Arlington transforms streets for inaugural Grand Prix race on March 13

“Scratch it off their bucket list,” Nicholas Clark said. “Come on down, get the experience, feel the adrenaline.”

ARLINGTON, Texas — Crews are continuing to transform Arlington’s entertainment district into a street race course as the city prepares for the inaugural Grand Prix race on March 13.

Florida resident Nicholas Clark is already counting down the days and said the event should be on every racing fan’s list.

“Scratch it off their bucket list,” Clark said. “Come on down, get the experience, feel the adrenaline, you know? Yeah. Cheer on which ever racer they are cheering for.”

The Grand Prix of Arlington will create a nearly 3-mile course through the heart of the entertainment district near AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field, bringing high speed racing through city streets.

For people who have experienced racing before like Clark, he says the feeling of watching the cars up close is something words can hardly capture.

“I mean, something I really can’t explain, and you have to come down and get it for yourself,” Clark said. You know what I mean? Like, the feel, the race cars fly past you, you know, that’s exciting!”

Thousands of spectators are expected to attend race weekend. Arlington police say large crowds are nothing new for the entertainment district, but turning city streets into a race track is something the department has never dealt with before.

“This is going to be unlike any event – we’ve ever done in the entertainment district before,” City Spokesperson Tim Ciesco said. “We’ve hosted a lot of big stuff but nothing that looks quite like this, a racetrack going through the heart of the entertainment district.”

Because of the race course, drivers and race fans should expect significant road closures around the area.

“So the roads you are used to get in and out of the entertainment district will be shut down,” Ciesco said. “Randoll Mill will be shut down, portions of Stadium Drive, AT&T Way shut down, Cowboys Way shut down, and portions of College Street shut down.”

Police are encouraging anyone attending the race to plan ahead before arriving. They can even pay for parking online before the event.

“We are encouraging you to look at where you are seated…and come up with a plan of where you are going to park before they come,” Ciesco said.

There will also be added security around the race venue.

“There is going to be security to get in the stands you will have to go through security,” Ciesco said.

With grandstands going up and crews preparing the course, Clark says the excitement is already building.

Clark said the message to race fans is simple: Do not miss the Grand Prix.