April 2011 Pole Sitter: #6-David Ragan, 189.820mph, finished 7th

November 2011 Pole Winner: #16-Greg Biffle, 193.736 mph, finished 5th

Track Pole Record: #25-Brian Vickers, 196.235, 11/3/2006

Oldest Pole Winner: Bill Elliott, 46 years, 6 months, 0 days, 4/08/2002

Youngest Pole Winner: Brian Vickers, 23 years, 0 months, 12 days, 11/05/2006

April 2011 Race Winner: #17-Matt Kenseth, 149.231mph, started 4th

November 2011 Race Winner: #14-Tony Stewart, 152.706mph, started 5th

Track Race Record: Tony Stewart, Nov 2011, 152.706mph

Slowest Race Record: Jeff Burton, 1997, 125.102mph

Oldest Race Winner: Dale Jarrett, 44 years, 4 months, 6 days, 4/1/2001

Youngest Race Winner: Ryan Newman, 25 years, 3 months, 22 days, 3/30/2003

Most Wins: 3 - Carl Edwards

Most Poles: 2 - Ryan Newman, Bobby Labonte, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon

Most Top 5s: 9 - Matt Kenseth

Most Top 10s: 12 - Mark Martin

Most Cautions: 12 - 4/2/2000 and 11/5/2006

Fewest Cautions: 5 - 11/2/2008, 11/8/2009, 11/6/2011

Most Caution Laps: 73, 4/6/1997

Fewest Caution Laps: 21, 11/6/2011

Most Running at the Finish: 40 - 11/6/2005 & 11/2/2008

Fewest Running at the Finish: 29 - twice, most recently 4/5/1998

Most Lead Changes: 33 - 11/7/2010

Most Leaders: 17 - 4/2/2000

Fewest Lead Changes: 13 - 11/8/2009 & 11/7/2010

Fewest Leaders: 4 - 11/8/2009

Most Wins by Manufacturer: 9 - Ford; 7 - Chevy; 3 - Dodge; 2 - Toyota

Fewest Laps Led by a Race Winner: 1 [of 334] - Jeff Burton 4/15/2007

Most Laps Led by a Race Winner: 278 [of 334] - Tony Stewart, 11/5/2006

Worst Starting Spot to Win: #17-Matt Kenseth, 2000, started 31st

Texas Motor Speedway creating Fan Council: Texas Motor Speedway will bolster its communication with its guests by creating the speedway's first fan council and utilizing their feedback and recommendations to enhance future experiences for all patrons at the world-class motorsports facility. The Texas Motor Speedway Fan Council will consist of 20 to 30 fans that will be active in providing constructive feedback with speedway management throughout the upcoming race season. The fan council will be comprised of a diverse group that includes PSL holders, individual ticket purchasers, suite holders, campers, etc. ranging from the veteran fan to the novice. An online application will be available on texasmotorspeedway.com for fans interested in being a candidate for the Texas Motor Speedway Fan Council. Fans also can print and mail the application to Texas Motor Speedway, Attn: Fan Council, P.O. Box 500, Fort Worth, TX 76101. Applications should be mailed no later than Feb. 6 to ensure arrival by the Feb. 10 deadline. Selections will be made Feb. 15 and members will be notified no later than Feb. 17. Fan council members for 2012 will serve a term from Feb. 17 - Nov. 15. Once the term expires, new members will be chosen for the following season.(TMS)(1-17-2012)

Foreigner set to return to Texas in April: Legendary rock-n-roll band Foreigner will make a return trip to Texas Motor Speedway as the group will headline the pre-race show for the Samsung Mobile 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Saturday, April 14. Foreigner, who performed in its first NASCAR pre-race show during the 2009 Samsung Mobile 500, collaborated on a remix of the band's hit song "Hot Blooded" that incorporates lyrics supporting the speedway's "No Limits" marketing campaign and NASCAR. The song, "Hot Blooded-No Limits," will serve as the theme song for Texas Motor Speedway and will be one of the many hits fans will hear prior to the Samsung Mobile 500. Fans can purchase a special "mosh pit" ticket for to catch all the excitement of the pre-race show. The $79 "mosh pit" ticket provides exclusive front-stage access for the concert, driver introductions and all pre-race festivities. A "mosh pit" ticket must be accompanied by a Samsung Mobile 500 race ticket. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500 or by visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com.(TMS)(12-26-2011)

