The Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers have partnered with IndyCar Racing to bring an iconic street race to Arlington’s entertainment district next spring.
The street race is a result of the fallout between Roger Penske Racing and the Texas Motor Speedway which failed to come to an agreement earlier this year. Penske instead has partnered with the state’s two largest and most popular sports teams to bring a unique, 2.73-mile course to town that will wind its way from AT&T Stadium to Globe Life Field.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Texas Rangers COO Neil Leibman announced the race in a press conference on Tuesday, Oct. 8 at the Texas Live! venue.
“What I think of is the interest in racing. We’ve always known it’s there,” Jones said. “It not only hits our Dallas Cowboys fanbase but our Hispanic fanbase in a big, big way. So I’m excited for that.”
Motorsports racing remains a popular attraction in the U.S. The Motorsport Industry in the U.S., which represents just a sliver of the worldwide Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, includes seven full series and one associate series. Nationally, motorsports racing attracts 15 million viewers annually. That number is similar to the average of 17.9 million viewers of NFL games, according to Statista.com.
“I look at this as history and opportunity coming together,” racing legend Roger Penske said during the announcement of the iconic race. Penske joined Lieberman and Jones in making the announcement before a crowd of fans.
“I can think of no better vision that would be represented better than bringing the Indy Grand Prix Arlington race here in Texas,” Leibman said.
Penske was instrumental in bringing the Super Bowl to Detroit in 2006 and has formed a relationship with Jones since. Penske served as a host chairman of the Super Bowl that year.
Former California Speedway President Bill Miller has been named as the President of the Grand Prix of Arlington. A slideshow presentation of the track and the spectator viewing sections indicates the race will be tailored to both the skill of drivers on a technically challenging course while allowing visitors an unprecedented opportunity to see some of the top drivers in motorsports duke it out on the streets of Arlington.
“When I was a young kid and I wanted to be a race car driver, I dreamed about winning iconic events like the Indy500,” said driver Josef Newgarden. “And I think the Grand Prix Arlington will be one of those events.”
The race will comprise three days of events, featuring numerous opportunities for fans to get up close to their favorite IndyCar teams and experience world-class entertainment venues catered to motorsports enthusiasts. Registration for fans is already available for general admission, reserved seating, VIP hospitality, and party zone areas at http://www.gparlington.com/.
