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As of 2013, the track had a capacity of 112,662, down from its peak of over 200,000 in the early 2000s. The track features numerous amenities, including the world's largest HD video screen, almost 200 suites, a Speedway Club overlooking the first turn, and 10-story building dedicated for office space and [[Condominium|condominiums]]. The Texas Motor Speedway complex also features two adjacent tracks, including a {{Convert|1/5|mi|km}} paved short track and a {{Convert|2/5|mi|km}} dirt track.
Following the decline of the [[Texas World Speedway]] that began in the 1980s, the state of Texas found itself without a major racetrack and races for more than a decade. In the early 1990s, the newly incorporated [[Speedway Motorsports]] and its founder, [[Bruton Smith]], saw itself with a major rise in profits that correlated with a rise of popularity in stock car racing. Using the new profits he had made, he set out to build a major racetrack west of the [[Mississippi River]], deciding on the [[Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]] in 1994 with eventual longtime track general manager [[Eddie Gossage]]. Construction began in 1995 and completed in 1996, with the track holding its first [[NASCAR]] and [[IndyCar]] races in 1997.
== Description ==
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{{See also|Bruton Smith|Eddie Gossage}}
With the rising success of [[Speedway Motorsports]], owned by businessman [[Bruton Smith]], intended to build a major racetrack west of the [[Mississippi River]] with the rise of popularity in stock car racing. Smith employed the help of then Vice President of Public Relations at the [[Charlotte Motor Speedway]], [[Eddie Gossage]], to find a suitable location for the track. Three primary markets were decided on by Bruton: [[Las Vegas]], the [[Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]], and [[St. Louis]]. In Las Vegas, the duo found out that local businessman [[Ralph Engelstad]] was scouting the same land as the duo; under the orders of Smith, the two stopped scouting Las Vegas to let Engelstad scout the land that later became the [[Las Vegas Motor Speedway]].<ref name=":82">{{cite podcast |title=28 - Eddie Gossage - Deep In the Heart of Texas |website=Life In The Fast Lane |publisher=[[Spotify]] |date=August 17, 2023 |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Mg0XBi5bpthleb3vAKVPa?si=Es0HnvCIR4m82Prge10W_A |time=59:18 |access-date=August 20, 2023 |last=Gonzalez |first=Pedro |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821140313/https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Mg0XBi5bpthleb3vAKVPa?si=Es0HnvCIR4m82Prge10W_A |url-status=live }}</ref> By November 18, 1994, the ''[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]]'' reported that Smith and Gossage had made their final choices in either of the two remaining places.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Roland S. |last2=Smith |first2=Jack Z. |date=November 18, 1994 |title=Speedway decision nears finish line |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-speedway-decisi/130901186/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831042820/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-speedway-decisi/130901186/ |archive-date=August 31, 2023 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-speedway-decisi/130901199/ 9A] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> In St. Louis, the duo saw numerous pieces of land that were flooded, and scratched off St. Louis. In Dallas–Fort Worth, the duo met businessman [[Ross Perot Jr.]] and flew in Perot's helicopter to scout a piece of land that was owned by Perot. The land impressed the duo,<ref name=":82"/> and by November 30, the ''Star-Telegram'' reported that the two were planning to build a 150,000-capacity speedway at a cost of around $75,000,000 (adjusted for inflation, ${{Inflation|index=USD|value=75,000,000|start_year=1994|fmt=c}}).<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Roland S. |last2=Sullivan |first2=Kristin N. |date=November 30, 1994 |title=Smith expected to have inside track for big race |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-smith-expected/130914548/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903001244/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-smith-expected/130914548/ |archive-date=September 3, 2023 |access-date=September 2, 2023 |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |pages=17A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-smith-expected/130914562/ 21A] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> Originally, the speedway was set to have a capacity of 70,000 seats. However, the capacity quickly grew in the initial planning stages; when Bruton requested that 5,000 seats be added, Gossage obliged. According to Gossage, "the next day he’d put in a change order for 5,000 more seats. And then a few days or a week later, he’d say, ‘Do you think you could sell 80 (thousand)?’ I’d say, ‘Oh, piece of cake.' And then one day I looked and we were at 155,000 seats and I told Bruton we’ve got to stop doing this."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bonkowski |first=Jerry |date=November 30, 2023 |title='Overcommitted' Racing Super Promoter Eddie Gossage Never Mailed It In |url=https://www.autoweek.com/racing/indycar/a45997253/super-promoter-gossage-never-mailed-it-in/ |access-date=January 18, 2024 |website=[[Autoweek]] |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119010939/https://www.autoweek.com/racing/indycar/a45997253/super-promoter-gossage-never-mailed-it-in/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Groundbreaking on the track took place on April 11, 1995.<ref name=":73">{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Roland S. |date=April 12, 1995 |title=Speedway is off to a bang-up start |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-speedway-is-off/127877247/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709031523/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-speedway-is-off/127877247/ |archive-date=July 9, 2023 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-speedway-is-off/127877263/ 15A] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> Gossage was later asked to run the track in late May, which he accepted.<ref name=":72">{{Cite news |last=Mulhurn |first=Mike |date=April 6, 1997 |title=OPENING UP: Smith's Texas lieutenants ready for show to begin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-opening-up-smith/130152277/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831044327/https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-opening-up-smith/130152277/ |archive-date=August 31, 2023 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |work=[[Winston-Salem Journal]] |pages=C6 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> According to the duo, the track was inspired by previous tracks Smith owned, with Smith wanting to incorporate the best ideas from those tracks and combine them into the construction of Texas Motor Speedway.