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T E X A S M O T O R S P E E D WAY
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october 27, 2016
keep improving
Larson continues learning as he completes season of firsts PAGE 2
here piggy piggy
The next item in the line of Hawg Heaven concession items is unveiled PAGE 4
truckin’
Striping Technology to sponsor NCWTS race at TMS PAGE 5
ANTARCTICA Quest
Eddie Gossage on the search for a temporary resident of Antarctica PAGE 7 Te x a s M o t o r S p e e d w a y | O c t o b e r 2 7 , 2 0 1 6 | A A A Te x a s 5 0 0
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SPEEDREADS
LEARNING ON THE FLY
LARSON’S LESSONS LEARNED AFTER SUCCESSFUL YEAR
Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyle Larson is one of a handful of drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series that are considered being the future of the sport. Larson has had an interesting season as he won for the first time in his Sprint Cup career and qualified for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. For many drivers that would be a successful season, but Larson is looking to use this year’s
performance to further excel when 2017 comes around. “It was nice being in the Chase and having a shot at getting a championship,” said the 24-year old Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year in 2014. “Even though I wasn’t in the Chase the last two years, I was still racing in those races so you get an idea of what it is like, what you have to do and how everybody races. The racing changes a little bit as
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SPEEDREADS
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guys are a little more cautious at the start of the Chase.
One of those tracks will be Texas Motor Speedway for next weekend’s AAA Texas 500. It is a place the California native and North Carolina resident feels as if it is a “second home.”
I wish we had had some better luck as I thought we were better than getting past the first round and then might have had a chance to get to the Round of 8. We would have probably needed some luck to advance to Homestead (for the championship round), but you never know what can happen in this sport.”
“The infield scene (at Texas) is awesome,” Larson said. “It’s a younger kind of party scene unlike a lot of tracks. I get to see friends that I raced with in the Midwest and I feel it is a slight home race for me because of the familiar faces I see.”
The one benefit of being out of the Chase is that it changes his mind-set with no worries about being conservative to collect points to advance to another round. “I definitely feel like now (that I am out of the Chase) I can be aggressive again,” he said. “You get to where you get cautious when get around those that are still in the Chase because you don’t want to affect their chance to win a championship. We have some good tracks for us here in these last races so maybe we can get another win.”
He ranks Texas Motor Speedway among his five favorite tracks on the circuit, so he brings a sense of confidence when he enters through the infield tunnel. “I like going to Texas,” he Larson, who finished 14th here in April’s Duck Commander 500. “It’s a mile-and-a-half track with a worn-out surface where I can move around and find different lines. It has a lot of bumps and a lot of characteristics that make it different than anywhere else.” Larson’s first career win came earlier this season at Michigan and it was not only a confidence booster but a momentum booster as well. “Anytime you get a win it helps your confidence,” Larson said. “After that win we did well at Darlington and Richmond. So getting three top-threes in consecutive weeks was pretty cool so the momentum was pretty huge after that win.” With the pressure of being one of the younger faces of the sport and registering his first win, there was more talk of what he can become. That’s something Larson tries to deflect as much as possible. “There is pressure that goes along with people talking about you,” he said. “I have had to deal with that during my career so I think I have gotten pretty good at not paying a lot of attention to it. It’s all good stuff but I never want it to get into my head. This is a tough sport so it is easy and hard to get back up. I just try to go out and race and make it fun.”
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SPEEDREADS
ON THE TRACK
NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF NASCAR
tms and levy unveil hawg heaven three little pigs Texas Motor Speedway and Levy Restaurants are using a play on words with their new creation - the Hawg Heaven Three Little Pigs - for next weekend’s AAA Texas 500 NASCAR tripleheader. The Hawg Heaven Three Little Pigs is Executive Chef Lincoln the next generation Engstrom with his newest of the highly success- creation the Hawg Heaven f u l , b a c o n - i n f u s e d Three Little Pigs. Hawg Heaven line that is anything but little. Levy Restaurants Executive Chef Lincoln Engstrom’s new creation is sure to entice all race fans to check it out.
Sprint Cup start at Texas Motor Speedway. The Hawg Heaven Three Little Pigs ($12) makes its debut at next weekend’s NASCAR tripleheader that features the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Striping Technology 350 on Friday, Nov. 4, NASCAR XFINITY Series O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge on Saturday, Nov. 5, and the Chase for the Sprint Cup’s AAA Texas 500 on Sunday, Nov 6. The specialty concession item only will be available at the concession stand on the concourse inside the Gate 4 main grandstand entrance.
