NASCAR fans like to watch their favorite drivers swap paint at Texas Motor Speedway -- but the last thing they want is to deal with gridlock trying to get to the races.
And race officials say they have nothing to worry about.Motorists can expect minimal disruptions on roads leading to the far north Fort Worth speedway, officials said, despite the presence of a plethora of work zones in the area.Tens of thousands of vehicles are expected in the area beginning with tonight's WinStar World Casino 350 Camping World Truck Series race. With a 7 p.m. start, the event will force weekday afternoon commuter traffic in the I-35W/Texas 114 area to mingle with race traffic.Texas 114 is just outside the speedway's south entrance, and the highway is more than halfway through a 2 1/2-year expansion. But the contractor has agreed not to do any work during major race weekends."The project right in front of the speedway, their contract workers don't even work on the side of the road during weekends," said Michelle Releford, Texas Department of Transportation spokeswoman. "They clear off the project."On Saturday, the speedway will host the O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge Nationwide Series race at 6:30 p.m. Then on Sunday, the AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup Series race gets under way at 2 p.m.Many spectators will pass through the Texas 114/121 corridor in Grapevine en route to the speedway.In Grapevine, the $1 billion DFW Connector project is underway, but that highway expansion is not expected to present any major problems either, said speedway spokesman Mize Zizzo."Traffic flow patterns for this week's AAA Texas 500 NASCAR tripleheader at Texas Motor Speedway will not be affected by the DFW Connector or Highway 114 construction projects as TxDOT will be shutting down or limiting any that require lane closures during race weekend," he said in an e-mail.In the Roanoke-Westlake area, a new Texas 114/170 interchange remains under construction, but no lane closures are expected in that area either, Releford said.For NASCAR fans who would rather leave the driving to someone else, the Fort Worth Transportation Authority is again offering its Victory Lane Express shuttle service for a $10 round trip fare. Buses depart Saturday and Sunday from the Tarrant County College Northwest Campus, 4801 Marine Creek Parkway.T buses depart beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, and at 8 a.m. Sunday, spokeswoman Joan Hunter said.Fort Worth police will use contra flow on traffic lanes around the speedway after the race on Friday, and before and after the races Saturday and Sunday.Gordon Dickson, 817-390-7796Twitter: @gdicksonRaceWeek at Texas Motor Speedway
AAA Texas 500: 2 p.m. Sunday
O'Reilly Challenge: 6:30 p.m. Saturday
WinStar World Casino 350: 7 p.m. Friday
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