Dallas Speedpark
| Dallas Speedpark | |
| 150px | |
| Location | Dallas, TX |
| Races | 2012 ARLA Elite Series Rookie Shootout 2012 Smash Beer 400 |
The Dallas Speedpark is a 0.875-mile (1.408-km) triangular race track located in Dallas, Texas.
The track, which opened in 2012, has 25 degrees of banking in the turns. The front stretch is banked 10 degrees while the backstretch is banked 12.5 degrees.
The track held the 2012 ARLA Elite Series Rookie Shootout and was scheduled to host the season-opening 2012 Smash Beer 400, but that race was postponed (see below).
Tornado damage[edit | edit source]
At approximately 2:00 p.m. on February 3, 2012, a severe thunderstorm hit the Dallas area, resulting in a tornado that damaged many structures on the Speedpark grounds, including the grandstands lining the frontstretch and turn 1.
The tornado, estimated to be a category F-2 with wind speeds exceeding 130 MPH, only grazed the perimeter of the track and continued on its journey before dissipating three miles away. Nobody at the track was hurt, but medical reports for the surrounding area have not yet emerged. None of the structures and vehicles in the infield, including the ARLA cars and haulers, were damaged. Also unaffected was a hotel approximately one mile away from the track, which housed most of the drivers and team members.
The damage caused by the tornado was estimated to be between $1,300,000 and $1,700,000. ARLA CEO Jen Walker, along with Speedpark promoter Sean Costanzo, announced the cancellation of the Smash Beer 400 at 10:00 PM that night, long after the damage had been done. Walker then announced that the Daytona 300, scheduled for the following week, would open the season instead in its normal slot.
Costanza then stated, "We are optimistic that we can have the track repaired so that ARLA may return at some point during the season. But more importantly, our prayers are with those who may have been affected by this terrible storm".