“These Hawg Heaven line of concession items are something our fans look forward to every race weekend and this one is sure to be a hit,” Engstrom said. “This is an oversized meal on a stick so it is easy to eat along with being delicious. It’s the perfect way to honor one of the great drivers in history and enjoy the This oversized meal, which will be served on a weekend of racstick, is anything by “little” as it features: ing.” • A mouth-watering nine ounces of delicious smoked paprika spice-rubbed pork tenderloin cut The Hawg Heavinto three, three-ounce pieces en concession line • Four ounces of Texas’ own Miller’s Llano Smokebegan in 2013 with house chorizo Hawg Heaven Ba• Mini sweet peppers con Cotton Candy • Smoked bacon wrap and has featured the Shake ‘n Bacon Brew bacon-infused beer milkshake, Bacon Nachos, QueThe smoked bacon wrap is in honor of three-time so Wings, Double Barrel Dawg, the Final Rocky NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stew- Road-eo ice cream sundae honoring Jeff Gorart, whose nickname is “Smoke”. don’s final season in 2015, the BBQ Melt and the Ranchero Dawg at June’s race weekend. The addition to the food item is part of the “Tony Stewart’s Last Ride at Texas Motor Speedway” For race tickets, please visit www.texasmotorweekend, where the speedway and Stewart fans speedway.com or call the Texas Motor Speedway will salute him as he makes his final NASCAR ticket office at (817) 215-8500. Te x a s M o t o r S p e e d w a y | O c t o b e r 2 7 , 2 0 1 6 | A A A Te x a s 5 0 0
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SPLASH ’N GO
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NOTES FROM TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Fans getting a “kick” from memes Texas Motor Speedway race fans have been getting a “kick” out of television/film star and pop culture icon Chuck Norris.
STRIPING TECHNOLOGY To sponsor truck rAce Texas Motor Speedway’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race scheduled for next Friday, Nov. 4, has secured Striping Technology as the race entitlement sponsor.
Norris, who is set to introduce the eight Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series contenders during pre-race activities for the AAA Texas 500, has served as inspiration for comedic memes known as “Chuck Norris Facts.” Texas Motor Speedway has challenged its loyal fans to submit their own meme for any of the Round of 8 Chase drivers. Fans can visit Texas Motor Speedway’s official Facebook page and submit their memes for the drivers, with the winning submissions featured on “Big Hoss” during driver introductions. The mems also will be printed and signed by Norris. In celebration of the promotion and the upcoming AAA Texas 500, the speedway has featured racing-themed Chuck Norris memes that continue through Friday and return with the final ones coming Monday, Oct. 31 and Tuesday, Nov. 1. To check out the latest memes, visit Texas Motor Speedway’s official Facebook and Twitter pages.
The Striping Technology 350, previously known as the Longhorn 350, will mark the debut of the Chase format to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Texas Motor Speedway. The speedway will host the middle race of the Round of 6 segment with the Striping Technology 350 beginning at 7:30 pm CT. The six championship contenders in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series consist of two-time Texas Motor Speedway winners Matt Crafton and Johnny Sauter, Texas Motor Speedway’s most recent truck series winner William Byron, Timothy Peters, Ben Kennedy and Christopher Bell. A victory by one of the six drivers automatically advances them into the championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday, Nov. 18. The Striping Technology 350 is part of the NASCAR tripleheader weekend at Texas Motor Speedway that also includes the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge XFINITY race on Saturday, Nov. 5, and AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Nov. 6. Tickets for the Striping Technology 350 start as low as $25 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. To purchase tickets call the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500 or visit www.texasmotorspeedway.com
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smoking hot program covers Texas Motor Speedway will honor retiring three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart with a limited collector’s-edition set of race program covers for the AAA Texas 500 on Sunday, Nov. 6, at Texas Motor Speedway. Texas Motor Speedway will produce four different AAA Texas 500 program covers, with two focusing on his racing accomplishments and the other two on his racing nicknames. The individual covers will highlight Stewart being a three-time Sprint Cup champion and two-time winner at Texas; being the only driver to win a Sprint Cup and INDYCAR pole at Texas; holding the track record Cup qualifying lap and his nickname of the “Rushville Rocket” and being a two-time winner at Texas and his nickname of “Smoke.” Individual AAA Texas 500 programs are $10 or $15 for those that include the souvenir AAA Texas 500 die-cast car and race weekend coupons. For those fans interested in purchasing the four-program cover set, the price is $35 and $40 with the die-cast car included. The programs will be available throughout Texas Motor Speedway on race weekend at the Speedway Motorsports, Inc. Properties program stands and Speedway World Gift Shop.