Texas to use QR codes, mobile app throughout weekend: Texas Motor Speedway has always remained on the cutting edge of marketing and advertising, and during the AAA Texas 500 NASCAR triple-header weekend it will unveil a new initiative to enhance the fan experience. Texas Motor Speedway will help race fans turn their smartphone or mobile device into a valuable resource. With the use of QR codes and a free mobile app, fans will have the convenience of navigating important information and signing up for exclusive prizes with a simple press of a button. Fans will notice QR codes throughout the speedway. From the program seller's t-shirts to the pillars along the concourse, QR codes will serve as a main resource for fans to find the latest information. Fans will be able to pick up the Texas Motor Speedway Fan Guide at any of the AAA Texas "You Are Here" stands throughout the speedway to scan the QR and join the Texas Motor Speedway Fan Club. They will be able to sign up to receive the latest news and information from Texas Motor Speedway. Fans wanting to find the location of their favorite driver's souvenir hauler or the latest schedule can find it by downloading the free Texas Motor Speedway app. Available for download in both the Android and iTunes marketplaces, the app features several helpful tools including a 3-D facility map; inbound and outbound traffic maps; complete race weekend schedule; information on how to purchase tickets; the latest news on www.texasmotorspeedway.com; details on locations of specific vendors and concessions; frequently asked questions; and more. Texas Motor Speedway's LugNutz promotional street team will help engage fans in the QR code craze by distributing flyers and offering fans the chance to win special prizes. The AAA Texas 500 souvenir program will come to life through the use of QR codes. Fans that purchase the program will receive several value-added benefits, including exclusive audio and video and special promotions. Fan will have access to audio from all 12 of the Chase for the Sprint Cup contenders; downloads of the new "No Limits" theme song Hot Blooded-No Limits written by legendary rock-n-roll band Foreigner; video of Texas Motor Speedway's exclusive "No Limits" Garage Party presented by WinStar World Casino; information on "The Great American Sweethearts!" Facebook page; and download access to the new Texas Motor Speedway app.(TMS)(11-2-2-11)

Texas to salute troops in pre-race show: Texas Motor Speedway is bringing top-tier entertainment to its Nov. 6 AAA Texas 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event with the AXE Salute Our Troops Pre-Race Show Featuring Trace Adkins. Adkins, a Grammy-nominated artist, will perform a 45-minute concert showcasing his hit songs on the frontstretch stage beginning at 12:30 p.m. CT. Adkins' concert will be the feature act of the 2½-hour pre-race show leading up to the 2 p.m. CT green flag of the AAA Texas 500, the eighth race in the 10-event Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. In celebration of Veteran's Day on Nov. 11, AXE Hair and Unilever also are going to play host to approximately 5,000 military members and their families at the AAA Texas 500. The military contingent will be treated to frontstretch seats to the AAA Texas 500 as well as have the opportunity to watch the concert by Adkins and pre-race introductions stage-side. Fans that have purchased AAA Texas 500 grandstand tickets can get exclusive front-stage access for the concert, driver introductions and all pre-race festivities with the addition of a $79 "mosh pit" ticket. A "mosh pit" ticket must be accompanied by a AAA Texas 500 race ticket. Tickets for the AAA Texas 500 race as well as the pre-race show can be purchased by calling (817) 215-8500 or visiting texasmotorspeedway.com.(TMS)(11-1-2011)

Johnson to celebrate video game release at Texas: Race fans attending the AAA Texas 500 weekend will have the opportunity to beat five-time reigning Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson at Texas Motor Speedway. It just won't be in a stock car or on the 1.5-mile oval, but it is sure to be equally entertaining. Johnson will take on fans in his new video game Jimmie Johnson's Anything With An Engine at the MyLowe's lounge located on the midway of Texas Motor Speedway. To help celebrate the launch of Johnson's new video game, Texas Motor Speedway is offering the Jimmie Johnson's Anything With An Engine ticket package. The ticket package, priced appropriately at $48, includes a frontstretch ticket for the AAA Texas 500 and allows fans to receive VIP line treatment and get expedited service to play the video game at the MyLowe's lounge. Fans that purchase the package can stop by the display from Thursday to Saturday to qualify for the chance to play Jimmie Johnson on Sunday morning prior to the AAA Texas 500. To qualify fans will take three laps around the "Route 66" track and the two fastest times from those purchasing the package will advance to the semi-finals. Those that did not purchase a package can still get the chance to play Johnson by visiting the display Thursday through Saturday to qualify. Every hour the top two speeds will advance to a bracket-style tournament competition on Sunday at 9 a.m. CT. All qualifiers will receive Jimmie Johnson's Anything With An Engine video game. Four participants will move on to advance for the opportunity to play Johnson. The Jimmie Johnson's Anything With An Engine ticket package can be purchased by calling the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500 or by visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com/mylowes.(TMS)(11-1-2011)

Texas debuts mobile app for race weekend: Everything a fan will need to know before heading out to Texas Motor Speedway for the AAA Texas 500 weekend will be as easy as a simple download. Beginning Monday, Texas Motor Speedway will provide fans with a free mobile app to enhance the fan experience, for the Nov. 3-6 AAA Texas 500 NASCAR tripleheader weekend. The app will be available in both the Android and iPhone marketplaces and will include several helpful items to assist fans as they navigate "The Great American Speedway!" and locate the numerous activities both on and off the track. The app will feature a number of helpful tools, which include a 3-D facility map; inbound and outbound traffic maps; a complete race weekend schedule; information on how to purchase tickets; the latest news on www.texasmotorspeedway.com; details on locations of specific vendors and concessions; and more.(TMS)(10-14-2011)

Texas to host pre-race concert with Trace Adkins: Texas Motor Speedway is bringing top-tier entertainment to its Nov. 6 AAA Texas 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event with the AXE Salute Our Troops Pre-Race Show Featuring Trace Adkins. Adkins, a Grammy-nominated artist, will perform a 45-minute concert showcasing his hit songs on the frontstretch stage beginning at 12:30 p.m. CT. Adkins' concert will be the feature act of the 2½-hour pre-race show leading up to the 2 p.m. CT green flag of the AAA Texas 500, the eighth race in the 10-event Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. In celebration of Veteran's Day on Nov. 11, AXE Hair and Unilever also are going to play host to approximately 5,000 military members and their families at the AAA Texas 500. The military contingent will be treated to frontstretch seats to the AAA Texas 500 as well as have the opportunity to watch the concert by Adkins and pre-race introductions stage-side.(TMS)(8-27-2011)

