Texas World Speedway, was built in 1969 and is one of only seven superspeedways of two miles (3 km) or greater in the United States used for racing, the others being Indianapolis, Daytona, Pocono, Talladega, Auto Club, and Michigan (there are several tracks of similar size used for vehicle testing). TWS is located on approximately 600 acres (2.4 km²) on State Highway 6 in College Station, Texas. There is a 2-mile (3 km) oval, and several road course configurations. The full oval configuration is closely related to that of Michigan and is often considered the latter's sister track, featuring steeper banking, at 22 degrees in the turns, 12 degrees at the start/finish line, and only 2 degrees along the backstretch, compared to Michigan's respective 18, 12, and 5 degrees. The last major race occurred at the track in 1981. The track was used by amateur racing clubs such as the SCCA, NASA, Porsche Club of America, Corinthian Vintage Auto Racing, CMRA, driving schools and car clubs, as well as hosting music concerts and the like. The speedway was also a race track location for the video game, Need for Speed: Pro Street.
During the 1980s the track fell into a state of disrepair, and both NASCAR and the Indy cars chose to drop it from their respective schedules. It continued to operate in a limited role for amateur racing. In 1991 Ishin Speed Sport, Inc. purchased the facility and repaved and modestly refurbished it. It hosted races for ARCA, but after 1993 the company withdrew. The facility did serve as a venue for amateur and club racing, along with private testing. NASCAR teams have used the oval for testing (as it mimics Michigan and Fontana), as a way of skirting the tight restrictions prohibiting testing on active tracks on the schedule.
During a January 2009 test, Greg Biffle managed to reach a top speed of 218 mph (351 km/h) in a test for Roush Fenway Racing as part of evading NASCAR's testing ban. This became the fastest speed ever achieved on this track by a stock car (amateur or professional). The average speed for the full lap was 195 mph (314 km/h).
On February 23, 1993, Jeff Andretti set the (then) unofficial closed-course speed record for IndyCars of 234.5 MPH, the fastest speed ever recorded at Texas World Speedway, while testing for the 1993 Indianapolis 500. This marked his first time back in an IndyCar since the 1992 Indianapolis 500 when he lost a wheel and crashed head-on into the wall, smashing both his legs. Andretti's fast run came at the conclusion of two days of testing where he consistently posted laps in the 230 MPH range. Andretti's Buick-powered Lola was prepared by Pagan Racing of Corpus Christi, Texas.
Texas World Speedway was also the site of the 1974 Willie Nelson's Fourth of July Picnic with Willie Nelson and his guests Jimmy Buffett, Townes Van Zandt, and Kinky Friedman performing as well. It was also known for a fire that destroyed several cars including one owned by Robert Earl Keen. The cover of Robert's album, Picnic, shows a picture of his car on fire at the picnic. On September 18, 2017 an article on Jalopnik was posted confirming the closure of Texas World Speedway which was being used as a dumping ground for vehicles flooded out by Hurricane Harvey.
The entire 600 acre facility is currently leased to Copart Inc as a Catastrophe storage facility for vehicles damaged by hurricane Harvey. The vehicles will be stored while the numerous contracted insurance providers process the vehicles for disposition via Auction, Where the mass majority will be sold with a certificate of destruction title, I.e. Parts only from dismantling companies. Copart is only the Acquisition, Storage and Auction company and has no connection to what happens to the vehicles, that is only held by Federal and State laws which vary from each state.
Video Texas World Speedway
Race history
USAC winners
NASCAR race winners
- Bobby Isaac's 1969 win was his first in a long-distance superspeedway race.
- Richard Petty's 1972 win was his first in a Dodge. His 1971 win was the only time he won the season finale in his illustrious career which saw 200 wins(most of all-time) and 7 Championships(tied for most all-time with Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson).
- The 1979 400 was NASCAR's first race at Texas after it shut down for the 1974-5 seasons; USAC stock cars and Indycars returned to Texas in 1976.
USAC Stock Cars
- 1973 (April 7) Gordon Johncock
- 1973 (October 6) Roger McCluskey
- 1976 (June 6) A. J. Foyt
- 1976 (August 1) A. J. Foyt
- 1976 (October 31) Bobby Allison
- 1977 (June 5) Bay Darnell
- 1978 (March 12) A. J. Foyt
- 1978 (June 4) Keith Davis
- 1978 (November 12) A. J. Foyt
- 1979 (March 11) A. J. Foyt
- 1979 (November 11) Bobby Allison
- 1980 (March 9) Terry Ryan
SCCA Can-Am winners
IMSA winners
Maps Texas World Speedway
References
External links
- Texas World Speedway - Homepage
- Trackpedia guide to driving the Texas World Speedway
Source of article : Wikipedia
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