Jalopnik: texas motor speedway

Astronaut Delivers Camaro Pace Car Via Chinook Helicopter

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:15:00 EST

Marine Col. Doug Hurley piloted the Endeavour space shuttle, flew a Chinook helicopter to the Dickies 500, and then drove out of the back in a Chevy Camaro Pace Car. It was the most interesting thing to happen all day.

Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR
Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR
Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR
Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

Drunk Cop Naps In Squad Car... In An Intersection

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EDT

Soberness is so over-rated, especially if you were dealing with 100,000 drunken morons last Saturday at the Texas Motor Speedway. This had to be the conclusion drawn by Fort Worth Police Officer Clinton Wyatt after spending his day on duty there. So why not knock back a few when your shift ends at six? And a couple more? And a couple more? No problem. Just don't get into your marked cruiser and drive anywhere, that's not smart . And were you do that, it certainly wouldn't be smart to fall asleep at a major signaled intersection — in the middle of the road — where at 3:49 AM another officer arrests you for drunk driving. At least Officer McDrinky didn't pull a Michael McDowell. [Star-Telegram]

Michael McDowell NASCAR Crash Proves Pine Tree Air Fresheners Are Lucky

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:20:00 EDT

Michael McDowell, a 23 year old rookie with Michael Waltrip Racing proved once again the main reason for watching NASCAR is the crashes. McDowell slid into the wall at the Texas Motor Speedway last Friday during qualifying laps for the Samsung 500 and proceeded to roll down the track, by our count, eight times. McDowell incredibly walked away from the wreck and credited the safety advancements like the Hans device, new designs in the car of tomorrow, and the SAFER barriers with his not being turned into a hamburger patty. We like to think his lucky Pine Tree air fresher dangling from the rear view mirror had something to do with it. [Dallas Morning News]