TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY NEWS/RUMORS
Shipping Address:
3545 Lone Star Cir.
6th Floor, PR Dept.
Justin, TX 76247
Mailing Address:
PO Box 500
Ft. Worth, TX 76101
Phones: (817) 215-8500, (817) 215-8520
Fax: (817) 215-8424
Track Specs:
Degree of Banking: Turns: 24 degrees
Straightaways: Banking: 5 degrees;
Straights: Frontstraight - 2250 feet; Backstraight - 1330 feet
Grandstand Seating: 138,100 [approx. as of 12/2008]
Grandstand Seating WAS 154,861
Website:
Texas Motor Speedway
ESPN's NASCAR Track Guide: Texas Motor Speedway
for info on the old Texas shareholder vs NASCAR lawsuit, see my Lawsuit's Page
TWO Race Tracks Jeff Gordon has never won a CUP race at: There are TWO current race tracks the Nextel Cup Series runs on that #24-Jeff Gordon has not won at [a Nextel Cup race]:
Texas 0 for 16 with a best of 2nd in 2002 and 11/2008
Homestead 0 for 8 with a best finish of 3rd 2004
Gordon has won at 22 [20 active] of 24 tracks he has raced on including two not on the circuit any longer, North Wilkesboro and Rockingham.
Gordon won at Phoenix in April to finally knock that track off the list in his 17th try there.(11-2-2008)
Interesting Streak: UPDATE: The past three winners of the fall race at Atlanta Motor Speedway have won at Texas Motor Speedway the following week [all three years since Texas got a 2nd date in 2005]. The year and winner: #48-Jimmie Johnson in 2007; #20-Tony Stewart; and #99-Carl Edwards.in 2005.(10-26-2008)
UPDATE: Make it 4 in a row with Edwards' win in the Dickies 500.(11-2-2008)
- Samsung 500 to have fans from all 50 states: When Josh Hoper, of Fargo, N.D., recently purchased tickets to Sunday’s Samsung 500, he represented the 50th state to have a resident scheduled to attend the Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. The thought of having fans from all 50 states and five foreign countries attend this year’s Samsung 500 is usually a crowning achievement for Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage, but that was greatly tempered by the plight of Hoper. He was a victim of the floods that have ravaged his state and has been forced to evacuate his Fargo residence. “I’ve been watching this on the news every night and my heart has been going out to all of those folks that have been affected by the floods,” Gossage said. “It struck closer to home when I found out that Josh was a NASCAR fan going to make his first trip to Texas Motor Speedway and has been dealing with this.” Hoper said he is not “100% sure” he will be making the trip, but he is leaning toward coming for this week’s NASCAR double-header featuring the Samsung 500 and O’Reilly 300 Nationwide series race and get away from the natural disaster for a few days. “It’s kind of a hard decision to make with my situation right now,” said Hoper, who would be attending TMS with a friend, Walter Grow, who lives in Dallas. “I’m staying with some friends and family and they have encouraged me to get away this weekend. I haven’t made up my mind yet, but it would be nice to get away from throwing sand bags. I think it would be a good way to start the healing process.” And Gossage would like to provide a little additional healing for Hoper should he make his initial visit to Texas Motor Speedway. Gossage called Hoper on Wednesday to check on his well being as well as let him know that should he decide to visit that he can expect his Samsung 500 and O’Reilly 300 tickets for him and Grow to be upgraded to the Victory Lane Club, complimentary pit passes and some Texas Motor Speedway merchandise for making the effort. “If Josh can make it here for the Samsung 500, it truly would be special for us to have all 50 states represented considering his circumstances,” Gossage said. “I think being in the NASCAR community would definitely help him with the healing process.”(TMS PR)(4-3-2009)
- Recycling at Texas: Coca-Cola Recycling and more than 300 volunteers are going to turn Texas Motor Speedway green during the race weekend. Coca-Cola will have recycling bins located along the concourse, Midway souvenir area and VIP campground. Following Sunday's race, volunteers will file through the aisles to collect recyclable items. During November's Dickies 500 weekend, the group collected more than 5,900 pounds of recycled goods. The goal is to collect more than 15,000 pounds during the upcoming weekend. The recycled goods will eventually be used to produce carpet, T-shirts, jackets and cell phones.(TMS PR)(4-1-2009)
- More Than 40 Items Marked Down at Texas: Race fans will be greeted with some big discounts on souvenir items during the upcoming Samsung 500 weekend at Texas Motor Speedway as Speedway Motorsports, Inc., Properties has slashed prices from 18 to 55% on more than 40 standard items. The items include an assortment of t-shirts, jackets, caps, novelty items and more that can be
found at any of the 40 Speedway World souvenir locations around Texas Motor Speedway during the Samsung 500 race weekend set for April 2-5. SMIP also will entice fans with a special clearance tent located outside Gate 1 during race week. The tent sale will offer Texas Motor Speedway, race event and driver items at huge discounts. More than 150 items will be marked at their lowest price, including some as low as $1. Also, for those fans that spend $25 or more on merchandise in the Speedway World Gift Shop on Friday, April 3, they will receive a poster of the Samsung 500 program cover created by renown NASCAR artist Sam Bass, who will be on hand to personally autograph the item. Bass will be at the gift shop when it opens at 9 a.m. and will have posters available while supplies last. Markdowns on souvenir prices are just the latest in a long list of economically friendly ways that Texas Motor Speedway has continued in its effort to give back to the fans this year during these trying economic times.(TMS PR)(3-27-2009)