TMS Gets floored LATICRETE SUPERCAP, LCC, a leading manufacturer of premium self-leveling cements and commercial flooring products, has partnered with Texas Motor Speedway to install new high-tech floors in the speedway’s two garage areas and tech bays. LATICRETE, the “Official Garage Flooring System of Texas Motor Speedway,” will debut the new racecar garage floors at next weekend’s AAA Texas 500 NASCAR tripleheader weekend. The new floors, a first in NASCAR, will include a system of Laticrete products designed specifically for commercial garages, warehouses and airplane hangars where performance is a factor because of elements like hot tires, hazardous fluids and the regular use of heavy equipment within
the area. “Texas Motor Speedway is all about excellence and high performance, this partnership is an opportunity for us to display those same attributes in real world conditions. The demand for flat, moisture-free, finished concrete slab that has excellent chemical resistance, high traction non-slip properties and offers unparalleled colors and textures has increased dramatically. Airplanes, motorcycles, boats, performance and vintage cars are investments where owners are opting for professional
space to house, protect, display and service their sports and hobby interests,” said LATICRETE SUPERCAP president Douglas Metchick.
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FINAL PIT STOP
SPEEDREADS
VIDEO SOUND BITES, SOCIAL MEDIA SNAPSHOT
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LIL’ HOSS TV
Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage on the speedway’s search for someone who has temporarily resided in Antarctica. That would complete having a fan from all seven continents watch a race at TMS in the past five years. Click on photo to watch video.
social gathering
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SPEEDREADS
PUBLIC SCHEDULE
AAA TEXAS 500 WEEKEND EVENTS
SATURDAY, October 29 8a
VIP & Outside Campgrounds open
TUESDAY, November 1 9a-5p
Texas Motor Speedway Credential Office Hours
WednesDAY, november 2 9a-5p 10a 10a
Texas Motor Speedway Credential Office Hours Reserved Infield Camping Opens (South Tunnel) Burnout Alley Load In
ThursDAY, november 3
9a-5p Texas Motor Speedway Credentials Office Hours 10:00a NCWTS Haulers Enter 11:00a-5p NCWTS Registration Open 11:30a-6:30p NCWTS Garage Open 2:15p Gate 4 Open 2:30p-3:25p NCWTS Practice 3:30p NXS Haulers Enter 4:30p-5:25p NCWTS Final Practice 6:00p NSCS Haulers Enter
FRIDAY, november 4
8a-7p NSCS Registration Open 8:30a-7:30p NSCS Garage Open 9a-7:30p Texas Motor Speedway Credential Office Hours 10:00a-7p NXS Registration Open 10:30a-9p NXS Garage Open 10:30a NCWTS Garage & Registration Open 11:00a Gate 4 Open 11a-1:30p NSCS “HOT PASS” IN EFFECT 11:30a-12:55p NSCS Practice 1:30p-2:25p NXS Practice 2p Gates 2, 3, 5 & 6 Open for Luxury Suites and Victory Lane Club Only 2:45p NCWTS Salute to Veterans Qualifying Days Fueled by Texas Lottery 4p-5:25p NXS Final Practice 5:15p-7:30p NSCS “HOT PASS” IN EFFECT 5:45p NSCS Salute to Veterans Qualifying Days Fueled by Texas Lottery 7:00p NCWTS Registration Closes
7:30p
NCWTS Striping Technology 350 (147 Laps, 220.5 Miles)
SATURDAY, November 5 7:30a 7:30a 8a-2p 9a
NXS Garage & Registration Open NSCS Garage & Registration Open Texas Motor Speedway Credential Office Hours Gates 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 Open for Luxury Suites and Victory Lane Club Only 9a-11a NSCS “HOT PASS” IN EFFECT 9:30a-10:25a NSCS Practice 10:45a NXS Salute to Veterans Qualifying Days Fueled by Texas Lottery 12p-2p NSCS “HOT PASS” IN EFFECT 12:30p-1:20p NSCS Final Practice 2:00p NXS O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge (200 Laps, 300 Miles) 2:30p NXS & NSCS Registration Closes 4:00p NSCS Garage Closes
SUNDAY, November 6 7a 8a-1p 9a 9a 11a
NSCS Garage & Registration Open Texas Motor Speedway Credential Office Hours Gates 2-8 Open Luxury Suites and Victory Lane Club Open Loud & Proud Pre-Race Show Fueled by American Ehtanol Featuring Jake Owen 12p-7p NSCS “HOT PASS” IN EFFECT 1p NSCS AAA Texas 500 (334 Laps, 501 Miles) 1:30p NSCS Registration Closes 30 min Portacool Post-Race Show featuring post race Jason Boland & The Stragglers
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