Texas Motor Speedway announces 2012 schedule: Texas Motor Speedway's 2012 racing schedule will feature the opening Saturday night race of the Sprint Cup Series season, the eighth race in the Chase and the only twin racing format in the IndyCar Series as part of its 10-day, 15-event motorsports season. The Samsung Mobile 500 and AAA Texas 500 will highlight the start and culmination of the Sprint Cup season, respectively, while the Firestone Twin 275s will once again be the most unique event on the IndyCar Series schedule. The Samsung Mobile 500 will mark the first Saturday night race of the Sprint Cup season on April 14 while the AAA Texas 500 returns Sunday, Nov. 4, as the eighth stop in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoff format. The Firestone Twin 275s - the first twin races in IndyCar Series history that debuted last year - will follow the Indianapolis 500 and an off week on Saturday, June 9. The 2012 schedule will once again feature two visits by all three major series in NASCAR - Sprint Cup, Nationwide and the Camping World Truck Series - and sandwich the single visit by the IndyCar Series in the summer. Start times for each event will be announced at a later date.(TMS)(8-245-2011)

Storms cause damage at Texas Motor Speedway: The Sprint Cup Series Samsung Mobile 500, the first Saturday night race at Texas Motor Speedway, turned out to be a winner on several fronts; including the timing of a storm front that blew through overnight Sunday that caused damage to some of the structures remaining from Saturday night's event. "It was one of those typical Texas storms carrying heavy winds, rain and even hail," said Media Relations Director Mike Zizzo Monday. "The majority of the damage sustained was to temporary structures around the facility that were remaining after Saturday night's race, mainly third-party vendors. Fortunately, there were no injuries." According to some witnesses, including several who were still camping in the infield, the high winds blew down tents turned over some RV's and trailers and tossed around tables and chairs. The damage to the speedway included the loss of signs, fencing and some flag poles.(NASCAR Examiner)(4-12-2011)

Space shuttle pilot taking a piece of Texas Motor Speedway into space: NASA astronaut Doug Hurley was presented a TMS flag Saturday, which he plans to carry with him on the final space shuttle mission this summer. Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to close out the 30-year shuttle program. A season-ticket holder at Texas Motor Speedway since 2005, Hurley said he planned to bring the flag back to the track when he comes back for the November Sprint Cup race.(Associated Press)(4-10-2011)

Fort Worth Mayor proclaims Friday "Go Green Day": Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief proclaimed Friday as "Go Green" Day to support the opening of Texas Motor Speedway's 2011 race season that commences this weekend with the running of the Samsung Mobile 500 NASCAR double-header weekend. Moncrief is encouraging Fort Worth residents, businesses as well as city employees to wear a green-colored item of clothing Friday and show support for the Fort Worth-based speedway that delivers the largest attended, single-day sporting event in the State of Texas with Saturday evening's Samsung Mobile 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The Fort Worth Water Gardens commemorated the start of race season by dyeing the water in the aerated water garden green. In addition to the Water Gardens honoring race week, Fort Worth's Avenue of Light will help commemorate the opening of Texas Motor Speedway's race season by going green beginning Thursday. Avenue of Light is a series of six soaring, stainless-steel, lighted sculptures by Cliff Garten Studio that are located on Lancaster Avenue between Lamar and Main/Commerce Streets in downtown Fort Worth. Energy-efficient, programmable LED light fixtures illuminate the sculptures by night, making it possible for the Avenue of Light to mark important civic events by changing the color of the light, including going green this week.(TMS)(4-6-2011)

Special visitor at Texas for the race: Astronaut Doug Hurley, a Texas Motor Speedway season ticket holder, will be visiting the speedway to enjoy the historic first-ever nighttime NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race - the Samsung Mobile 500 - before making some history of his own. He will serve as the pilot of the four-astronaut crew of the Atlantis, which will launch June 28 from Kennedy Space Center and serve as the final flight of NASA's Space Shuttle program. Officially known as Space Shuttle Mission STS-135, the crew is slated for a 12-day mission to the International Space Station. Hurley will honor his home track by flying an item from Texas Motor Speedway with him on this mission and Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage will present it to Hurley at a press conference Saturday, April 9, at 5:15 pm in the Samsung Mobile Infield Media Center deadline room. A special opportunity to visit with the pilot of the final shuttle launch in history and get his take on this historic mission as well as honoring his home track.(TMS)(4-5-2011)

Texas Motor Speedway pre-race concert by 3 Doors Down: Texas Motor Speedway is bringing its “No Limits” attitude to its musical entertainment for the Samsung Mobile 500 on Saturday, April 9, with a pre-race concert by modern American rockers, 3 Doors Down. 3 Doors Down will perform a free concert beginning at 5:00 pm on the frontstretch stage to highlight the pre-race activities leading up to the start of the first-ever Saturday night NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. While the concert is free to all Samsung Mobile 500 ticket holders, 3 Doors Down fans can get even closer to the music by purchasing a special $79 “mosh pit” ticket. The ticket provides a stage-side view for the band’s performance, in addition to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver introductions for the Samsung Mobile 500. A “mosh pit” ticket must accompany a grandstand ticket for the Samsung Mobile 500. To purchase “mosh pit” tickets or tickets to the Samsung Mobile 500, visit www.texasmotorspeedway.com or call the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500. (TMS)(4-5-2011)