- Texas Motor Speedway Burnout Alley Update: Burnout Alley the latest enhancement to Texas Motor Speedway, continues to take shape as it nears its completion date. The state-of-the-art motorcoach area located along the backstretch of the speedway is nearly 85 percent complete and is expected to be finished within the next two weeks. Crews recently finished paving the area and now
are working on the final touches before it debuts for the Samsung 500 race weekend beginning Wednesday, April 1. In the coming week, crews will provide electric and video lines to the patio area, install the wireless internet infrastructure, complete the fencing that
defines the 30x60 foot RV spaces and make the final touches with signage displays along the area. Burnout Alley has taken shape within a matter of four months when Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage announced the $2 million capital improvement project on Dec. 1. Each Burnout Alley space sells for $15,000 for the entire race season and includes full service hook-ups for water, electric and live race feeds; concierge service that will include grocery shopping; catering options; free wireless internet and 24-hour restroom access. The ticket package for each race week will consist of 10 VIP passes for Burnout Alley; 10 pre-race passes for each NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race; 10 pit/infield passes; two access passes for The Speedway Club; 10 souvenir event programs; and three reserved
parking spaces nearby. For more information on Burnout Alley call (817) 215-8518 or visit www.texasmotorspeedway.com.(TMS PR)(3-13-2009)
- 12-year-old Pianist Lewis Warren Jr. to play National Anthem at Texas: Pianist Lewis Warren Jr., a 12-year-old prodigy featured last year on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” prime-time series, will play the National Anthem for Texas Motor Speedway’s Samsung 500 on Sunday, April 5. The Irving, Texas native has grown from mimicking simple tunes at the age of three to gracing both national and international audiences with his musical prowess. Warren Jr.’s notable repertoire, including classical pieces by Bach, Handel, Beethoven, Mozart and Chopin as well as other acclaimed and influential composers, has earned him studies with the prestigious Julliard School in New York, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, England, and Southern Methodist University’s Piano Preparatory Department, where he currently is enrolled.(TMS PR)(3-12-2009)
- Foreigner Kicks Off Pre-Race Show at Texas: Legendary rock bank Foreigner, known for its chart-topping hits during the 1970s and ‘80s, will headline the Amdro FireStrike Pre-Race show Sunday, April 5 prior to the Samsung 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The group is best known for hit songs, “Feels Like The First Time,” “Cold As Ice,” “Double Vision,” “Juke Box Hero” and “I Want to Know What Love Is.” The band is led by founding member Mick Jones. Jones has played a key role in the band’s success, co-producing and co-writing a number of songs during its heyday. Foreigner will join Texas native Pat Green on the list of musical entertainment during the Samsung 500 race weekend. Green will perform during the Samsung Mobile Rockin’ Roundup following The Dallas Morning News Qualifying Day on Friday, April 3.(TMS PR)(3-9-2009)
- TMS Continues To Save Fans Money: Texas Motor Speedway continues to find ways to help ensure the fans’ attendance during the upcoming Samsung 500 weekend. Beginning today service fees for all tickets purchased via the internet, Ticketmaster outlets as well as Ticketmaster phone centers have been suspended. The savings is upwards of $9.50 per seat depending on the location.
The move to eliminate service fees is just one of the many ways Texas Motor Speedway is reaching out to the fans during the downturn in the economy. In December announced were the creation of the “Backstretch Buster” seats available for $20, making it the lowest ticket price ever for a Sprint Cup Series race at TMS and one of the lowest among all the tracks. The ticket office also continues to work with fans to create a personalized payment plan. Fans are encouraged to contact the TMS ticket office at (817) 215-8500 to work with a ticket
representative to set up a plan that works for them. Fans can still purchase “Backstretch Buster” seats or structure a payment plan by calling (817) 215-8500 or by visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com.(TMS PR)(3-7-2009)
- Drivers to Conduct Fan Forums at Speedway Motorsports Races: NASCAR drivers and Speedway Motorsports are teaming up to bring fans closer to their favorite drivers than ever before. The new "PRN Up To SPEED" program will bring NASCAR's top names out for fan forums at the SPEED Stage during each of the 13 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekends at Speedway Motorsports' seven speedways across the country. The Performance Racing Network's on-air personalities will emcee question-and-answer sessions with some of the sport's biggest personalities at the SPEED Stage leading up to SPEED's regularly scheduled weekend programming.
