Texas Motorplex

About the Venue

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Built in 1986, The Texas Motorplex has been the place of many drag racing milestones and world record performances. Ever since Darrell Gwynn christened the first all-concrete, quarter-mile, national records and speed milestones have been commonplace at Texas Motorplex.

The Texas Motorplex is a favorite of drivers for the all-concrete race surface and ideal weather conditions, NHRA national events at Texas Motorplex commonly yield national records. Season championship titles are commonly clinched here and race fans get a great speed show! Texas Motorplex is 500 ft. above sea level.

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City Guide

Fort Worth (See Dallas below)

About 20 minutes north of downtown Fort Worth, up I-35, is the Texas Motor Speedway.  The track is build along the historic Chisholm Trail, where millions of cattle were driven north to market. A whole other kind of driving goes on here now.

Unreserved event-day parking is free at the Speedway.  Or you can purchase Express Parking for $10-$40 (based on the race), and Daily VIP parking for $25-$75. To reserve a spot, call (817) 215-8500.

There are five camp areas at the Speedway. Reserved camping will cost you $50-$200, depending on the race. Unreserved camping is $50, but only for select races, and not on the east side of the track, so make sure to call ahead (817) 215-8500) to see what’s available.

You can also camp in the infield. These are reserved spots, and you’ll need to have an infield pass, which you can either purchase at the gate or buy in advance for $65. If you park in the interior infield, it will cost you $700. The infield wall runs $1,400. If you camp in the Paddock, passes cost $1,750-$2,000. You can use your grill in the infield, but all fires must be out during practice sessions and during the race.

There’s also a tent city on the property that costs $50-$75. No generators are allowed in the tent areas.

To get fro the camping areas to the racetrack, just hop on the shuttle trams that continually loop around Lone Star Circle. They’re free, and there are several drop-off points.

What to Do in Fort Worth

DURING THE DAY

Cultural District: This area west of downtown is home to several museums. Two are nationally known and critically acclaimed:

Amon Carter Museum: This is one of the foremost museums of American and Western art.  Includes works by Homer, O’Keeffe, Stieglitz, and others. It also houses the collections of the two greatest artists of the American West: Frederic Remington and Charles Russell (Free, 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, (817) 738-1933, www.cartermuseum.org).

Kimbell Art Museum: This is architect Louis Kahn’s most famous American building. Inside are collections of both early 20th-century European art and old masters, including Goya, Monet, Rembrandt, and others. It also has a substantial collection of Asian art (Free, 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth (817) 332-8451, www.kimbellart.org).

Fort Worth Zoo: The zoo is the oldest continuous zoo site in Texas. When it opened in 1909, it had one lion, two bear cubs, an alligator, a coyote, a peacock, and a few rabbits. Now the zoo has more than 6,000 exotic and native animals from more than 350 species, including a rare white tiger. There are dining areas and shops, too ($, 1989 Colonial Pkwy., Fort Worth, (817) 759-7555, www.fortworthzoo.com).

Grapevine Steam Railroad: From 1896-1959, Steam Engine #2248, affectionately known as “Puffy,” ran the rails of the Southern Pacific Railroad. Now you can ride it. Fully restored, this historic train runs the historic Cotton Belt and Trinity River Routes that are a part of Cowtown’s history. During your trip, train robbers ride up on horseback to attack the train. Okay, they’re actors, but it adds adventure to the ride.  The train runs Saturday and Sunday; no service in January ($-$$, Train boards at either the Stockyards Station, 140 E. Exchange Ave., Fort Worth, or the Cotton Belt Depot, 707 S. Main St., Grapevine, (817) 410-3123, www.grapevinesteamrailroad.com).

AT NIGHT

White Elephant Saloon: With a history dating back to the 1880s, this saloon in the Stockyards District is more than just a Fort Worth institution. High-stakes gamblers used to play poker upstairs (it’s now a private party room). The real cowboys and cowgirls have been replaced with our modern-day equivalent, although some on the dance floor sure look like the real thing. Live music is featured on the weekends ($, 106 E. Exchange Ave., #110, Fort Worth, (817) 624-8273, www.whiteelephantsaloon.com).

Billly Bob’s Texas: It’s one of the most famous honky-tonks in the world. It’s certainly the largest. When this bioding was built in 1910, it housed livestock. It still does. Sort of. They don’t have a mechanical bull here; they have real ones – although only professionals ride them.  Billy Bob’s also has concerts by some of country’s name acts, a huge dance floor, games, and a gift shop ($, 2520 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth, (817) 624-7117, www.billybobstexas.com).

The Aardvark: This has been a popular live music venue for years. Students and others in the TCU area enjoy the Aardvark for the diversity of live music and the cheap prices. The club books both local and nationally touring acts ($, 2905 W. Berry St., Fort Worth, (817) 926-7814, www.the-aardvark.com).

