Texas Motor Speedway starts its 20th year

NASCAR’s 20th year of racing at Fort Worth’s Texas Motor Speedway kicks off this weekend with a pair of races, the highlight being the Sprint Cup Series Duck Commander 500 on Saturday night.

The speedway, headed as it has always been by its ultimate promoter and president, Eddie Gossage, has come a long way since its first race in 1997, when pounding North Texas rains and muddy parking lots soured the day but did not dampen the enthusiasm of race fans.

Gossage pulled TMS through other trials in its early years, improving its track surface to please drivers and steadily producing one highly successful season after another.

With his 100-person staff, he’s relentless in pursuit of the ultimate fan experience — witness Big Hoss TV, which, at 218 feet wide and 94.6 feet tall, he says is “awe-inspiring” as the world’s largest HD screen.

Race weekends include nonstop fun, which on Saturday will include the “Loud and Proud” pre-race show featuring Lynyrd Skynyrd.

In the end, it’s all about the racing, and TMS consistently delivers the best. The NXS O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 will be Friday night, followed by Saturday’s Duck Commander 500.

NASCAR’s top drivers know to expect the best at TMS, and fans do, too.

This story was originally published April 5, 2016 at 5:53 PM with the headline "Texas Motor Speedway starts its 20th year."