"PRN Up To SPEED" will kick off Sunday at 9:30am/et, at the SPEED Stage located in the Las Vegas Motor Speedway midway. The stellar lineup will include Las Vegas-native Kyle Busch, legendary NASCAR team owner Richard Childress, and four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon. Each Speedway Motorsports track [Atlanta, Bristol, Infineon, Las Vegas, Lowe's, New Hampshire, Texas] that hosts a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race will hold "PRN Up To SPEED" sessions during their respective race weekend. The location of the SPEED Stage may vary from track to track, but at all Speedway Motorsports facilities, the stage is always located in an area where access is free of charge for fans.(SMI PR)(3-1-2009) Comment here
- Pat Green Headlines Samsung Mobile Rockin’ Roundup at Texas: This year’s Samsung Mobile Rockin’ Roundup at Texas Motor Speedway will have a distinct Texas sound as Lone Star State native Pat Green will headline the concert during the Samsung 500 race weekend on Friday, April 3 following The Dallas Morning News Qualifying Days for the Sprint Cup Series. Green, who headlined the Samsung Mobile Rockin’ Roundup in 2005, returns to Texas Motor Speedway for the third time. His performance will mark his first concert in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex since the release of his new album entitled, “What I’m For.” Tickets for the Samsung Mobile Rockin’ Roundup and The Dallas Morning News Qualifying Days for the Sprint Cup Series are just $25. The concert kicks off an exciting weekend of racing that continues with the Nationwide Series O’Reilly 300 on Saturday, April 4 and culminates with the Sprint Cup Series Samsung 500 on Sunday, April 5. Fans can meet Green, get tickets to the Samsung Mobile Rockin’ Roundup and earn an upgrade to the “Samsung Big Pit” beginning 3 p.m. Thursday. The Dorsey Gang from The Big 96.3 KSCS, the official country station of TMS, will broadcast live from Lone Star Park to release Green’s new album. Green will be in attendance from 4 – 7 p.m. Four hundred CDs will be available for $10 and fans will receive the album along with a pair of tickets for the Samsung Mobile Rockin’ Roundup and The Dallas Morning News Qualifying Days for the Sprint Cup Series. Fifty lucky winners also will receive upgrades to experience the concert center stage in the “Samsung Big Pit.” For tickets to the Samsung Mobile Rockin’ Roundup, visit www.texasmotorspeedway.com or call (817) 215-8500.(TMS)(2-25-2009)
- Gossage and Dale Jr bury the hatchet: Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage said he and #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. have buried the hatchet. The two men had a two-week disagreement and exchanged barbs over who needs to do more for the fans in tough economic times -- speedway executives or drivers. "Dale Jr. is doing all he can and we're doing all we can," Gossage said. "I talked to Junior's representatives [Saturday] and learned some things they were doing that most people don't know about." One of those things is lowering prices on some of Junior's merchandise items. Gossage said Friday that Earnhardt should be willing to reduce prices on his souvenir products after insisting speedways reduce tickets prices, which most have done. "I want to commend Dale Jr. for taking that step," Gossage said. "That shows a real commitment on his part, and I respect him for it. I learned they already had reduced prices on merchandise, just as we have reduced ticket prices and concession prices." During the NASCAR media tour in Charlotte two weeks ago, Gossage and other speedway executives suggested some Cup drivers should do more to help promote the sport. On Thursday, Earnhardt pointed out to my colleague, Ed Hinton, several examples of how he does more than his fair share, and said other drivers also go the extra mile. But he suggested speedways needed to do more. So Earnhardt and Gossage were accusing each other of not doing enough. But Gossage said they both have a new understanding now of their respective positions. "Earnhardt and I realize everyone has to do more to get through this," Gossage said. "He's setting an example for others to follow and being a true leader in the sport."(ESPN)(2-10-2009) Comment here
- TMS To Offer Customized Payment Plans: Texas Motor Speedway wants to make sure that everyone that wants to enjoy another exciting season of racing at “The Great American Speedway!” can. To ease financial concerns and ensure that loyal TMS fans can attend the start of the 2009 season with the Samsung 500 weekend, a payment plan has been instituted for Samsung 500 weekend tickets which are as low as $20. Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage has instructed the ticket office to offer a flexible payment plan that will be tailored to each race fan. Fans are encouraged to contact the TMS ticket office at (817) 215-8500 and visit with a ticket representative to discuss a potential payment plan. Fans will have until March 20 to ensure payment is paid in full. The newly instituted payment plan is one of the many ways TMS is giving back to the fans this season. Fans can enjoy the excitement of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing for only $20 with the “Backstretch Buster” seats for the Samsung 500. TMS offers one of the best values for the family in the 7-Eleven Family Four-Pack. The package includes four tickets for April’s Samsung 500, four hot dogs and four Coca-Cola drinks for $159. TMS also offers affordable prices for the entire season. Fans can catch all the excitement of the 2009 season, which includes two Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series races and one IRL IndyCar Series race for as low as $279. The value continues as TMS enhances the fan experience by providing free parking and the ability to bring in your own cooler, making it one of the most affordable tickets in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.(TMS PR)(1-26-2009)
- Texas World Speedway sits silently during testing ban: With the news that NASCAR has banned testing at its sanctioned tracks for its three national series in 2009, a few people wondered if that might mean increased curiosity in Texas World Speedway, which last hosted a Cup event in 1981. But if Sprint Cup teams have shown increased interest in testing at the 2-mile oval that is a carbon copy of Michigan International Speedway, they haven't made that known to track president Bill Mather, who hadn't even considered the idea of NASCAR teams visiting College Station until he read a recent magazine article about the testing ban. "I have been focusing on the testing business but the Autoweek story was the first time I ever thought about NASCAR," Mather said. "NASCAR's a different world to me. I've never met anybody affiliated with NASCAR. I'd like to. But I've been focused in on the road racing world. None of [the Sprint Cup teams] have set foot on the track, I can tell you that much."
