NASCAR approves later start times for Texas Sprint Cup races
Texas Motor Speedway received approval from NASCAR to move the start times of its two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races this season.
The Samsung Mobile 500 on April 18 and the Lone Star 500 on Nov. 7 will now have 2 p.m. Central Time starts. Both events were originally scheduled for noon.
The move came after Texas Motor Speedway petitioned NASCAR on behalf of its fans requesting a later start time and to avoid potential logistical issues posed by the earlier start.
“On behalf of our fans, we greatly appreciate NASCAR, along with television broadcast partners Fox and ESPN, hearing their collective voice and making the time changes to better suit their wishes and needs,” Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said. “NASCAR has made it clear that they are going to a ‘back-to-basics’ approach, and accommodating their promoters on behalf of their fans as well as avoid some potential logistical issues defines that new approach.”
The move puts Texas in a Western region grouping that includes Infineon Raceway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Auto Club Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway for standardized 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT) starts. The remaining Sprint Cup races in the Eastern/Central region (with the exception of night races) will begin at 1 p.m. ET (Noon CT).
