Jump to content

Texas World Speedway - Field of Shattered Dreams


NickHolt

Recommended Posts

Thank yall so much for the memories. Got to go to a race one time and Bobby Allison and Terry Labonte were racing with some of our local guys and others. What a waste of a nice facility at one time. Again THANS for the memories.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...
  • Replies 53
  • Created
  • Last Reply
  • 4 months later...
  • 3 weeks later...

Jim41 ... You wrote, "Greg Davidson's hood flew off 2nd lap going into first turn". You are correct.

 

I was one of the PA Announcers at that ARCA race and can add a few comments.

 

I heard that Greg's car lost it's hood because hood pins were not secured pre-race by his crew.

The hood did fly up in the air about 100 feet above the track. Luckily it landed safely outside the

track where there were no spectators.

 

Another area driver I recall competing in that race was Johnny Walker of Houston.

 

I don't remember how either Texas driver finished, but it wasn't very high.

 

The support races for the ARCA event were the TIDA Late Model Series and the Texas Pro Sedans.

 

 

Thanks for the memory,

 

Neil Upchurch

Former Race Director at Texas World Speedway

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A few notable Texas names---Johnny Walker finished 13th in the race; Greg Davidson 26th, Eddie Bierschwale 29th, H.B. Bailey 35th.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Hello, this is my first post here. Hang on 'cause it's a long one...

 

I am fascinated by TWS and its history, and it seems to be a recurring topic of interest here. Many of you will know that the track may not last for much longer due to the southbound expansion of College Station. With that in mind, I have put together an overview of the TWS races and their winners.

 

First, a basic summary of the track's history. This is what the entry in Allan Brown's race tracks book (2003 edition) looks like...

 

 

Texas World Speedway - College Station / (aka Texas Int'l Speedway)
Two mile paved oval (12/07/1969 - 1973) (1976 - 1986) (1991) (1993) (1996)
Bobby Isaac won first race (a NASCAR GN race)
2.75 & 3.0 mile paved road courses (11/07/1969 - 1973) (1976 - 1989)
1.8 & 1.9 & 2.9 mile paved road courses (1991 - present)
Sister track to Michigan Int'l Speedway

...but a more accurate summary, IMHO, would look like this:

 

Texas World Speedway - College Station / (1969-1970: Texas Int'l Speedway)
Two mile paved oval (12/07/1969 - 10/06/1973) (06/06/1976 - 11/13/1982) (09/22/1991 - 03/21/1993)
Bobby Isaac won first race (a NASCAR GN race)
2.0 & 3.0 mile paved road courses (10/19/1969 - 09/27/1970) (1976 - c. March 1989)
1.8, 1.9, 2.9 & 3.0 mile paved road courses (September 1991 - present)
1.5 mile paved 'inner oval' road course (03/31/1996)
Sister track to Michigan Int'l Speedway

 

Now to the races:

OVAL RACES

USAC Indycars

04/07/1973: Al Unser (Texas 200 / part of: USAC Twin 200's)
10/06/1973: Gary Bettenhausen (Lone Star 200 / part of: USAC Twin 200's)

08/01/1976: A.J. Foyt (Texas Grand Prix / part of: USAC Twin 150's)
10/31/1976: Johnny Rutherford (Texas 200 / part of: Benihana World Series of Auto Racing)
04/02/1977: Tom Sneva (Texas Grand Prix)
07/31/1977: Johnny Rutherford (American Parts 200)
04/15/1978: Danny Ongais (Coors 200)
08/06/1978: A.J. Foyt (Texas Grand Prix)
04/08/1979: A.J. Foyt (Coors 200)
07/29/1979: A.J. Foyt (Lubrilon Grand Prix)

CART Indycars


04/05/1981: CANCELED (Indy of the Southwest Twin 125's)

 

USAC Mini-Indy Super Vee

 

08/06/1978: Harry MacDonald (race title unknown / part of: Texas Grand Prix)

04/08/1979: Dennis Firestone (race title unknown / part of: Coors 200)
07/29/1979: Michael Chandler (race title unknown / part of: Lubrilon Grand Prix)

 

USAC stock cars

 

04/07/1973: Gordon Johncock (race title unknown / part of: USAC Twin 200's)
10/06/1973: Roger McCluskey (race title unknown / part of: USAC Twin 200's)