Built in 1969 and repaved in 1993, Texas World Speedway mainly hosts regional sports-car events, testing for Star Mazda and American Le Mans Series teams and driver education courses. However, a portion of the superspeedway -- particularly 22-degree banked Turns 3 and 4 -- were unsuitable for high-speed testing because of bumpiness. But Mather said a recent 35-foot wide, 2,200-foot long grinding of the track surface in those areas has hopefully corrected those flaws. "Our oval will be hopefully test ready [by the first of the year]," Mather said. "We've just finished grinding [Turns] 3 and 4, which allows us to run our Grand Prix course, also. Turns 1 and 2 are in pretty good shape. The problem is that our Grand Prix course runs Turns 3 and 4. When the grinding company came in, they said to us, 'This is really good asphalt. It's amazing how good this asphalt is for its age.' And that made me happy, because I can't justify the cost of repaving it." Mather said some spot grinding was also done to Turns 1 and 2. This week, a process known as asphalt rejuvenation will be applied to the banking, a section of the road course and the paddock area.
NASCAR ran eight races at Texas World Speedway between 1969 and 1981. Three of Richard Petty's 200 career victories came on the 2-mile oval situated approximately 100 miles northwest of Houston. In 1980, Cale Yarborough won a 400-mile race that featured no caution flags. Also, Mario Andretti set the world closed-course speed record at 214.158 mph while qualifying for an IndyCar event in 1973, a record that stood for 12 years.(NASCAR.com)(12-19-2008) Comment here
- Texas adds 'Burnout Alley" for RV's; Downsizes: Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage unveiled a $2 million capital improvement project for the auto racing facility that will transform the upper half of the backstretch area into a lavish motorcoach area known as Burnout Alley. Burnout Alley will consist of 74 expansive sites with numerous amenities that will make it the ultimate destination for fans traveling and entertaining in their motorcoaches for NASCAR and IndyCar Series race weeks. Each gated courtyard will be 30x60 feet and include full service hook-ups for water, electric and live race feeds; concierge service that will include grocery shopping; catering options; free wireless internet and 24-hour restroom access. The ticket package for each race week will consist of 10 VIP passes for Burnout Alley; 10 pre-race passes for each NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race; 10 pit/infield passes; two access passes for The Speedway Club; 10 souvenir event programs; and three reserved parking spaces nearby. Each site in Burnout Alley will sell for $15,000 annually for an entire Texas Motor Speedway race season that consists of a pair of NASCAR weeks and one for the IndyCar Series. The project has a targeted 75-day construction period, which would have a projected completion date for Burnout Alley of early to mid-March. The construction of Burnout Alley will eliminate approximately 21,022 seats on the backstretch and reduce the capacity in that section from approximately 30,850 to 9,850. The overall seating capacity for Texas Motor Speedway will move to approximately 138,100 [was 154,861], which still ranks among the largest sports facilities in the United States. For additional information or to reserve a 2009 site in Burnout Alley, please contact Texas Motor Speedway at (817) 215-8518 or visit the speedway website at www.texasmotorspeedway.com.(TMS PR)(12-1-2008)
- Fort Worth, TX, speedway strike deal on natural gas revenues: Fort Worth, Texas City officials have reached a tentative agreement to split the estimated $40 million to $50 million to be gained from natural gas drilling beneath Texas Motor Speedway. Under the deal, the city-owned Fort Worth Sports Authority would use the bonuses and royalties to pay off an estimated $15.5 million that the city owes Speedway Motorsports Inc. for building the track. Once the debt is paid off, Speedway Motorsports would get 75% of the royalties and Fort Worth would get 25%. Fort Worth would be able to keep $350,000 a year that it had been paying from a special tax district toward its debt. Speedway Motorsports would be required to spend its share on public improvements at the track, including improvements to adjacent roads. The deal breaks a deadlock over who will benefit from drilling at the track. The arrangement would last until the bonuses and royalties total $50 million, at which point the sports authority would turn over the mineral rights to the speedway.(Fort Worth Star Telegram)(11-14-2008)
- Woman hit by stray bullet at Texas NASCAR race UPDATE: A NASCAR fan in her recreational vehicle at Texas Motor Speedway was wounded by a stray bullet after someone apparently fired a gun into the air, police said. A bullet suddenly pierced through the motor home's roof Sunday morning before the Dickies 500 race, hitting a woman in the right arm, relatives said. "She immediately (screamed), 'I've been shot. I've been shot.' She took off running out the door," her son-in-law Bobby Cook told Dallas-Fort Worth television station KTVT. The 62-year-old woman, whose name was not released by authorities, was taken to a nearby hospital with a "significant wound" and was listed in stable condition, police Lt. Paul Henderson said Monday. The bullet is believed to be a rifle round and appears to have been fired from a long distance because it penetrated the roof at a slight angle, Henderson said. He said he did not have information on whether investigators had any suspects. Some 40,000 fans in about 10,000 to 10,500 recreational vehicles camped at Texas Motor Speedway for the weekend's races, said TMS spokesman Mike Zizzo, who declined to comment on the shooting.(Associated Press)(11-4-2008)
