NASCAR – F1: Settling Scores at OK Texas?

It’s a true Western scenario unfolding in Texas where the coincidence on November 2, 2014, of the second NASCAR Sprint Cup race at the Texas Motor Speedway oval, located in Fort Worth near Dallas, with the United States Formula 1 Grand Prix held at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, is eliciting strong reactions.

Sergio Leone or John Ford wouldn’t have started one of their works any differently: a bounty hunter quietly seated in the town saloon he has always frequented – the Texas NASCAR race – saw, two springs ago, another bounty hunter arrive – the Texas F1 race – who had previously stayed out of his territory.

But next year, the outsider will arrive in town and seek to claim the same treasure—the attention and the greenbacks of the Texas public passionate about motorsport—at the same time. He made it known publicly—by publishing the 2014 season calendar where the United States Grand Prix was moved to early November.

Is the state too small for two bounty hunters? That’s what Eddie Gossage – the saloon regular –, president of the Texas Motor Speedway, believes, as quoted by Associated Press: « It’s ridiculous on the part of Formula 1. Our two NASCAR Sprint Cup races [the oval will also host a race on April 6, 2014, editor’s note] attract the largest number of spectators for sports in Texas. It’s not the smartest idea to try to compete with that. I’m sure that, despite what they’ve said publicly, people at the Austin circuit are tearing their hair out over this. They don’t have a say in their date. »

Bobby Epstein, president of the Circuit of the Americas, tempers tensions and rejects the duel to the death: « Due to the large number of NASCAR events scheduled annually, there are sometimes overlaps with events at the Circuit of the Americas, and this will happen next year. However, there are some similarities between a NASCAR race and the United States Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend that we have developed. We see this as a great opportunity to bring motorsport fans from around the world to Texas and to further prove that Austin is the place to enjoy top-notch competition and entertainment. »

The date of November 2 chosen to bring forward the United States Grand Prix, initially scheduled for November 9, helps to avoid logistical difficulties in terms of transport and hotels related to a home game for the University of Texas team against the West Virginia team. This compelled choice leads Formula 1 to directly compete with the most popular motorsport event in the United States at a time when, given their placement in the calendars, these two events could prove decisive in crowning their respective champions. It should also be noted that the first of the two NASCAR races of the 2014 season to be held at Texas Motor Speedway has already been moved from Saturday, April 5 to Sunday, April 6, to avoid conflict with the American college football championship finals.

As a reminder, the Texas oval has a maximum capacity of 191,000 people, even though the actual number of spectators is not known for the 2013 season, while the United States Grand Prix hosted an average of 115,000 spectators for the race in 2012 and 2013. It takes about a three-hour drive to get from Austin to Fort Worth.