06/06/1976: A.J. Foyt (Texas 500)
08/01/1976: A.J. Foyt (race title unknown / part of: USAC Twin 150's)
10/31/1976: Bobby Allison (race title unknown / part of: Benihana World Series of Auto Racing)
06/05/1977: Bay Darnell (Texas 500)
03/12/1978: A.J. Foyt (Aggieland 250)
06/04/1978: Gary Bowsher (Texas 500)
11/12/1978: A.J. Foyt (Texan 250)
03/11/1979: A.J. Foyt (Aggieland 250)
11/11/1979: Bobby Allison (Texan 250)
03/09/1980: Terry Ryan (Texan 250)

 

NASCAR stock cars (Grand National / Winston Cup)

 

12/07/1969: Bobby Isaac (Texas 500)
06/21/1970: CANCELED (Lone Star 500)
12/06/1970: CANCELED (Texas 400)

12/12/1971: Richard Petty (Texas 500) (rained out on 12/05/1971)
06/25/1972: Richard Petty (Lone Star 500)
11/12/1972: Buddy Baker (Texas 500)
06/10/1973: Richard Petty (Alamo 500)

06/03/1979: Darrell Waltrip (Texas 400)
06/01/1980: Cale Yarborough (NASCAR 400)
06/07/1981: Benny Parsons (NASCAR 400)

NASCAR stock cars (Late Model Sportsman)

12/04/1971: Bobby Allison (Permatex 200)

ARCA stock cars

10/08/1972: Ron Hutcherson (Royal Triton ARCA 300)

09/22/1991: Bill Venturini (race title unknown)
04/12/1992: Eddie Bierschwale (race title unknown)
09/20/1992: Mickey Gibbs (NASCAR Winston West/ARCA Shootout)
03/21/1993: Darrell Waltrip (Western Auto Shootout II) (last superspeedway race at TWS)

Other stock car races

11/09/1980: Rusty Wallace (Global 250 / part of: Texas Jamboree Weekend)
11/13/1982: Rickey Rudd (Global Stratagraph 150 / part of: The Great Texas Open Races)

American Truck Racing Association

05/03/1981: unknown (The Great Texas Truck Race)
03/21/1982: Charlie Baker (The Great Texas Truck Race) (recorded 132.86 mph in QF)

Possibly also ran a race on 11/13/1982 as part of The Great Texas Open Races ?

Notable test sessions

04/15/1992: Indycar test (Lyn St. James runs around 221 mph average)
02/23/1993: Indycar test (Jeff Andretti runs 234.562 mph average)
01/15/2009: NASCAR test (Greg Biffle hits 218 mph top speed)

ROAD COURSE RACES

SCCA Can-Am

11/09/1969: Bruce McLaren (Texas International Can-Am Round-Up) (3.0 mile course)
11/08/1970: CANCELED

SCCA Trans-Am

04/26/1970: CANCELED

10/20/1991: Jack Baldwin (Texas Trans-Am Festival) (1.8)

Possibly also planned for 1992 but canceled ?

IMSA GT

12/04/1971: Juan Izquierdo/Daniel Muñiz (Alamo 200) (2.0)

09/10/1995: Wayne Taylor (Seitel Texas World Grand Prix) (1.9)
05/05/1996: Wayne Taylor/Jim Pace (Exxon Superflo 500) (1.9) (last professional race at TWS)

The track was actually measured as 1.92 miles for the 1995-1996 IMSA races

AMA Camel Pro Series

07/03/1977: CANCELED

AMA Superbikes

10/06/1991: Scott Russell (Lone Star Superbike Challenge) (1.8)
05/31/1992: Freddie Spencer (Lone Star Superbike Challenge) (1.8)
10/11/1992: Scott Russell (National Championship Finals) (1.8)

Texas Race of Champions

30/10/1976: Ed Sczech (2.0) (part of: Benihana World Series of Auto Racing)
10/15/1977: H.B. Bailey (2.0)
11/12/1978: Jimmy Finger (2.0) (part 1: March 12 / part 2: November 12)
11/11/1979: Jimmy Finger (2.0) (part 1: March 11 / part 2: November 11)
03/09/1980: Freddy Fryar (2.0)
00/00/1981: Terry Labonte (2.0)

1982: not held

10/02/1983: John Newlin (2.0)
11/04/1984: Freddy Fryar (2.0)
11/10/1985: Terry Labonte (2.0)
11/09/1986: Terry Labonte (2.0)
11/08/1987: Tommy Riggins (2.0)
10/30/1988: Tommy Riggins (2.0)