UPDATE: Fort Worth police are investigating reports from a 49-year-old Benbrook man who says he may be responsible for the stray bullet that hit an Arlington woman Sunday morning at Texas Motor Speedway. Kennith Jaramillo contacted Fort Worth police on Monday after hearing that Jill King Moss, 62, was hit in her arm by a .50-caliber bullet that pierced the roof of her RV, authorities said. Ms. Moss was taken to Harris Methodist Hospital and is expected to recover from her injuries. Given the bullet’s trajectory, Fort Worth police investigators believe the bullet came from a long distance away. Mr. Jaramillo told police he was target shooting five miles away from Texas Motor Speedway between 10 and 11 a.m, said Lt. Paul Henderson, a Fort Worth police spokesman. Mr. Jaramillo fired five or six rounds at a berm, a mound of dirt, with his .50-caliber Vulcan single shot rifle. Fort Worth police confiscated his weapon for ballistics tests. If tests confirm the bullet was fired from his weapon, Mr. Jaramillo could be charged with deadly conduct for recklessly firing a weapon, Lt. Henderson said. Mr. Jaramillo has not been arrested or charged in the incident.(Dallas Morning News)(11-5-2008) Comment here
- Texas race dates stay the same in 2009: Texas Motor Speedway's 2009 race schedule will mirror this season's line-up with two races each in NASCAR's three top-tier series - Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Craftsman Truck - and one visit by the IndyCar Series, speedway president Eddie Gossage announced Monday. The Sprint Cup Series Samsung 500 (April 5), IndyCar Series Bombardier Learjet 550k (June 6) and Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500 (Nov. 8) once again serve as the marquee events of the season and anchor 11 days of racing action.(Texas Motor Speedway PR)(8-18-2008)
- WinStar World Casino new sponsor for Texas June race: Texas Motor Speedway's 2009 race schedule will mirror this season's line-up with two races each in NASCAR's three top-tier series. WinStar World Casino recently agreed to a multi-year deal with Texas Motor Speedway to become the title sponsor of the truck series event, replacing Sam's Town. WinStar World Casino is located in Thackerville, Okla., just 75 minutes north of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, and is in the midst of an expansion project that will transform it into Oklahoma's largest casino. In conjunction with the [schedule] announcement, 2009 season tickets will officially go on sale beginning 9:00amTuesday at the TMS ticket office (817-215-8500), on the speedway website, and at FanFest II at Texas Motor Speedway.(TMS PR)(8-18-2008)
- Gossage not interested in Humpy's job Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage has no desire to take over for Lowe's Motor Speedway president Humpy Wheeler, who announced Wednesday he was retiring as president of the track after this weekend's Coca-Cola 600. "As long as I'm in racing, I'll be here in Fort Worth," Gossage said Wednesday. Gossage said he's confident the SMI board of directors will find the right person to replace Wheeler. He said he has a person in mind he would like to see take over at the track but didn't want to say who it was. "The board of directors will come up with a person who is in the best interest of the track," Gossage said. "It won't be me." Gossage worked for Wheeler in Charlotte from 1989 until leaving for TMS in 1995.(Fort Worth Star Telegram)(5-24-2008)
- TMS's Gossage offer Dale Jr. $100k to run Indy car; Dale Jr turns it down: IndyCar Series star Danica Patrick recommended on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s XM Satellite Radio show Thursday evening that if the NASCAR superstar ever wanted to swap cars and run an Indy car that Texas Motor Speedway would be the place to give it a shot. Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage is wholeheartedly backing that recommendation by Patrick and giving Earnhardt Jr. 100,000 reasons why "The Great American Speedway!" is indeed the ideal choice. Gossage is offering $100,000 to Earnhardt Jr. if he would pay the IndyCar Series a visit and compete June 7 in the Bombardier Learjet 550k at Texas Motor Speedway. Gossage is open to presenting Earnhardt Jr. $100,000 in cash or a check to his favorite charity for that amount if that is more to his liking.(TMS)