SHOPPING

Camp Bowie Blvd: For generations the 30 or so blocks along Camp Bowie have been a Fort Worth shopping destination. You’ll find shops with stuff to wear, stuff to display, stuff to use, and stuff to give. There are also galleries and restaurants along the Boulevard.

Sundance Square: This historic marketplace is bounded by Houston, Commerce, 2nd, and 3rd Streets downtown. Revitalized with brick-laid, flower-lined sidewalks, the area boasts unique specialty shops, clothiers, art galleries, museums, restaurants, and more. There’re also two movie theaters, and the Bass Performance Hall is here.

Dallas

What to Do

DURING THE DAY

Fair Park: The Fair Grounds first opened in 1886, but Fair Park really began to grow for the Texas Centennial Exposition in 1936.  It is home to the Cotton Bowl, which hosts the Texas/Oklahoma game as well as the post-season bowl game of the same name each year, the Texas State Fair (Sept-Oct), and to a number of museums and activities.  The Fair Park Passport is your most cost-effective way to see attractions at Fair Park.  It costs $23.99 for adults, $13.99 for children, and gets you into eight attractions, including the Dallas Aquarium, the Dallas Museum of Natural History, and the Science Place (a hands-on, interactive museum for children).  (Admission varies by attraction, 1300 Robert B. Cullum Blvd. at Grand, Dallas, (214) 421-9600, www.fairpark.org).

Lone Star Park: This racetrack just outside of Dallas has live horses racing and simulcasting of races around the country for wagering.  The track also has dining and a gift shop (1000 Lone Star Pkwy., Grand Prairie, (800) 795-7223, www.lonestarpark.com).

Nasher Sculpture Center: Ray Nasher acquired his first sculpture in 1954.  During the next half-century the collection grew in size and stature, to include works by Rodin, Picasso, Matisse, Moore, and scores of others.  In 2003 the Nasher Sculpture Center opened to showcase the collector’s pieces.  Hundreds of works are on display in the galleries and sculpture garden ($, 2001 Flora St., Dallas, (214) 242-5100, www.nashersculpturecenter.org).

Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza: The sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository is where the Warren Commission said Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots that assassinated President John F. Kennedy in 1963.  The corner window is as it looked on November 22 when Kennedy’s motorcade passed.  You can see Dealey Plaza as Oswald saw it, view exhibits about the event, the investigators, and even the conspiracy theories ($, 411 Elm St., Downtown Dallas, (214) 747-6660, www.jfk.org).

Traders Village: This famous Texas flea market is spread over 120 acres and includes more than 2,500 dealers and frequent special events, such as rodeos, chili cook-offs, and more.  Hours: 8:00 am to dusk every Saturday and Sunday, year-round (Admission free, Parking $, 2602 Mayfield Rd., Grand Prairie, (972) 647-2331, www.tradersvillage.com/gp1.html).

AT NIGHT

Deep Ellum: This area originally housed factories (Henry Ford built a plant here in 1913), but in the ‘20s the neighborhood was born and was a Mecca for jazz and blues artists.  As suburbs grew, the area declined, but it’s now revitalized as one of the hippest arts and entertainment districts in the Southwest.  It’s just three blocks from downtown, and you’ll find scores of clubs from dance, to country, to Coyote Ugly (www.deepellumtx.com).

Lower Greenville: This is one of the oldest entertainment districts in Dallas.  While the names on the shops and bars might have changed some over the years, this has been a destination area for generations.  Along Greenville Avenue, between Mockingbird Land and Ross Avenue, you’ll find a slew of clubs from hip to hole-in-the-wall.

SHOPPING

Highland Park Shopping Village: It’s been called the Beverly Hills of Dallas.  The shopping area is a National Historic Landmark and features more than two dozen mostly upscale shops, including Jimmy Choo and Hermes.  There are also home and specialty stores, along with restaurants (Mockingbird Lane at Preston Road, Dallas (214) 559-2740, www.hpvillage.com).

The Shops at West End Marketplace: Located in the West End Historic District, the Marketplace has several stores, including The Official Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop.  You’ll find everything from fashion to food here (603 Munger Ave., Dallas, (214) 748-4801, www.westendmarketplacedallas.com).

Galleria Dallas: This is a mall, but it’s not your usual mall.  Anchored by stores such as Nordstrom and Saks, you’ll find high-end shops like Tiffany & Co., and Louis Vuitton alongside local boutiques and other stores.  You can also spend some time on the ice-there is an indoor ice rink (I-635 (LBJ Freeway) at Dallas North Tollway, (972) 702-7100, www.galleriadallas.com).

The content for this city is an excerpt from The Ultimate Tailgater's Travel Guide.  For more information on The Ultimate Tailgater's Travel Guide or to buy the book visit www.theultimatetailgater.com.