<ref>{{cite podcast |title=28 - Eddie Gossage - Deep In the Heart of Texas |website=Life In The Fast Lane |publisher=[[Spotify]] |date=August 17, 2023 |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Mg0XBi5bpthleb3vAKVPa?si=Es0HnvCIR4m82Prge10W_A |time=1:09:09 |access-date=August 20, 2023 |last1=Gonzalez |first1=Pedro |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821140313/https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Mg0XBi5bpthleb3vAKVPa?si=Es0HnvCIR4m82Prge10W_A |url-status=live }}</ref> The speedway initially implemented a dual-banked surface to accompany both [[NASCAR]] and [[open-wheel racing]]; a higher bank of 24 degrees meant to accommodate stock cars, and a lower bank of 8 degrees to accommodate open-wheel cars. In addition, for open-wheel races, a temporary wall was planned to be implemented each time an open-wheel series raced in order to reduce speeds.<ref name=":734">{{Cite news |last=Smith. |first=Jack Z. |date=April 21, 1996 |title=Developer says speedway will be the Ritz of racing |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-developer-says/138904884/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126170306/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-developer-says/138904884/ |archive-date=January 26, 2024 |access-date=January 20, 2024 |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-developer-says/138904908/ 29A] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> The plan met skepticism from open-wheel personalities such as Cary Agajanian<ref name=":739">{{Cite news |last=Sturbin |first=John |date=May 26, 1996 |title=Dual-bank plan fuels skepticism |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-dual-bank-plan/139199645/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126170312/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-dual-bank-plan/139199645/ |archive-date=January 26, 2024 |access-date=January 21, 2024 |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |pages=22C |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> and [[Jimmy Vasser]] over the feasibility of such a system.<ref name=":738">{{Cite news |last=Sturbin |first=John |date=September 12, 1996 |title=Motorsports Report |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-motorsports-rep/139200463/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126170305/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-motorsports-rep/139200463/ |archive-date=January 26, 2024 |access-date=January 21, 2024 |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |pages=19D |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> By June 1996, Agajanian reported that the speedway had ditched plans to make a temporary wall, instead deciding to paint a line where the change in banking was.<ref name=":737">{{Cite news |last=Sturbin |first=John |date=June 3, 1996 |title=Debate gears up on speedway's dual-banking concept |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-debate-gears-up/139199756/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126170249/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-debate-gears-up/139199756/ |archive-date=January 26, 2024 |access-date=January 21, 2024 |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |pages=7D |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> On August 3, the track officially opened to the public for the first time, holding a charity "open-house" event.<ref name=":7315">{{Cite news |last=Mahlberg |first=Bob |date=August 4, 1996 |title=Charity event at speedway gives 38,000 fans test drive |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-charity-event-a/139288335/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126170257/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-charity-event-a/139288335/ |archive-date=January 26, 2024 |access-date=January 21, 2024 |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-charity-event-a/139288365/ 11A] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> Eventual NASCAR races were announced in July 1996,<ref name=":742">{{Cite news |last=Sturbin |first=John |date=July 12, 1996 |title=Green flag drops on Texas 500 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-green-flag-drop/130958439/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831044320/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-green-flag-drop/130958439/ |archive-date=August 31, 2023 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-green-flag-drop/130958598/ 6D] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> and IndyCar races were announced the next month on August 7, with the IndyCar race to be run at night, the first IndyCar race to be run at night.<ref name=":742" /><ref name=":743">{{Cite news |last=Sturbin |first=John |date=August 8, 1996 |title=An Indy night shirt |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-an-indy-night-s/139200208/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126170318/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-an-indy-night-s/139200208/ |archive-date=January 26, 2024 |access-date=January 21, 2024 |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-an-indy-night-s/139200230/ 7D] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref>
In August 1996, a quarter-mile dirt track based in [[Alvin, Texas]], sued Smith's speedway over naming rights for the name "Texas Motor Speedway". Gossage and Bruton countersued on September 9, claiming that majority owner Jack Holland was trying to "squeeze and extort money" from them.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Douglas Jr. |first=Jack |date=September 10, 1996 |title=Speedway developers file countersuit against dirt track with same name |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-speedway-develo/129843404/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914180807/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-speedway-develo/129843404/ |archive-date=September 14, 2023 |access-date=August 11, 2023 |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |pages=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-speedway-develo/129843425/ 4B] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> As a result, the speedway changed its name to "Texas International Raceway" on September 11.