Add another to the list of lost speedways
Texas World Speedway speedway opened in 1969. The 2-mile oval sits in College Station, Texas.
The track is one of only 7 ovals in the United States that are over 2 miles in length. Daytona, Talladega, Indianapolis, Pocono, Auto Club, Michigan are the other six.
The track is a mirror of Michigan International Speedway. It was owned by Larry LoPatin and American Raceways Inc.
Bobby Isaac drove it to victory lane in the first NASCAR Cup Series event held at the track in 1969.
Due to strict rules on NASCAR testing, teams were not allowed to use active NASCAR tracks for testing. They later banned testing all together. But, before that, many teams used Texas World Speedway as a testing facility.
Fall of Texas World Speedway
In 1980, the USAC series was set to host the Texas 200 at the track. The event was canceled as the complex had become worn out.
In 1981, the final NASCAR race was hosted at the speedway. Benny Parsons drove it to the win. NASCAR never returned.
In 1991, Ishin Speed Sport, Inc purchased the facility. The new owners opened repaving project to bring it back to life. ARCA returned to the track but they left after the 1993 event.
In 2017, the track was officially closed. It was destined to be added to the list of lost speedways.
The ground was leased to Copart Inc. They began to use the complex to store automobiles which were flooded by Hurricane Harvey. The complex was filled with beaten down cars, every inch of the complex.
The cars sat their as insurance companies began to scrap them out. It was too much to do them all at once, they needed a place to store them.
Track being torn down
In 2018, a new project was planned for the property. Southern Pointe announced a new green-space and residential project. 1,400 homes are planned to go up on 550 acres.
A new billboard was installed at the gate. Homes would take over the roaring race track.
In 2019, the first homes went up on the grounds.
This year, the complex is in the process of being torn down.
In late February, cranes moved into the speedway. The demotlition was underway and the press box was torn down.
A hill on the property is set to be leveled. 450,000 cubic yards of dirt will be used to make future phases of the housing development possible.
Sections of the speedway are set to remain for the next 4 or so years. But, over time, it will all be erased and replaced with residential residences.
Texas World Speedway
Drone Video
Links
Southern Pointe | NASCAR | USAC | ARCA
