NRA 500 Information:
Venue: Texas Motor Speedway
Inaugural Race: 1997
Distance: 501 Miles, 334 laps.
Previous Names: Interstate Batteries 500, Texas 500, Primestar 500, DirecTV 500, Harrah's 500, Samsung/Radioshack 500, Samsung 500, Samsung Mobile 500.
Known in the past as the Samsung Mobile 500, Harrah's 500 and a slew of other names, the 2013 Texas 500 will return to its original namesake and is surely one of the highlights of the early NASCAR season. The Texas 500 was first held in 1997 and there were 10 different winners in the event's first 10 races, which has given the race its reputation as a wild and unpredictable ride. While the event is known as a 500, the track at Texas Motor Speedway is a 1.5 mile track, so the drivers will inevitably drive 501 miles to complete the race. This year's race will be held on Saturday, April 13 under the lights at the famed racetrack.
The Texas 500 is held each year at Texas Motor Speedway, a massive sports complex location in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that can hold more than 190,000 people on race days. The track's oval layout is similar to other tracks on the NASCAR circuit like Atlanta Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway, but many drivers contend that the unique atmosphere of the Lone Star State lends a unique atmosphere to the event that gives it a palpable energy that turns the Texas 500 into a white knuckle brawl to the finish.
The Texas 500 has seen a variety of different drivers taking the checkered flag in years past, but only two drivers, Jeff Burton and Greg Biffle, have won the race more than once. Other drivers who have taken the checkered flag at Texas Motor Speedway include Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne and many more. The race has become a major highlight on the NASCAR calendar ever since a major change in 2011 that altered the start to a primetime slot. Racing underneath the lights at Texas Motor Speedway has become a rite of passage for many NASCAR drivers and is one of the most-watched events during the season.
Most recently, last year's race, still known as the Samsung Mobile 500, was won by Greg Biffle, who narrowly defeated Jimmie Johnson and pulled away during Lap 304 of 334 to win his first race of the 2012 season. The event was also memorable for the fact that the final 234 laps were completely green, setting a NASCAR record in the process for the longest consecutive green flag run on an intermediate track. If the past is any indication, this year's Texas 500 is sure to be loaded with its share of surprises and will have plenty of excitement for race fans and amateurs alike.