So you're heading out to Texas Motor Speedway for the NASCAR races this weekend. Or maybe you're just confused by the hundred thousand-plus fans, campers and all, descending on far north Fort Worth.
Here's everything you ever wanted to know about NASCAR's twice-a-year stop in North Texas:
The track: Texas Motor Speedway seats more than 180,000 people. That includes "infield" seating inside the track, luxury suites and the condos line the south end of the track. The track itself is 1 1/2 miles long and opened in 1997. And, starting this year, the entire speedway will be smoke-free, a ban that includes electronic cigarettes.
The races: There's actually two NASCAR races at the speedway this weekend, starting on Saturday at 2 p.m. with the Xfinity Series My Bariatric Solutions 300. That's 200 laps around the track for 300 miles total.
Think of the Xfinity Series as NASCAR's minor-league tour, with its own standings. Still, Xfinity Series races often feature drivers from the main event, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
And speaking of the main event, the Monster Energy series' O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 – 334 laps for 501 miles total – starts Sunday at 1 p.m.
The favorites: Kevin Harvick, winner of the AAA Texas 500 at TMS in November, opened as the favorite to win this week's race, followed by Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch, according to CBS Sports.
The cowboy hat: Winners at TMS are traditionally given a Charlie 1 Horse cowboy hat. Because, Texas.
The "Big Hoss TV:" The track's video board, which sits along the backstretch, is the largest in the world, spanning 16,000 square feet. And, as TMS officials are quick to point out, that's 79 percent bigger than the screen at AT&T Stadium, which is 11,520 square feet.
The parking: General parking at the speedway is free. The lots are just west of the speedway.
The traffic: With thousands of race fans heading to the track, be prepared to sit in traffic. But here are a few tips, depending on where you're coming from:
- From Fort Worth: You can take Interstate 35W to Texas 114, near the main entrance to the speedway, or you can exit I-35 early at U.S. 287 and go northwest to 114, arriving at the speedway from the west. Farm Road 156 north out of Fort Worth, and then east on 114 is also an option.
- From Dallas: Take 114 straight to the speedway.
- From Denton: You can take I-35W south to 114, or head west out of Denton on U.S. 380 and then south on Farm Road 156 to 114, arriving at the speedway from the west.
Thoroughly confused? Check out these handy maps on the TMS website.
The private jets: Race teams and owners, sponsors and anyone else lucky to enough to charter a private jet fly into Fort Worth Alliance Airport, just south of the speedway. Here's what the tarmac looks like on race weekend:
