Courtesy of TMS Media Relations
FORT WORTH, Texas – Texas Motor Speedway can’t do ‘bigger and better’ without the fans, and with less than three weeks until engines fire for the Daytona 500, early indications show the World’s Largest Daytona 500 Watching Party will be the biggest bash yet.
More than 400 RSVPs from as far as California and Pennsylvania have streamed into the TMS ticket office already for the two-day (Feb. 16-17) free event; 66 percent more than at this time a year ago. Both RV Camping (38 percent) and Tailgating (236 percent) are up substantially as more and more race fans make the watching party their season-opening tradition. In fact, the number of RSVPs for tailgaters has already surpassed 2018’s total.
“In only its third year at Texas Motor Speedway, it’s amazing to see the growth of the ‘World’s Largest’ Daytona 500 Watching Party,” TMS President/GM Eddie Gossage said. “Of course, word gets out quickly when you welcome people into your home to watch the NASCAR season kick off on Big Hoss, the world’s largest TV. I couldn’t think of a better way to do it myself.”
Last year’s event attracted approximately 5,000 fans along with nearly 300 RVs to watch the racing action from Daytona Beach, Fla., on ‘Big Hoss TV’, the 12-story tall Guinness World Record holder as largest HDTV in the world.
The event is open to the public and fans planning to tailgate or camp can RSVP by visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com. Fans are not required to RSVP. They can simply show up on either day. The South Tunnel into the TMS infield opens at 8:00 a.m. CT on Saturday, Feb. 16, for overnight campers and fans wanting to tailgate for the Xfinity Series race (1:30 p.m. CT, FOX). The weekend culminates with the 61st running of the Daytona 500, Sunday, Feb. 17 (1:30 p.m. CT, FOX).
In addition to racing, pre-race NASCAR TV, and post-race on-screen entertainment on ‘Big Hoss’, fans can enjoy Chevrolet Impala and Camaro SS pace car rides on track; a campsite and tailgate decorating competition; and promotions and live remotes from 95.9 The Ranch and Hank FM.
They can even stake a claim to their version of the best seat in the house. Speedway ticket representatives will give guided tours to fans wanting to hand pick their season ticket spots in both the grandstands and campgrounds.
The 2019 season at Texas Motor Speedway opens March 29-31 with the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 NASCAR tripleheader. The weekend features all three NASCAR series: the Vankor 350 Gander Outdoors Truck Series race Friday, March 29; the My Bariatric Solutions 300 Xfinity Series race Saturday, March 30; and the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday, March 31. The weekend also features Robby Gordon’s Stadium Super Trucks on both Saturday and Sunday.
For more information on the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 weekend or TMS season tickets, please visit www.texasmotorspeedway.com or call the speedway ticket office at 817.215.8500.
