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Texas World Speedway

Coordinates: 30°32′15″N 96°13′14″W / 30.53762°N 96.22058°W / 30.53762; -96.22058
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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, the others being Indianapolis, Daytona, Pocono, Talladega, California, and Michigan. 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 last major race occurred at the track in 1981. The track is still used by amateur racing clubs such as the SCCA, NASA, 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 IndyCar Series chose to drop it from the schedule. It continued to operate in a limited role for amateur racing. In 1993, the track reopened after a repaving and moderate refurbishment. It hosted a race for the ARCA series but due to the lack of modern facilities and amenities, it has since served as a circuit for amateur and club racing, along with private testing, and also hosts NASCAR teams' testing for Michigan International Speedway and California Speedway because of NASCAR conducting new 2006 restrictions prohibiting both tracks from being used for tests. With the 2009 NASCAR testing ban, the track expects more testing in the three national series because the track is not on any of the three circuits, and therefore is legal.

During a January 2009 test, Greg Biffle managed to reach 218 miles per hour (351 km/h) in a test for Roush Fenway Racing as part of evading NASCAR's testing ban. This became the fastest time ever achieved on this track by any competitor (amateur or professional).[1]

Race history

USAC winners

Season Winning Driver Chassis Engine Team
1973 Al Unser Parnelli Offy Vels Parnelli Jones
1974 Gary Bettenhausen McLaren Offy Penske Racing
1976 A.J. Foyt Coyote Foyt A.J. Foyt Enterprises
1976 Johnny Rutherford McLaren Offy Bruce McLaren Motor Racing
1977 Tom Sneva McLaren Cosworth Penske Racing
1977 Johnny Rutherford McLaren Cosworth Bruce McLaren Motor Racing
1978 Danny Ongais Parnelli Cosworth Interscope Racing
1978 A.J. Foyt Coyote Foyt A.J. Foyt Enterprises
1979 A.J. Foyt Coyote Foyt A.J. Foyt Enterprises
1979 A.J. Foyt Parnelli Cosworth A.J. Foyt Enterprises

NASCAR race winners

Season Winning Driver Manufacturer
1969 Bobby Isaac Dodge
1971 Richard Petty Plymouth
1972 Richard Petty Dodge
1972 Buddy Baker Dodge
1973 Richard Petty Dodge
1979 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet
1980 Cale Yarborough Chevrolet
1981 Benny Parsons Ford

SCCA CanAm winners

Season Winning Driver Chassis Engine
1969 Bruce McLaren McLaren M8B Chevrolet

IMSA World SportsCar Championship winners

Season Winning Driver Chassis Engine
1995 Wayne Taylor Ferrari 333SP Ferrari
1996 Wayne Taylor , Jim Pace Riley & Scott Mk III Oldsmobile Aurora V8

30°32′15″N 96°13′14″W / 30.53762°N 96.22058°W / 30.53762; -96.22058

  1. ^ "Notebook: Biffle hits 218 mph in test at Texas World". Nascar.com. January 22, 2009. Retrieved 3 December 2010.