Traffic / Construction updates for Texas Motor Speedway area: The Fort Worth Police Department provided a variety of traffic and highway construction updates for the public Monday that pertains to this weekend’s Samsung Mobile 500 NASCAR doubleheader at Texas Motor Speedway.
With both Friday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 Nationwide Series race and Saturday’s Samsung Mobile 500 Sprint Cup Series race being the first-ever NASCAR night races in the speedway’s 15-year history, significant changes were announced to the contra-flow traffic plan prior to and following the conclusion of the races during a press conference at Texas Motor Speedway led by Fort Worth Police Department Capt. Bryan Sudan. Friday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 will begin at 7:30 p.m. CT and Saturday’s Samsung Mobile 500 will start at 6:30 p.m.
The following is an overview of the traffic and construction updates for the season-opening race week for Texas Motor Speedway:
· Contra-Flow Plans – The FWPD Traffic Division will be utilizing contra-flow patterns prior to and following Friday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 and Saturday’s Samsung Mobile 500. Contra-flow will not be used for Thursday’s Chevy Fan Day activities at Texas Motor Speedway, which include the opening sessions of practice in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. Inbound Friday & Saturday: The Traffic Division will begin contra-flowing traffic as early as 5:30 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday. Motorists need to be aware that on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon to early evening extremely heavy traffic is expected in all areas adjacent to Texas Motor Speedway. All westbound SH 114 through traffic will need to turn at I-35W northbound to FM 407 to avoid getting sent into the speedway. All other lanes will be directed into the speedway. Traffic is encouraged to utilize SH 156 to Petty Place to enter the speedway if possible. Earnhardt Way, off I-35W, also is an excellent entrance into the speedway and is expected to be highly utilized. Outbound Friday: The Traffic Division is anticipating on shutting down westbound SH 114 at I-35W and diverting that traffic northbound on I-35W. Once on I-35W, vehicles can exit FM 1171 to make a U-turn to go southbound on I-35 or can proceed to FM 407 westbound, where they can get past the race track to SH 156. The eastbound traffic will be directed to southbound I-35W, where SH 170 can be taken to get back to SH 114, or eastbound on SH 114 in the normal traffic lanes and one contra-flow lane on the westbound side into Roanoke. This will only be done to facilitate the outbound vehicles from the speedway when the race is over. The Traffic Division will contra-flow traffic on SH 114 and SH 156 until the majority of traffic is away from the speedway. Outbound Saturday: The Traffic Division is anticipating full contra-flow into Roanoke using three lanes of traffic until traffic reaches Litsey Road, at which point the one westbound contra-flow lane will be merged with the two eastbound lanes. Only one westbound traffic lane will be allowed west of 377 to I-35W, where it will be directed north onto I-35W.
· Best Routes – SH 114 traditionally has the highest traffic flow heading to Texas Motor Speedway so it is best to avoid if possible. For those traveling from Dallas, the recommended route is Interstate 35E North to Denton and then onto Interstate 35W South to the speedway (Dale Earnhardt Way). From Fort Worth, recommended routes would be SH 156 to the speedway or I-35W North to 287 North onto SH 114 East. From Denton, SH 380 West to SH 156 South is recommended or I-35W South to Dale Earnhardt Way. For those traveling from the north and Oklahoma, I-35W South to Dale Earnhardt Way.
· Best Travel Times On Race Days – With an evening race, there is a much larger travel window for race fans but an early arrival time is still suggested to avoid traffic. It is recommended to arrive no later than 5 p.m. Friday to avoid any commuter congestion for the 7:30 p.m. start of the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 Nationwide Series race. On Saturday, fans can take advantage of arriving early to tailgate as the parking lots are open as early as 6 a.m. and all are free of charge. To avoid congestion, look to arrive before 4:30 p.m. The gates open as early as 1:30 p.m. for the 6:30 p.m. start of the Samsung Mobile 500.
· Highway Construction Updates – There are three construction projects – DFW Connector, State Highway 114 and State Highway 170 – in the vicinity of Texas Motor Speedway and all will have work stoppages to assist race fans traveling to both Friday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 Nationwide race and Saturday’s Samsung Mobile 500 Sprint Cup Series race. The DFW Connector, an eight-mile project that will rebuild portions of four highways, two interchanges and five bridges that includes SH 114 and 121 and adjacent roadways located north of DFW Airport, will shut down construction Friday and Saturday and make all lanes available. SH 170, which runs just south of the speedway from I-35W to SH 114 in Trophy Club, will halt all of its construction after 10 a.m. Friday and all of Saturday. The State Highway 114 project, which focuses on a key 2.95-mile stretch that fronts Texas Motor Speedway from Interstate 35W to FM 156, has opted not to begin any actual road construction until shortly after race weekend concludes.
· Public Transportation Option – The Fort Worth Transportation Authority will have its “Victory Lane Express” bus service available for round-trip transportation to Saturday night’s Samsung Mobile 500. Park-and-ride service will leave from the Tarrant County College District's Northwest Campus from 12:30-2:30 p.m. The busses begin returning from the speedway 30 minutes after the race concludes, with the last bus departing the speedway 90 minutes following the end of the race. Cost is $10 per person for a round-trip ticket. For more information, call customer service at (817) 215-8600 or visit www.the-t.com.(TMS)(4-5-2011)