1989-1990: not held

12/00/1991: Slick Yoemans (exact date TBC)

1992-1995: not held

03/31/1996: David Starr (1.5)
03/31/1996: Tommy Grimes (1.5)
09/01/1996: CANCELED
09/01/1996: CANCELED

Winners list compiled by Neil Upchurch (posted at LSSZ some time ago)

Texas Grand Prix

Not to be confused with the 1976-1978 USAC Indycar races

00/00/1980: H.B. Bailey
00/00/1981: Jimmy Finger
00/00/1983: Freddy Fryar
00/00/1984: Terry Labonte
03/10/1985: Bobby Allison
03/10/1985: Leroy Farmer
03/09/1986: Freddy Fryar
03/08/1987: Freddy Fryar
03/13/1988: Bobby Allison

09/21/1991: Slick Yoemans
04/11/1992: Slick Yoemans
03/20/1993: Howard Willis III

Winners list compiled by Neil Upchurch
(posted at LSSZ some time ago)

 

Other road races

 

- SCCA (1969-1970, 1976 - c. March 1989, 1991 - present) (also 1972-1973 ?)

The first-ever race at TWS was an SCCA restricted regional on 10/19/1969, this was a dry-run for the Can-Am race in November

- WERA/CRRC/CRMA motorcycle races (1976-1988, 1992 - present)

When TWS closed in early 1989, all scheduled CMRA meetings were canceled. The CRMA found a replacement venue at Wheels Raceway in San Angelo; they raced there in 1990-1991 but moved back to TWS in 1992 after the track had reopened

Selected motorcycle winners:

09/11/1976: Bennie Delmonico/Greg Bauer (Aggie 200)

06/05-06/1982: Ron Lunsford/Allan Johnson/George Lloyd/Bobby Goodin/James Haecker/Quentin Hogan (24 Hours of Texas)

10/30/1982: Tony Neasham/Scott McCutcheon (8 Hours of Texas)
09/10/1983: Joe Fisher/Charles Brothers/Stuart Cooper (8 Hours of Texas)
10/06/1984: Kevin Schwantz/Kenny Morgan/James Trimble/Brian Floores (8 Hours of Texas)
10/05/1985: John Kocinski/Joey Osowski (6 Hours of Texas)
10/04/1986: Doug Toland/Peter Carroll (8 Hours of Texas)
10/03/1987: Mike Harth/Thomas Stevens/Russell Paulk (8 Hours of Texas)
09/24/1988: Mike Harth/Britt Turkington (8 Hours of Texas)
Etc.

 

The 200-mile race and 24-hour race were both one-off, but the 8-hour race is still held

Currently racing at TWS

- SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) (Texas Region and Lone Star Region)
- CVAR (Corinthian Vintage Auto Racing)
- NASA (National Auto Sport Association)
- PCA (Porsche Club of America) (Lone Star Region)
- CMRA (Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association)

 

Hope you appreciate this overview of TWS. If you have anything to add, or if you see a mistake, please reply in this topic, thanks !

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Much appreciated, OldGalveston! I'm sure Neil Upchurch will compare his notes with yours and, hopefully, we'll end up with a fairly complete history of TWS for future generations.

 

Nick

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Old Galveston - I do appreciate your lengthy post about the history of the super-speedway for which I worked from the first through the last major automobile race on your list. The TIS and TWS College Station facility has a great deal of my sweat, tears, pride and accomplishment which I experienced in “Texas big time racing” from 1968 – 1996 which I shall never forget.

You’re post of the winners list is about the same as my records and memory can stretch. I also cannot figure out if there was a 1982 Texas Race of Champions or a 1986 Texas Grand Prix road race for Texas short track cars. If anybody can add records about these two overlooked or forgotten events, PLEASE POST on here.

As Nick posted … “I’m sure Neil Upchurch will compare his notes with yours and, hopefully, we'll end up with a fairly complete history of TWS for future generations”. Old Galveston - I think you should receive name credit for your efforts. Please post your name and a facts about yourself.