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Strubin |first=John |date=September 12, 1996 |title=Speedway changes name |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-racetrack-chang/129844370/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914180807/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-racetrack-chang/129844370/ |archive-date=September 14, 2023 |access-date=August 11, 2023 |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-racetrack-chang/129844388/ 2A] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> Although litigation was expected to take years, on December 2, the dispute was settled out of court. With the settlement, the dirt track agreed to change its name, with the speedway able to retain the "Texas Motor Speedway" name.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Strubin |first=John |date=December 2, 1996 |title=Checkered flag |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-checkered-flag/129848830/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914180806/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-checkered-flag/129848830/ |archive-date=September 14, 2023 |access-date=August 11, 2023 |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-checkered-flag/129848842/ 13A] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref>
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By 2020, Gossage was in talks with Marcus on retiring from his position, stating that he had grown upset at the IndyCar racing product on the newly-reconfigured track and consequences from the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Strubin |first=John |date=May 14, 2021 |title=Departing Gossage: 'It's Probably Time' |url=http://www.racintoday.com/archives/97042 |access-date=August 21, 2023 |website=Racin’ Today |language=en-US |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821140314/http://www.racintoday.com/archives/97042 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 13, 2021 |title=Texas Motor Speedway's Gossage stepping down |url=https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/story/_/id/31438794/eddie-gossage-stepping-24-years-president-texas-motor-speedway |access-date=August 22, 2023 |website=[[ESPN]] |language=en |agency=[[Associated Press]] |archive-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822043233/https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/story/_/id/31438794/eddie-gossage-stepping-24-years-president-texas-motor-speedway |url-status=live }}</ref> By December, he confirmed his decision to retire to Marcus,<ref name=":0" /> officially announcing his retirement in a press conference on May 13, 2021, with his retirement effective after the [[2021 NASCAR All-Star Race]] that was set to take place on June 13.<ref name=":32">{{Cite news |last=Davison |first=Drew |date=May 14, 2021 |title=After 25 years, Texas Motor Speedway head Gossage to step down |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-after-25-years/130371134/ |access-date=August 20, 2023 |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-after-25-years/130371145/ 7A] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821140314/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-after-25-years/130371134/ |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref>
==== Rob Ramage and Mark Faber
After Gossage's retirement, the speedway announced that they would reduce capacity down to 75,000 and renovate the suites at the track.<ref name=":16">{{Cite news |last=Engel |first=Mac |date=June 15, 2021 |title=TMS hopes to offer more with less as sport enters new era |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-tms-hopes-to-of/138887933/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116201909/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-tms-hopes-to-of/138887933/ |archive-date=January 16, 2024 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |pages=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-tms-hopes-to-of/138887956/ 3B] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> On August 4, 2021, Marcus Smith announced that Rob Ramage, a Texas Motor Speedway executive and counselor, had been promoted to replace Eddie Gossage as general manager.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davison |first=Drew |date=August 5, 2021 |title=Texas Motor Speedway names Ramage next general manager |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-texas-motor-spe/130371614/ |access-date=August 20, 2023 |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |pages=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-texas-motor-spe/130371640/ 6B] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821143318/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-texas-motor-spe/130371614/ |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> In an interview with [[D Magazine|''D Magazine'']], Ramage pledged that the speedway would place a bigger emphasis on technology, including releasing [[Non-fungible token|NFTs]] and experimenting with [[augmented reality]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swanger |first=Ben |date=October 1, 2021 |title=New GM Rob Ramage Takes the Wheel at Texas Motor Speedway |url=https://www.dmagazine.com/sports/2021/10/new-gm-rob-ramage-takes-the-wheel-at-texas-motor-speedway/ |access-date=January 16, 2024 |website=[[D Magazine]] |language=en-US |archive-date=January 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116173852/https://www.dmagazine.com/sports/2021/10/new-gm-rob-ramage-takes-the-wheel-at-texas-motor-speedway/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He also expressed a desire to increase fan diversity, specifically with Hispanics.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=Brian |date=May 20, 2022 |title=Drawing in more Hispanic fans at Texas Motor Speedway |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/news/2022/05/19/creating-more-hispanic-fans-at-texas-motor-speedway |access-date=January 16, 2024 |website=[[Spectrum News 1 Austin]] |language=en |archive-date=January 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116173852/https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/news/2022/05/19/creating-more-hispanic-fans-at-texas-motor-speedway |url-status=live }}</ref> In September, NASCAR announced that the NASCAR All-Star Race was set to return to the speedway in 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Davison |first1=Drew |date=September 16, 2021 |title=NASCAR's All-Star Race is returning to Texas Motor Speedway |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-nascars-all-st/138876223/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116173854/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-nascars-all-st/138876223/ |archive-date=January 16, 2024 |access-date=January 16, 2024 |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |pages=2B |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref>
[[File:TexasMotorSpeedway23.jpg|thumb|The Texas Motor Speedway in October 2023.]]