Tailgater Monthly To Put Its Touch On Pit Stop Park at Texas: Tailgater Monthly Magazine, the ultimate source for tailgaters, will sponsor Texas Motor Speedway’s recently constructed fan amenity that will now be known as The Tailgater Monthly Pit Stop Park at Texas Motor Speedway. Tailgater Monthly Magazine will help fans get geared up in the speedway’s premiere tailgating area located just outside Gate 4. The park will include a Tailgater Monthly Magazine bus that will be equipped with television screens and all the essential tailgating necessities. The Tailgater Monthly Pit Stop Park at Texas Motor Speedway allows fans with personal vehicles to enjoy the luxury of a spacious tailgating spot to accommodate all their tailgating needs. The park will include 76 reserved spaces and feature a portable comfort station; common area featuring picnic tables, horseshoe pits and bean-bag toss areas; security staffing; catering options through Levy Restaurants; daily bagged trash pick-up, and more. Spots for the Tailgater Monthly Pit Stop Park at Texas Motor Speedway are available by contacting the Texas Motor Speedway Ticket Office at (817) 215-8500.(TMS)(3-17-2011)

Texas Motor Speedway first NASCAR track to be featured on License Plate: Texas Motor Speedway will become the first NASCAR track to be featured on a state license plate as the speedway has partnered with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to provide Texans with a customized plate. The customized license plate is emblazoned with the iconic Texas Motor Speedway logo and accompanied with the famous tagline, “The Great American Speedway!” The plate also features a traditional checkered flag in the background. “We are excited that Texas Motor Speedway’s loyal race fans will be able to show their support 24/7 as they drive across the Lone Star State,” Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said. “Texas Motor Speedway is home to the most loyal race fans, so I foresee these plates being seen all over Texas’ highways.” The made-to-order plates currently are available for pre-order and will be released in May. The personalized plate costs $55 for one year, $195 for five years or $295 for 10 years. The plate is available by visiting www.myplates.com or by calling (888) 769-7528.(TMS)(3-9-2011)

LiftMaster becomes official garage door opener at TMS: Texas Motor Speedway announced that LiftMaster, the leading brand of professionally installed garage door opener systems and access solutions, has been named as the "Official Garage Door Opener" of "The Great American Speedway!" As a result of the new partnership, LiftMaster will receive numerous branding opportunities, including the naming rights for the garage area that houses the unrivaled cars, crews and equipment of the Nationwide Series and IZOD IndyCar Series. It is the first time a Texas Motor Speedway garage, now known as the LiftMaster Garage, has been corporately branded to this magnitude.(TMS)(1-25-2011)

Texas Motor Speedway to be featured on ‘Chase’: Texas Motor Speedway will be the backdrop for scenes on Wednesday night’s NBC TV show Chase, featuring Cole Hauser, Kelli Giddish and Jesse Metcalfe. The cast and crew of Jerry Bruckheimer filmed chase scenes on the track and in the garages at Texas Motor Speedway in December. Chase is scheduled to air Wednesday, January 19thy at 9:00pm/et.(TMS)(1-19-2011)

Texas unveils tailgating park: Texas Motor Speedway announced plans for the most distinctive and exclusive tailgating area in motorsports with the addition of Pit Stop Park to its wide array of fan amenities at the world-class racing venue. Pit Stop Park will encompass a huge tract of parking area larger than the size of an NFL football field - 146 yards in length by 53 yards wide - catering to race fans who desire to entertain in the premier tailgating area Texas Motor Speedway offered exclusively for personal vehicles. Pit Stop Park, located less than 100 yards from the speedway's main entrance gate (Gate 4), will be a private tailgate community with various amenities for fans visiting on Texas Motor Speedway's three major race weekends. The gated park will consist of up to 76 reserved tailgating spots and a common area that will be visually striking with lush sod entertainment areas, numerous trees and an expansive flower bed entrance that will landscape the project.(TMS)(1-6-2011)

TMS employees help school with garden: On Tuesday, Texas Motor Speedway partnered with REAL School Gardens and NASCAR to help Rosemont 6th Grade School students in Fort Worth go green in an environmentally friendly way. Texas Motor Speedway sent more than two dozen employees to refurbish the Fort Worth school’s education garden as well as donate 10 mature trees from NASCAR’s Green Clean Air program as part of the speedway’s Speeding To Help community outreach program. Texas Motor Speedway employees joined more than 100 Rosemont students as they helped in the major renovation of the school’s education garden designed by REAL School Gardens. Volunteers assisted in the overhaul of the garden by designing and building vegetable beds; constructing a special butterfly garden for perennial flowers; building three arbors to serve as entrance areas to the garden; helped improve the garden’s erosion bed and created a new compost area. To help celebrate the renovation of Rosemont School’s garden, Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief paid a special visit to the school and assisted in the ceremonial planting of the final tree with representatives from Texas Motor Speedway, NASCAR, Real School Gardens and the Rosemont students. The trees were donated as part of NASCAR’s initiative to capture the carbon emissions produced by racing in local communities such as Fort Worth, home of Texas Motor Speedway. NASCAR established the Green Clean Air program and as part of the program, the sanctioning body donated 10 trees to Texas Motor Speedway for every time the green flag waved during April’s Samsung Mobile 500. With seven caution periods and the green flag to start the race, Texas Motor Speedway received 80 trees, with 10 earmarked for this REAL School Gardens project.(TMS)(12-17-2010)

