Texas World Speedway

Not to be confused with Texas Motor Speedway.
Texas World Speedway
TWS
Location College Station, Texas, United States
Coordinates 30°32′13″N 96°13′16″W / 30.537°N 96.221°W / 30.537; -96.221Coordinates: 30°32′13″N 96°13′16″W / 30.537°N 96.221°W / 30.537; -96.221
Opened 1969
Oval
Surface Asphalt
Length 2 mi (3.2 km)
Turns 4
Road Course
Length 2.9 mi (4.67 km)
Turns 15

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,[1] compared to Michigan's respective 18, 12, and 5 degrees. The last major race occurred at the track in 1981. The track is still 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.

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 has since served 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).[2]

On February 3, 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.

In January 2016, the track should be close permanently, and the land will be redeveloped as a housing development known as "Southern Pointe".[3]

Race history

USAC winners

Season Race Name Winning Driver Chassis Engine Tires Team
1973 Texas 200 Al Unser Parnelli Offenhauser Firestone Vels Parnelli Jones
1976 Texas 150 A.J. Foyt Coyote Foyt Goodyear Gilmore Racing
Benihana World Series of Auto Racing Johnny Rutherford McLaren Offenhauser Goodyear Team McLaren
1977 Texas Grand Prix Tom Sneva McLaren Cosworth Goodyear Team Penske
American Parts 200 Johnny Rutherford McLaren Cosworth Goodyear Team McLaren
1978 Coors 200 Danny Ongais Parnelli Cosworth Goodyear Interscope Racing
Texas Grand Prix A.J. Foyt Coyote Foyt Goodyear Gilmore Racing
1979 Coors 200 A.J. Foyt Coyote Foyt Goodyear Gilmore Racing
Lubriloln Grand Prix A.J. Foyt Parnelli Cosworth Goodyear Gilmore Racing
1980 Texas 200 Race cancelled

NASCAR race winners

Season Winning Driver Manufacturer
1969 Texas 500 Bobby Isaac Dodge
1971 Texas 500 Richard Petty Plymouth
1972 Texas 500 Richard Petty Dodge
1972 Lone Star 500 Buddy Baker Dodge
1973 Alamo 500 Richard Petty Dodge
1979 Texas 400 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet
1980 Budweiser 400 Cale Yarborough Chevrolet
1981 Budweiser 400 Benny Parsons Ford

USAC Stock Cars

SCCA Can-Am winners

Season Winning Driver Chassis Engine
1969 New Zealand Bruce McLaren McLaren M8B Chevrolet

IMSA winners

Season Winning Driver Car
1972 Mexico Juan Izquierdo
Mexico Daniel Muñiz		 Ford Mustang
1995 South Africa Wayne Taylor Ferrari 333SP
1996 South Africa Wayne Taylor
United States Jim Pace		 Riley & Scott Mk III-Oldsmobile

References

  1. ↑ "1978 USAC Texas Grand Prix telecast".
  2. ↑ "Notebook: Biffle hits 218 mph in test at Texas World". Nascar.com. January 22, 2009. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  3. ↑ http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/Texas-Speedway-Set-to-Close-to-Develop--296510221.html
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