In 2022, the track oversaw controversies in both of its NASCAR races along with general criticism for a poor racing product, leading calls from drivers to completely renovate the track.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Fielding |first=Gregg |date=September 28, 2022 |title=The eyes of Texas are upon Texas Motor Speedway and its future |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/racing/auto-racing-digest/nascar/the-eyes-of-texas-are-upon-texas-motor-speedway-and-its-future |access-date=January 10, 2024 |website=Auto Racing Digest |publisher=[[Sports Illustrated]] |language=en |archive-date=January 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110210650/https://www.si.com/fannation/racing/auto-racing-digest/nascar/the-eyes-of-texas-are-upon-texas-motor-speedway-and-its-future |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Walters |first=Shane |date=September 24, 2022 |title=Kyle Larson wants Texas Motor Speedway demolished; Short track |url=https://racingnews.co/2022/09/24/kyle-larson-wants-texas-motor-speedway-demolished-short-track/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |website=Racing News |language=en-US |archive-date=January 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112163844/https://racingnews.co/2022/09/24/kyle-larson-wants-texas-motor-speedway-demolished-short-track/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In August, Ramage was removed as general manager after only one year, having
== Events ==
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==== NASCAR ====
{{See also|Ferko v. National Ass'n for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc.|Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400}}
Despite then-NASCAR vice president of competition [[Mike Helton]] stating that the NASCAR "Cup schedule can't grow much more" in January 1995,<ref name=":52232">{{Cite news |last=Luther |first=Bill |date=January 15, 1995 |title=Building track no sure bet to land Winston Cup race |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-building-tra/137132571/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220202126/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-building-tra/137132571/ |archive-date=December 20, 2023 |access-date=December 20, 2023 |work=[[Knoxville News Sentinel]] |pages=C6 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> many within the NASCAR media landscape predicted that with the booming rise of popularity in NASCAR that started in the early 1990s, NASCAR would have to both expand to new markets and leave traditional markets behind that had been staples of the schedule since NASCAR's inception.<ref name=":52242">{{Cite news |last=Hembree |first=Mike |date=February 12, 1995 |title=Winston Cup's overflowing |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-winston-cups-overfl/137133071/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220202128/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-winston-cups-overfl/137133071/ |archive-date=December 20, 2023 |access-date=December 20, 2023 |work=[[The Greenville News]] |pages=4 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref><ref name=":52252">{{Cite news |last=Mulhurn |first=Mike |date=January 22, 1995 |title=Growing Pains |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-growing-pains/137133343/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220202130/https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-growing-pains/137133343/ |archive-date=December 20, 2023 |access-date=December 20, 2023 |work=[[Winston-Salem Journal]] |pages=C9 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> Midway through 1996, [[Knoxville News Sentinel|''Knoxville News Sentinel'']] writer Bill Luther wrote that numerous short tracks, including [[North Wilkesboro Speedway]] and the [[Martinsville Speedway]] were "in peril" of losing Winston Cup dates.<ref name=":52262">{{Cite news |last=Luther |first=Bill |date=April 18, 1996 |title=NASCAR short-track races in peril |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-nascar-short/137133870/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220202132/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-nascar-short/137133870/ |archive-date=December 20, 2023 |access-date=December 20, 2023 |work=[[Knoxville News Sentinel]] |pages=C6 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> NASCAR announced the 1997 schedule in September, with numerous changes on the schedule; among said changes were a new date for Texas in the spring and North Wilkesboro being gone from the schedule completely.<ref name=":722">{{Cite news |last=Boggs |first=Johnny D. |date=September 2, 1996 |title=NASCAR announces its '97 Winston Cup schedule |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-nascar-announce/137135220/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220202127/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-nascar-announce/137135220/ |archive-date=December 20, 2023 |access-date=December 20, 2023 |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |pages=15C |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> Until 2022, the spring race has ran annually in at least some form; in 2021, its points race was transferred to a new date at the [[Circuit of the Americas]], with the track instead running the [[NASCAR All-Star Race]] as an attempt by SMI CEO [[Marcus Smith (businessman)|Marcus Smith]] to increase declining attendance.