Highway improvements near Texas Motor Speedway: Denton County officials, led by Commissioner Andy Eads, joined Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage on the property of the state's largest sports venue Wednesday to unveil plans and take part in the ceremonial groundbreaking for the $15 million State Highway 114 Expansion Project. The project will focus on lane expansion on a key 2.95-mile stretch of State Highway 114 that fronts Texas Motor Speedway in an effort to make this portion of highway safer by widening its current configuration and improving traffic flow with increased capacity. This segment, which runs from Interstate 35W to FM 156, is primarily a two-lane road that will be expanded to four to six lanes of frontage roads through this 27-month project that is projected to be completed by September of 2013.(TMS)(12-9-2010)

2011 Texas Tix on sale: The opportunity for race fans to purchase individual race tickets for two historic races in 2011 – April’s Samsung Mobile 500 and June’s Firestone Twin 275s – at Texas Motor Speedway began Tuesday. The Samsung Mobile 500, scheduled for Saturday, April 9, will be the first nighttime NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in the history of Texas Motor Speedway and the first of the NASCAR season. Prime seating is available for this special event beginning at $112 as well as Texas Motor Speedway bringing back specials for the budget-conscious fan beginning as low as $20. Texas Motor Speedway is offering three fan-favorite deals for the Samsung Mobile 500: the “Backstretch Buster” seats at $20 and $40, “2 for $99” frontstretch tickets and the “Family 4-Pack” that consists of four backstretch tickets, four hot dogs and four Cokes for $159. The Samsung Mobile 500 will be a NASCAR double-header weekend and also feature the first-ever nighttime Nationwide Series race at TMS with the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 on Friday, April 8. Tickets for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 start at $25.
In 2011 Texas Motor Speedway has “No Limits” for its fans and for the first time the speedway will offer individual ticket holders the incentive of purchasing Sprint Cup weekend pit passes. The passes allow fans a behind-the-scenes look as the drivers and teams get prepared for the racing action of the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 and Samsung Mobile 500. Weekend pit passes are available for just $125 and must be accompanied with a race ticket. Camping spots for the Samsung Mobile 500 and Firestone Twin 275s weekends also will be on sale. April’s NASCAR double-header weekend camping in the Lone Star Circle is $275 while Victory Circle and Family Campground spots are $200.
Season-ticket packages are still available for those who want to enjoy all 10 exciting days of racing at Texas Motor Speedway in 2011. Texas Motor Speedway is offering special incentives to season-ticket holders such as 50 percent off pit passes, discounts on concession stand items and a pass to the “No Limits” Garage Party – an exclusive pre-race celebration for PSL and season-ticket holders only prior to the Sprint Cup Series races in April and November. Season-ticket packages, which begin as low as $270, carry a savings of 10 to 16 percent (depending on seating selection) from 2010 season-ticket pricing. Fans can purchase tickets and camping by visiting the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office beginning at 9 a.m., calling the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500 or by visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com.(TMS)(11-30-2010)

Two fans injured at TMS UPDATE: Two fans were injured at Texas Motor Speedway when a brake pad from one of the cars broke through the glass on the eighth floor of the Speedway Club above the track's first turn. Speedway spokesman Mike Zizzo says the injuries weren't life threatening. The accident happened Sunday during the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at the 1½-mile, high-banked track. It was unclear from which car the brake pad came and what caused it to become a projectile that went through the tempered glass. Zizzo said the speedway couldn't release any additional information on the injured people because of federal privacy laws.(Associated Press/ESPN)(11-8-2010)
UPDATE: Witnesses at the Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday said a brake pad from Race Car #77 flew from the track into an eighth-floor window in the Speedway Club, injuring two men. Speedway officials called it a “freak accident,” and added that it isn’t something that happens often. Eyewitness Linda Gregoire said it happened seconds after the NASCAR Sprint Car race ended. According to officials, the pad became dislodged from the vehicle and flew more than 100 feet upward. Gregoire said one of the men “was holding his chest” and another man had glass lodged in his throat. “Everyone thought it was a gunshot,” Gregoire said. “It scared the thunder out of us.” Still hot from the vehicle, the pad burned a hole in the Speedway Club carpet. “Some of the waitresses had glass on their trays,” Gregoire said excitedly. “It was very scary.” One man was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The others were treated at the scene with minor cuts and bruises. Speedway officials said they would meet with NASCAR Monday morning to see how the incident happened and figure out ways to prevent similar incidents in the future (CBS)(11-9-2010)

