a surreal experience being able to stand on the inside of the track and watch the action unfold in front of you.
The last time that I went to Texas World Speedway was back in March of this year. I had hoped to return during the outdoor season, but with the pandemic being what it is, the season never really took off. The track was closed last week, and it’s unclear if or when it will be reopening. Here’s what we know so far.
Track Closures
The last time that I went to Texas World Speedway was on March 27th. At that time, the track appeared to be in good condition and there was no indication that it would be closing anytime soon. However, on April 16th, the track closed its gates for the final time. While there was no official word from the track, it appeared that things were not looking good for the racing community. Over the next several days, rumors began to circulate that the track was either permanently closed or would only be open during certain times of the year.
On April 21st, it was officially confirmed that the track would be closing indefinitely. The owner of the track, Doyle Ross, blamed poor attendance and the lack of a traditional summer season for the track’s closure.
“I’m not in the gambling business,” Ross said when asked why he was closing the track. “I race there, it costs money to maintain the place, and it doesn’t draw spectators or people who want to come watch races.”
“It’s a sad day for the racing community,” said NASCAR driver John Wes Tolbert II. “I grew up going there as a kid, watching my dad and uncles race, and it’s definitely one of the iconic tracks in NASCAR. I feel like the sport will miss having tracks like that in 2020.”
When Will Texas World Speedway Reopen?
Since March is considered to be spring in Texas, and since the track closed in April, it’s safe to assume that spring is the best time to go there. If that’s the case, then perhaps the track will reopen soon and begin hosting races once more. However, with the pandemic being what it is, it’s hard to say when or if that will happen. People aren’t going to the track just to sit in their cars, so it’s unlikely that the track will ever open to the public again.
For those who love to watch racing, though, there are options. Depending on how adventurous you are feeling, you can either head over to the track for a simulcast or you can look into buying a cheapo radio and listening to all of the races yourself. It was actually a lot of fun going to the track during the season, but it’s not the same when you don’t have the opportunity to watch the action with your own eyes.