<ref name=":10" /> After two spring races that were met with relative scorn,<ref name=":2" /> the spring date was removed for 2023,<ref name=":53">{{Cite news |last=Engel |first=Mac |date=September 16, 2022 |title=NASCAR hits Texas Motor Speedway with nasty slap |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-nascar-hits-tex/139299323/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126170312/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-nascar-hits-tex/139299323/ |archive-date=January 26, 2024 |access-date=January 21, 2024 |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |pages=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-nascar-hits-tex/139299341/ 3B] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> with the All-Star Race moving to North Wilkesboro, the track the speedway removed back in 1997.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Engle |first=Greg |date=September 8, 2022 |title=North Wilkesboro Speedway Comes Full Circle With Nascar All-Star Race |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/gregengle/2022/09/08/north-wilkesboro-speedway-comes-full-circle-with-nascar-all-star-race/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 10, 2024 |website=[[Forbes]] |language=en |archive-date=January 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110212151/https://www.forbes.com/sites/gregengle/2022/09/08/north-wilkesboro-speedway-comes-full-circle-with-nascar-all-star-race/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The spring date returned in 2024 as a result of the track's only Cup Series date, which was in the fall, shifting back to the spring.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=DeGroot |first=Nick |date=October 4, 2023 |title=2024 NASCAR Cup Series schedule revealed |url=https://www.autosport.com/nascar/news/2024-nascar-cup-series-schedule-revealed/10528668/ |access-date=January 22, 2024 |website=[[Autosport]] |language=en |archive-date=January 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126170245/https://www.autosport.com/nascar/news/2024-nascar-cup-series-schedule-revealed/10528668/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
After the track got a race date within the NASCAR Cup Series schedule in 1997, [[Bruton Smith]] was reported to have an extreme desire to have a second NASCAR Cup Series date at Texas Motor Speedway, to the point where he was rumored that if NASCAR leadership did not agree with it, Bruton would split off to start his own racing series.<ref name=":76">{{Cite news |last=Fowler |first=Scott |date=May 21, 2015 |title=Bruton Smith draws honors from NASCAR |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-bruton-smith-draw/127799011/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708080722/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-bruton-smith-draw/127799011/ |archive-date=July 8, 2023 |access-date=July 7, 2023 |work=[[The Charlotte Observer]] |pages=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-bruton-smith-draw/127799052/ 6B] |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> In 2002, Francis Ferko, a minority shareholder in SMI, filed a lawsuit against NASCAR and the [[International Speedway Corporation]] for violating antitrust laws, feeling as if SMI did not do enough to protect his investment. A settlement was eventually reached in 2004, which guaranteed a second NASCAR race weekend for Texas at the cost of one of [[Rockingham Speedway]]'s weekends.<ref name=":15" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Jeff |date=May 15, 2004 |title=The case is over; now for the ripple effects |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-the-case-is-ove/130919136/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831044334/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-the-case-is-ove/130919136/ |archive-date=August 31, 2023 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |pages=10D |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> The date remained on the schedule annually until 2023, when it was moved to the spring.<ref name=":11" /> Along with its Cup Series dates, the track also has hosted lower-series NASCAR races, including second-tier [[NASCAR Xfinity Series]] and third-tier [[NASCAR Truck Series]] races.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 29, 2021 |title=Back to the Future: New venues, return of familiar locations highlight 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series slates |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2021/09/29/back-to-the-future-new-venues-return-of-familiar-locations-highlight-2022-nascar-xfinity-series-nascar-camping-world-truck-series-slates/ |access-date=September 30, 2021 |publisher=NASCAR}}</ref>
==== Open-wheel racing ====
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