AND Dale Earnhardt Jr. ON EDDIE GOSSAGE OFFERING HIM $100,000 TO RUN THE INDY CAR RACE. “He thinks I’m a cheap date I guess. I wouldn’t be able to do it, my conscience wouldn’t let me. If they offered me more money, my conscience wouldn’t let me feel comfortable with doing it. I know his intentions are well and we had that discussion with the billboard thing and I totally understand what his approach is advertising now. If I had the opportunity if I was there testing my car and somebody had their car there, I’d like to jump in it and run a couple of laps but that would be the extent of the adventure.”(Team Chevy PR)(5-3-2008) Comment here
- Texas Fall Tix on Sale Wed: Tickets for the NASCAR triple-header weekend at Texas Motor Speedway Oct. 30 - Nov. 2 featuring the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Truck Series go on sale Wednesday, April 16th. The marquee event is the Dickies 500, the eighth race in the 10-event Chase for the Sprint Cup championship format, and tickets prices for the “playoff” race range from $52 to $130. The Dickies 500 will be joined that weekend by the O’Reilly Challenge Nationwide Series race and Silverado 350k Craftsman Truck Series event. Tickets begin as low as $25 for the O’Reilly Challenge and $34 for the Silverado 350k. Tickets are available by calling the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500, by visiting texasmotorspeedway.com.(TMS)(4-15-2008)
- Honorary Officials at Texas: One NASCAR fan, Kerrie Rogers of Forney, Texas, will get a Lone Star thrill this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. She’s scheduled to serve as Grand Marshal of Sunday’s Samsung 500, after winning the Samsung 500 Ultimate Fan Sweepstakes. The 36th Infantry Division Band, Texas Army National Guard, from Austin, will perform Sunday’s National Anthem.(NASCAR PR)(4-2-2008)
- Goodyear to use same tire compound at Texas as last year: Texas Motor Speedway officials were informed by Goodyear that the tire manufacturer will utilize the same tire compound that produced dramatic racing in both Sprint Cup Series races last season for the upcoming Samsung 500 on April 6. Following several driver complaints at Sunday’s event at Atlanta Motor Speedway where the new Sprint Cup car (formerly the Car of Tomorrow) competed for the first time, Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage reached out to Goodyear because that Speedway Motorsports, Inc. sister track is nearly identical to TMS. Both are 1.5-mile ovals with 24-degree banking in the corners, among the fastest tracks on the circuit and play host to the new car for the first time in competition. “I called Goodyear and they told us they never planned to use the same tire they used in Atlanta for our upcoming race,” Gossage said. “The tire they will use for the Samsung 500 will be effectively the same tire they used in Texas last year, and those two races resulted in a last-lap pass in April and a side-by-side duel for the lead down to the finish in November. Both the left-side and right-side tires will effectively use the same compound as in 2007, but with a slightly different construction for the new car. The engineers feel quite good about their plans.” Once again as Gossage did last week with NASCAR, he will make Texas Motor Speedway available to Goodyear should they be interested in additional testing prior to the Samsung 500. Sprint Cup drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Clint Bowyer participated in a two-day Goodyear test Jan. 15-16 at TMS.(TMS PR)(3-12-2008) Comment here
- Drivers...throw a helmet, get $15k? TMS president Eddie Gossage said ticket sales for the Sprint Cup Samsung 500 on April 6 have been flat since Jan. 1, then made an announcement he hopes will increase the buzz. "I'm offering $15,000 to any driver who throws their helmet between now and the Samsung 500," Gossage said. The conditions: the helmet must be tossed in anger on the "field of competition," according to Gossage. And Gossage gets the helmet for his extensive office collection. While he acknowledged it was a tongue-in-cheek offer, he said he would definitely pay. NASCAR officials did not immediately return messages seeking comment.(Dallas Morning News)(3-1-2008)
- TMS replaces billboards referencing Earnhardts: Four identical Texas Motor Speedway billboards referring to the strained relationship between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his stepmother, Teresa, will be replaced within the next two weeks. The flap is over ads featuring a picture of the driver and the wording "Reason #88: Step-Mom." TMS president Eddie Gossage said Thursday night that the billboards, part of a series of similar ads to promote the Sprint Cup weekend at the track in April, will be changed after a request from Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, the driver's sister and business manager. "The first thing I told her when I answered the phone was if you guys are uncomfortable with it, all you have to do is say the word," Gossage said. "We had a very pleasant talk." #88 is a reference to Earnhardt's new car number with Hendrick Motorsports, the team he went to after last season when he decided to leave Dale Earnhardt Inc., his late father's company that is run by Teresa Earnhardt. He left DEI after months of contentious negotiations with his stepmother. Earnhardt will still be displayed on the billboards, but the wording will change to "Reason #88: New Car Smell." Gossage said Elledge thought the new slogan "was cool, and Dale Jr. loved it."