Texas Ranger to drive pace car at TMS: American League Cy Young contender C.J. Wilson, who helped guide the Texas Rangers to the organization’s first World Series appearance, will get the rare opportunity courtesy of Texas Motor Speedway to drive the official pace car that will lead the 43-car field to the green flag for Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race.
Honored race guests traditionally get the opportunity to ride in the lead pace car or drive a secondary pace vehicle, but NASCAR has granted Texas Motor Speedway special permission to allow Wilson to drive the 2011 “No Limits” Chevrolet Camaro that will lead the Sprint Cup Series field to the green flag. NASCAR’s long-time pace car driver Buster Auton is scheduled to provide Wilson with a mandatory on-track orientation prior to Sunday’s Chase for the Sprint Cup race. For tickets to the AAA Texas 500, visit www.texasmotorspeedway.com or call the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500.(TMS)(11-5-2010)

Willie Nelson to head pre-race show at Texas: Country music icon Willie Nelson will serve as the headliner for the American Red Cross “Salute Our Troops” Pre-Race Show prior to the AAA Texas 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Nov. 7, at Texas Motor Speedway. Nelson will perform a 45-minute concert featuring his legendary songs on the frontstretch stage beginning at 12:30 pm/ct. Nelson’s performance will be the feature act of the 2½-hour pre-race show leading up to the 2:00pm/ct green flag of the AAA Texas 500, the eighth race in the 10-event Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Fans can enjoy the concert right in front of the stage by purchasing a special $79 “mosh pit” ticket that allows fans to enjoy the best vantage point in the facility for the concert, Sprint Cup Series driver introductions and all the American Red Cross “Salute Our Troops” Pre-Race Show festivities. A AAA Texas 500 grandstand ticket must be accompanied with a “mosh pit” ticket. To purchase “mosh pit” tickets for the American Red Cross “Salute Our Troops” Pre-Race Show featuring Willie Nelson or tickets to the AAA Texas 500, visit www.texasmotorspeedway.com or call the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500.(TMS)(11-3-2010)

Dallas Morning News sponsroing TMS qualifying: The Dallas Morning News will sponsor qualifying for NASCAR’s three premier series – Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series – during the Nov. 4-7 AAA Texas 500 race week at Texas Motor Speedway. The Dallas Morning News Qualifying Days will be held Thursday, Nov. 4, and Friday, Nov. 5, as part of the AAA Texas 500 NASCAR triple-header weekend featuring the eighth race in the 10-event Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. It will mark the first time that The Dallas Morning News has sponsored qualifying for the fall NASCAR event, but the newspaper also has been a qualifying sponsor of April’s Samsung Mobile 500. Leading up to the November race weekend, The Dallas Morning News will offer a coupon in the newspaper for free admission to the WinStar World Casino 350k qualifying on Nov. 4 as well as a $10 discount coupon for the Nov. 5 combination ticket featuring Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series qualifying, and the WinStar World Casino 350k Camping World Truck Series race that evening. The Dallas Morning News subscribers also will receive additional benefits and discounts from Texas Motor Speedway.(TMS)(11-3-2010)

Texas reduces tix prices, adds benefits for 2011: Texas Motor Speedway is coupling double-digit savings from the previous year with an array of new benefits for fans purchasing the 2011 “No Limits” season-ticket package that is highlighted by a pair of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races and an IZOD IndyCar Series event. Fans can secure a season-ticket package for 10 days of race action starting as low as $270 and carrying a savings from 10 to 16 percent (depending on seating selection) from 2010 season-ticket pricing. In addition to the savings, season-ticket holders will receive perks such as 50% off pit passes, $1 off all 2011 concession stand items and a free pass to the “No Limits Garage Party” – an exclusive pre-race celebration for PSL and season-ticket holders only prior to Texas Motor Speedway’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races in April and November.
The “No Limits Garage Party,” taking place in the NASCAR Nationwide Series garage, will feature an array of entertainment such as live music, free food and beverage, giveaways, live radio broadcasts, appearances by NASCAR drivers and “The Great American Ladies!”, and many more surprises to come. The 2011 garage parties will be held prior to the Samsung Mobile 500 on Saturday, April 9, and the AAA Texas 500 on Sunday, Nov. 6. Fans can get season-ticket information and more by visiting the “No Limits” Virtual Garage featuring “The Great American Sweethearts!”, who explain various benefits when users click or type in commands at www.texasmotorspeedway.com. Season-ticket packages can be purchased by calling (817) 215-8500 or visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com.(TMS)(11-3-2010)

Trained monkeys will sell race programs at Texas: Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage has decided to monkey around with the promotion of the redesigned "No Limits" program cover and special insert that can be found in AAA Texas 500 souvenir program. Gossage is enlisting the help of Miki and Rocky, trained capuchin monkeys, to sell the race programs throughout the AAA Texas 500 NASCAR triple-header race weekend. The monkeys will make their first public appearance Friday, Nov. 5, from 2:30-4 p.m. CT at the infield Hot Rod Café. They will return and be stationed on the concourse at Gate 4 on Saturday, Nov. 6, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. prior to the start of the Nationwide Series O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge and Sunday, Nov. 7, from Noon-2 p.m. before the start of the Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500. Fans cannot miss the capuchin monkeys, as they will be decked out in their Texas Motor Speedway "No Limits" attire. Miki and Rocky will be accompanied by trained handlers as they distribute programs and collect money. Fans will have the opportunity to take photos with the duo as they sell programs throughout the weekend. If fans cannot make it by Gate 4, they can stop by and purchase their souvenir race program at all the gates, both inside the concourse and outside on the midway for $10.(TMS)(10-31-2010)