Thank you,

Neil Upchurch

Texas World Speedway (TWS) - Race Director
Texas Race of Champions - Race Director
Texas Grand Prix - Race Director
Race Director of "Outlaw Race on 2 mile oval" for NASCAR, USAC & ARCA drivers & Cars

 

TIDA Pro Sedans Race Driver at TWS
Texas World Speedway (TWS) - PA Announcer, NASCAR, USAC & ARCA races
Texas International Speedway (TIS) – Press Box PA Announcer & SA Representative

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@Neil: my name is Rob and I am interested in race tracks and their histories, mostly road courses but also some of the ovals. Other than that I quite like the anonymity of the internet, to be honest. I wanted to put together something about TWS because I don't see the track lasting for much longer. Maybe it'll be a year, maybe ten, but sooner or later it will be turned into houses, Walmarts and what not, like Green Valley, Ontario, Riverside, and so many others. We can only hope that day is still far away.

 

With regards to the TROC and Texas GP:

 

- There was no TROC in 1982: the 1983 event was billed as the "7th annual", so starting in 1976 it ran every year except one, which was 1982. No idea why.

 

One thing that does have me wondering: in the early years, the TROC was sometimes held over two meetings instead of just one, for example TROC III in 1978 had "part 1" on March 12, and "part 2" on November 12. How did that work exactly ? Judging from the list of winners you posted some time ago, there was ultimately only one TROC winner each year.

 

- The 1986 Texas GP was held March 9, but I can't find the results anywhere.

 

Please look at this very usefull website: http://www.progcovers.com/motor/texas.html

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Rob: Thanks for your post.

With regards to the TROC and Texas GP: I will attempt to answer, as possible, or we can just remain in the dark about a few events or non-events which also equally puzzle me.

You posted: “There was no TROC in 1982” You are correct. The 1983 event was billed as the "7th annual", so starting in 1976 it ran every year except one, which was 1982. No idea why". The TROC was planned to be the support race for a NASCAR race in 1982. Unfortunately, 1982 the season became a non-season when Mr. Conole and Mr. France Jr disagreed on a major business situation. I refer to my post of March 4, 2013: “When NASCAR President, the late Bill France Jr. and TWS President, the late Dick Conole discussed the 1982 season during many telephone conferences, France emphasized “NASCAR would require Texas World Speedway to be repaved before any further racing would be sanctioned at TWS”. Mr. Conole said, “we will pay the half million repaving cost if NASCAR will guarantee by contract at least one cup race at TWS for the next 10 years”. Bill France Jr. replied “NASCAR doesn’t guarantee dates” and insisted “first TWS must repave, after which NASCAR would inspect the racing surface and then decide if NASCAR would approve and issue any race dates”. TWS President Dick Conole rejected the NASCAR offer as unbusinesslike and declined any further NASCAR races without contractually guaranteed dates to justify his repaving costs. Bill France Jr. replied “I can’t believe TWS is refusing a NASCAR cup race. Nobody has ever turned down a NASCAR race date”.

You also posted: “One thing that does have me wondering: In the early years, the TROC was sometimes held over two meetings instead of just one, for example TROC III in 1978 had "part 1" on March 12, and "part 2" on November 12. How did that work exactly? Judging from the list of winners you posted some time ago, there was ultimately only one TROC winner each year". The answer to your question remains fresh in my racing memory. Dick Conole was so impressed with the field size and quality of competition of the Texas Race of Champions I had created and was able to organize for him that he felt the TROC had become a “Texas tradition” and two in a year would be better than one … SO! … We held two TROC’s that season.

 

You also posted: “The 1986 Texas GP was held March 9, but I can't find the results anywhere". Unfortunately, my answer is also unchanged: I’m still looking for 1986 Texas Grand Prix Race Results. Perhaps it also had a name change to TROC because a Texas Race of Champions souvenir program was shown for November of 1986. Note: If anyone out there reading Lone Star Speed Zone knowsplease post anything on here.

Thanks - Neil Upchurch, Texas World Speedway (TWS)
Texas Race of Champions - Race Director
Texas Grand Prix - Race Director
Race Director - The 2 mile Oval Races for “Outlaw NASCAR, USAC & ARCA drivers and cars

TIDA Pro Sedans Driver at TWS
Texas World Speedway (TWS) - PA Announcer, NASCAR, USAC & ARCA races
Texas International Speedway (TIS) – Press Box PA Announcer & SA Representative

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guys if I recall there was a Texas GP in March of 86.. I will check my TWS file when I get home this evening and see what I can dig up. Seem to recall Terry LaBonte returned that event along with Bobby Allison but may be running another event into that one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Rodney & Rob: I have also added Freddy Fryar as the winner of the 1986 Texas Grand Prix at Texas World Speedway to my official records as well.