There are billboards with catchy slogans featuring the car numbers of three other drivers. One features a wide-eyed, grinning Tony Stewart with "Reason #20: Road Rage!" Then there is one for Jeff Gordon with "Reason #24: 81 Cup Wins. Zip At Texas!", and one for two-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, "Reason #48: Twice As Good As 24!"
After getting the call from Elledge, Gossage decided to make sure Stewart was all right with the #20 ad. "I e-mailed Tony, 'What do you think?' He thought they were hilarious," Gossage said. Gossage said he didn't follow up with Gordon and Johnson, Earnhardt's new teammates with Hendrick, because the TMS president considers those slogans "benign" despite one small glitch. Johnson's slogan "Twice As Good As 24!" was supposed to end with a question mark, not an exclamation point.
Elledge told Gossage that she and her brother still have friends and family at DEI and want to see the company succeed, but that they were "excited about Hendrick Motorsports" and saw no reason to point to past issues. "We were trying to be edgy," Gossage said. "If this went over the line, in their opinion, we don't want to." There are 15 billboards, three featuring Johnson and four for each of the other drivers, displayed on Interstates and busy highways throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Gossage said there will be similar-themed broadcast and print ads in the coming weeks.(ESPN.com/AP)(2-1-2008)
- Nowitzki grand marshal at Texas: The Dallas [NBA] Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki will serve as grand marshal for today's Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.(Dallas Morning News)(11-4-2007)
- Vince Vaughan to drive pace truck at Texas Cup race:: Vince Vaughn will be starring as Santa Claus' lesser-known brother in the upcoming holiday comedy "Fred Claus," but on Sunday the actor is getting an early Christmas present that definitely didn't come from the North Pole. The gift comes courtesy of Texas Motor Speedway as Vaughn will get the rare opportunity to drive the official pace truck that will lead the 43-car field to the green flag for Sunday's Dickies 500 Nextel Cup Series race. Traditionally, special race guests such as Vaughn get the chance to ride in the lead pace car or perhaps drive a secondary pace car. But by virtue of special permission from NASCAR, Vaughn will actually take the wheel from customary pace car driver Brett Bodine following an on-track orientation prior to the race. Vaughn will drive a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado to officially start the the Dickies 500.(TMS PR)(11-2-2007)
- Texas Motor Speedway Unveils Traffic Tracker for Dickies 500 Weekend: Texas Motor Speedway has unveiled a free program that gives race fans the ability to monitor traffic flow while traveling to and from the speedway for this week's Dickies 500 NASCAR triple-header. The program, in partnership with 1310 The Ticket, is a text messaging system that sends automatic traffic alerts out via text message, providing updates on the status of the route fans are taking to and from the speedway this week. Fans can sign up for this service by visiting the Texas Motor Speedway website and clicking on the "Traffic Alert" button on the home page. In addition to having this service for race weeks, Texas Motor Speedway plans to keep the service active 365 days a year to also assist the numerous visitors to the facility throughout the year.(Texas Motor Speedway PR)(10-31-2007)
- TMS to Make 1200 Tickets for Dickies 500 Available Friday: Texas Motor Speedway has secured just over 1,200 prime frontstretch tickets from corporate sponsors for next Sunday’s Dickies 500 Nextel Cup Series race that will be made available to the general public beginning 9 a.m. CT Friday. "When some of our corporate sponsors make it clear that they will not be using all of their tickets for an upcoming marquee event like the Dickies 500, we always make the effort to make them available to our general race fans this late in the game,” Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said. “I expect them to go fast considering their frontstretch location and the Dickies 500 being the biggest race in the Chase for the Nextel Cup.” The tickets, which range in price from $99 to $130, will be available on a “firstcome, first-serve” basis by visiting or calling the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500.(TMS PR)(10-25-2007)
- New record for Dickies 500 purse: The purse for next week’s Dickies 500 will be the largest in the history of Texas Motor Speedway and rank third overall for the 36-race
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season, Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage announced today. The Dickies 500 purse is set at $7,255,977 to topple the previous track record of $7,253,642 for the Samsung 500 in April, and the total ranks among the most prestigious speedways in the country. The Dickies 500 purse only trails that of Daytona International Speedway’s Daytona 500 ($18,386,023) and Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Allstate 400 at the Brickyard ($9,449,587). The purse for next Sunday’s [Nov 4th] race at “The Great American Speedway!” also will be the largest in the 10-race Chase for the Nextel Cup championship for the third consecutive year. The Dickies 500 purse has increased nearly $400,000 since the inaugural event in 2005. The 2005 purse was $6,880,880 and topped the $7 million mark for the first time last season at $7,139,515. The combined purses for next week’s NASCAR triple-header weekend at Texas Motor Speedway will exceed $9 million. In addition to the Dickies 500, the O’Reilly Challenge Busch Series race will have a purse of $1,244,106 and the Silverado 350k Craftsman Truck Series race will be at $588,064 for an overall total of $9,088,147. Tickets still are available for the Dickies 500, O’Reilly Challenge, Silverado 350k as well as the 7-Eleven Qualifying Days. For ticket information, call (817) 215-8500 or visit www.texasmotorspeedway.com.