Foreigner's Kelly Hansen to Sing National Anthem at AAA 500: Kelly Hansen, lead vocalist of the classic rock band Foreigner, returns to the Texas Motor Speedway on November 7 to perform the National Anthem for the AAA Texas 500, the eighth race in the 10-event chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. Foreigner previously headlined the Samsung Mobile 500 pre-race show held at the Texas Motor Speedway in 2009.Hansen's upcoming performance bolsters an impressive NASCAR weekend that also includes a superstar-studded Asphalt Chef culinary competition to be held November 6 at the Texas Motor Speedway's Lone Star Tower clubhouse. The Asphalt Chef celebrity pairings are: Hansen with Western urban cuisine pioneer and restaurateur Tim Love; Food Network Iron Chef Mario Batali with four-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champ Jimmie Johnson, and Food Network host Guy Fieri with 2004 Sprint Cup Series champ Kurt Busch. ABC-TV/ESPN NASCAR pit reporter Dave Burns will offer play-by-play commentary. The Asphalt Chef judging panel includes Texas Rangers starting pitcher Tommy Hunter; NASCAR Sprint Cup driver/owner Michael Waltrip; local chef Dean Fearing, and NBC-Dallas sports director Newy Scruggs.(PR)(10-29-2010)

Tony Stewart "Smoke Show" on Today Show Wednesday: The Tony Stewart "Smoke Show" fantasy camp at Texas Motor Speedway that benefits the Speedway Children's Charities-Texas Chapter will be featured in a segment on NBC's Today Show, on Wednesday during the 7 a.m. CT/8 a.m. ET hour. Reporter Jenna Bush Hager, daughter of 43rd President George W. Bush and Dallas native, came out to Texas Motor Speedway in mid-August to partake in the annual charity event at Texas Motor Speedway hosted by Stewart. The "Smoke Show" is a one-day fantasy camp where each participant gets the opportunity to feel what it is like to be a NASCAR driver for a day. The participants not only drive stock cars on Texas Motor Speedway's high-banked, 1.5-mile oval, but take part in pre-race activities and a post-race Victory Lane celebration for the full experience. The day was highlighted by driving lessons and a two-seater ride for the guests, including Bush Hager, by Stewart. Hager Bush's story will focus on Stewart's charity work, including the "Smoke Show" that raised over $200,000 during the one-day event.(TMS)(9-21-2010)

AAA to sponsor Texas fall race: AAA Texas will serve as the title sponsor of the fall NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway through 2014 as part of one of the most comprehensive race entitlement packages in the sport. The five-year agreement between AAA Texas and Texas Motor Speedway will showcase the title sponsorship of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, the eighth event in the prestigious 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, and also feature official and exclusive status as well as unique branding opportunities at the world-class motorsports facility. The centerpiece of the deal, formerly known as the Dickies 500, will be re-titled the AAA Texas 500 and makes its debut under the new name on Sunday, Nov. 7. The AAA Texas 500 will headline that NASCAR triple-header weekend at Texas Motor Speedway and this year’s race will mark the sixth running of the Sprint Cup Series event that debuted in 2005. AAA members will enjoy special benefits at Texas Motor Speedway events, including special offers on event tickets and “AAA Fast Lanes,” special spectator entrances where fans with AAA membership cards can avoid the lines at the entry gates with exclusive access to express lines into the facility. Also, AAA will provide shuttle buses and trams to help fans more easily move around the massive Texas Motor Speedway during major event weekends. In addition to the race entitlement, AAA Texas will be the Official Auto Club and Insurance Company of Texas Motor Speedway. No financial terms of the five-year agreement were disclosed.
Individual tickets for the AAA Texas 500 will go on sale Wednesday, April 28, and will be available by calling (817) 215-8500 or by visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com. Information about AAA at www.AAA.com.(TMS)(3-1-2010)

Texas race times pushed back two hours: Texas Motor Speedway received approval from NASCAR to move the start times of its two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races for the upcoming season to be consistent with the Western Region start times. The Samsung Mobile 500 on April 18 and the Lone Star 500 on Nov. 7 will now have 2:00 pm Central Time starts, moving both races ahead two hours from their originally announced 12 noon CT times. The move was a result of Texas Motor Speedway petitioning NASCAR on behalf of its fans requesting a later start time as well as potential logistical issues posed by the earlier start. “On behalf of our fans, we greatly appreciate NASCAR, along with television broadcast partners FOX (Samsung Mobile 500) and ESPN (Lone Star 500), hearing their collective voice and making the time changes to better suit their wishes and needs,” Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said. “NASCAR has made it clear that they are going to a ‘back to basics’ approach, and accommodating their promoters on behalf of their fans as well as avoid some potential logistical issues defines that new approach.”
The time change for both races will complement NASCAR’s move to uniform start times for all its races this season. NASCAR is just shifting Texas Motor Speedway from an “Eastern/Central Region” designation to a “Western Region” one, where it joins Infineon Raceway (California), Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Nevada), Auto Club Speedway (California) and Phoenix International Raceway (Arizona) for standardized 3:00pm/et (2:00pm/ct) starts. The remaining Sprint Cup races in the “Eastern/Central Region” (with the exception of night races) will begin at 1:00pm/et (12Noon/ct). Tickets for the Samsung Mobile 500 and Lone Star 500 race weekends are available by calling (817) 215-8500 or visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com.(TMS)(2-4-2010)