 

Btw: A typical car count in the Texas Race of Champions and Texas Grand Prix was between 40 and 50 Late Models. The Texas Pro Sedans usually started more than 30 cars. The other classes we strong too.


Thank you both,


Thanks - Neil Upchurch, Texas World Speedway, Race Director

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For the complete and official TWS record, here it is ...

Texas Grand Prix at Texas World Speedway

Year - Driver/Hometown - Car# - Car Type

1980 - H.B. Bailey/Houston, TX - #96 - Pontiac Firebird

1981 - Jimmy Finger/Austin TX - #22 - Chevrolet Camaro

1983 - Freddy Fryar/Beaumont TX - #14 - Chevrolet Camaro

1984 - Terry Labonte/Corpus Christi, TX - #45 - Olds Calais

1985 - March 10 - Bobby Allison/Hueytown, AL - #22 - Buick Regal

1985 - March 10 - Leroy Farmer/San Antonio, TX - #11 - Pontiac Firebird

1986 - March 9 - Freddy Fryar/Beaumont TX - #14 - Chevrolet Camaro

1987 - March 8 - Freddy Fryar/Beaumont TX - #14 - Chevrolet Camao

1988 - March 13 - Bobby Allison/Hueytown, AL - #22 - Buick LaSabre

1991 - Sept 21 - Slick Yoemans/Corpus Christi, TX - #24 - Ford Thunderbird

1992 - April 11 - Slick Yoemans/High Point, NC - #24 - Ford Thunderbird

1993 - March 20 - Howard Willis III/Pasadena, TX - #23 - Chevrolet Lumina

 

Texas Grand Prix winners list Compiled by:

Neil Upchurch, Former Race Director, Texas Grand Prix at Texas World Speedway

Assisted by:
Cotton Sherland, Former Chief Inspector, Texas Grand Prix
Bob Sherland, Former Inspector, Texas Grand Prix
Russ Martin, Former, Public Address Announcer, Texas Grand Prix
Mike Haag, San Antonio Express-News, Motorsports reporter and Blog contributor, My SA.com
Rodney Rodriguez, PA Announcer, Central Texas Speedway (uncovered the 1986 winner's record)


Neil Upchurch

Texas World Speedway (TWS) - Race Director
Texas Race of Champions - Race Director
Texas Grand Prix - Race Director
Race Director of "Outlaw Race on 2 mile oval" for NASCAR, USAC & ARCA drivers & Cars

TIDA Pro Sedans Race Driver at TWS
Texas World Speedway (TWS) - PA Announcer, NASCAR, USAC & ARCA races
Texas International Speedway (TIS) – Press Box PA Announcer & SA Representative

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great to see the results of that 86 race. Was probably in the stands for that one, but like has been mentioned in other posts, lots of those seem to be running together now or memories lost completely. Was always a blast to see The Beaumont Flyer winning.

 

And, I will mention again after reading through all these posts and reminiscing, Neil Upchurch is one of the legends and heroes of racing in Texas. Go back and even look at some of those old Pan Am pictures from the early 70s and see him with a couple of the winners. And several times did an incredible job to save racing in Texas when times were tough. And like he said from the 1st to the last race at TWS. Back then, he WAS Texas World Speedway even if others had their name on the lease.

 

Hats off again to ya Neil.

Billy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A big thank you for you remembering me FryarFan - aka Billy.

Since, as you credited me with "saving racing in Texas" ... my mission since my at track retirement a few years ago has been from my office and computer, trying to keep the Texas Pro Sedans going strong.

TPS goes into consecutive year #40 during the 2015 season.

Btw: We still need a Tech Inspector to help us this season.


Thanks again Billy - Neil

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 7 months later...
  • 5 months later...

I didn't think it an unreasonable request to allow me to walk my 10 year old son up that long ramp to the top of the grandstands. I just wanted him to be overcome by that same sense of awe that I had when my dad took me there for the first time, right after the track first opened. That sense of awe that comes from seeing a place of that magnitude for the first time. A simple request. I offered to pay admission, just to spend a few minutes with my son up there.To share that special moment with him before the track succumbs to the progress of the city and the decay caused by lack of interest. They refused, without giving any reason. The persons I spoke with at the track, were, to my mind, very unreasonable, uncaring , and uncompassionate. If I were a wealthy man, I would buy that piece of my history and find a way to re-build, and revive that awesome giant, and bring it back even beyond it's former glory. The people I spoke to however, would not be working there. I love you Texas World Speedway!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.




×
×
  • Create New...