TOP 5 NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES PURSES FOR 2007
Daytona 500 – Daytona International Speedway $18,386,023
Allstate 400 at the Brickyard – Indianapolis Motor Speedway $ 9,449,587
Dickies 500 – Texas Motor Speedway $ 7,255,977
Samsung 500 – Texas Motor Speedway $ 7,253,642
Coca-Cola 600 – Lowe’s Motor Speedway $ 6,559,628.(TMS PR)(10-24-2007)
- Texas Motor Speedway announces 2008 schedule: The 2008 race schedule will once again be anchored by the three largest single-day sporting events in Texas as the Sprint Cup Series Samsung 500 and Dickies 500 along with the IndyCar Series Bombardier Learjet 550k return as the showcase events, Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage announced today. The Samsung 500, Bombardier Learjet 550k and Dickies 500 will remain in their traditional months of April, June and November, respectively, and those three marquee weekends will offer seven races, 11 days of racing action and a special concert featuring a superstar country group. The Samsung 500 is scheduled for Sunday, April 6, a week earlier than this past season, and will mark the 12th running of the NASCAR event that debuted when Texas Motor Speedway opened in 1997. The Sprint Cup Series race will be partnered with the Busch Series as the O’Reilly 300 will be held Saturday, April 5. The Dallas Morning News Qualifying Day for both the Sprint Cup and Busch Series will be Friday, April 4, while race week will officially open Thursday, April 3, with Busch practice. In addition to the racing action, Texas Motor Speedway will present the Rockin’ Roundup concert with country superstars Big & Rich. The concert, which will be held on the frontstretch, will follow qualifying on April 4. The Bombardier Learjet 550k, another staple event since the speedway opened in 1997, is set for Saturday, June 7, and will once again provide fans with a taste of the IndyCar Series and NASCAR in the same weekend. The Bombardier Learjet 550k, “America’s Original Nighttime IndyCar Series Race,” will be preceded Friday, June 6, by the Sam’s Town 400 Craftsman Truck Series race.
The TMS season closes in a flourish with the Dickies 500 headlining a NASCAR triple-header weekend. The Dickies 500, which debuted in 2005, is set for Sunday, Nov. 4, and remains the eighth event in the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup that determines the series champion. The Dickies 500 will be partnered with the O’Reilly Challenge Busch Series race on
Saturday, Nov. 3, and the Silverado 350k Craftsman Truck Series race on the evening of Friday, Nov. 2. The 7-Eleven Qualifying Days will be held Thursday, Nov. 1, (Craftsman
Truck Series) and Friday, Nov. 2 (Cup and Busch). Season ticket packages go on sale Wednesday for the 2008 schedule of events. Season tickets may be purchased by visiting or calling the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500 or through the speedway’s website (www.texasmotorspeedway.com). The ticket office is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
and Noon-5 p.m. Sunday.(TMS PR)(8-28-2007)
- Texas looking for different race date: TMS president Eddie Gossage met with NASCAR president Brian France last week and, as usual when they get together, requested an earlier date for the Dickies 500. Gossage, of course, wants the race to remain one of 10 in the Chase for the Nextel Cup. But since TMS got a second Nextel Cup date in 2005, the race has fallen on the opening weekend of deer hunting season in November. "We need to get off that date because it affects some of our fans," Gossage said. "We hope something can be done about it at some point, but I don't think it will change for 2008."(Dallas Morning News)(8-17-2007)
- Samsung re-ups with Texas thru 2009: The logo for Texas Motor Speedway's spring race will stay the same for at least two more years. Samsung extended its title sponsorship agreement with TMS through 2009 plus three years of options. Terms weren't immediately available. "We have two hometown sponsors and stability with our races," TMS president Eddie Gossage said, also referencing the fall Dickies 500. "It means we can market the brand names of those races and do some things long term. It's a great position to be in." Before this year, Samsung's Richardson-based Telecommunications American division shared co-sponsorship with Fort Worth-based Radio Shack for five years.(Dallas Morning News)(4-16-2007)
