The track that adopted the blue and orange as its colors hosts one of the most popular motorsports events in the United States. The track is located in Fort Worth and was previously known as The Cotton Bowl. The speedway was established in 1929 and has been hosting national events ever since. Today, the track is primarily used for NASCAR racing. However, the speedway also hosts a variety of other motorsports events throughout the year.
The Biggest Events
The biggest events that take place at the Texas Motor Speedway include –
- The Rolex 24 At Daytona
- The 24 Hours Of Le Mans
- The Indianapolis 500
- The Brickyard Dog Races
- The World Endurance Championship
- NASCAR Nationwide Series
These are just some of the biggest events that take place at the Texas Motor Speedway, but it also hosts smaller race meets such as the weekly Fort Worth Stock Car Club, on Sunday nights. The club started in 1922 and today, it is one of the top race clubs in the country, with more than 500 members.
NASCAR Racing Highlights
NASCAR racing at the Texas Motor Speedway is among the highlights of the year for auto racing fans. The speedway has been the scene of some great battles over the years, such as –
- Richard Petty vs. David Pearson, 1977
- Richard Petty vs. Dale Earnhardt, 1978
- Dale Earnhardt vs. Joe Rosselli, 1978
- Richard Petty vs. Bobby Allison, 1979
- Richard Petty vs. Darrell Waltrip, 1979
- Dale Earnhardt vs. Rusty Wallace, 1981
- Dale Earnhardt vs. Darrell Waltrip, 1984
- Dale Earnhardt vs. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 2004
- Kevin Harvick vs. Greg Biffle, 2010
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. vs. Matt Kenseth, 2013
- Kyle Busch vs. Chris Baugh, 2017
- Kyle Busch vs. Adam Petty, 2019
There are also some really cool things that you can see at the track, like the famous wooden bridge that crosses the race track, and you can stand right next to the checkered flag during the awards ceremony, for fans wanting to get a closer look at the action.
The Cotton Bowl Is Full Of History
The Cotton Bowl was built in the shape of a football and has been the site of many epic battles over the years. It was originally known as the Cotton Palace and adopted its current name in 1951. The stadium is actually composed of three separate parts, the main stadium, the horseshoe, and the terrace. The original grandstand was built in 1925 and the press box was added in 1933. The stadium’s record attendance was set in 1934, when 61,500 people showed up to watch Texas Tech take on Oklahoma.
After the dust settled, Texas Tech won the game 14–0 and the packed stadium gave the quarterback a standing ovation. That game set a record for the most touchdown passes in a college football game, a record that still stands today.
There is also a small section of the stadium, known as the Silverdome, which is used for band concerts and other special events. The stadium was the site of the Cotton Bowl Classic in the 2019 and 2020 college football seasons.
Other Events At The Track
Aside from NASCAR racing, the Texas Motor Speedway also hosts other events such as –
- The Concert For Texas Music
- The Ovation Celebrity Softball Game
- The National Football League’s Thanksgiving Day Game
- The Texas Music Festivals
- The Fort Worth Stock Car Club’s Weekly Thunderball Derby
All of these events help make the Texas Motor Speedway one of the most popular sports and entertainment venues in North America. The speedway also offers fans a variety of packages that allow them to come back for more, on a regular basis. Plus, with the way that the NASCAR season is these days, you can never know when a race might sell out – so it’s always a good idea to book your tickets in advance!