The roar of engines is about to echo through Arlington as the NTT IndyCar Series brings high-speed racing to the streets surrounding AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field this weekend.
Crews spent about 60 days constructing a 2.73-mile street course featuring 14 turns and a long straightaway where drivers could reach speeds approaching 180 miles per hour.
During an exclusive walk-through of the track, Charlotte Jones, co-owner and chief brand officer of the Dallas Cowboys, described what makes this event unique.
“One of the unique features is the longest straightaway followed by a sharp 90-degree turn,” Jones said. “I think it’ll create a lot of excitement and a lot of drama. It will be loud.”
Jones said the vision of hosting major events in the district dates back to when AT&T Stadium was first built. “When we built the stadium, we knew we would only play about 10 games a year,” she said. “We knew we had to attract other things besides our games to make the stadium what it was meant to do — become an economic engine for our region.”
Landing an IndyCar race in Arlington took years of planning and collaboration with partners, including Roger Penske, whose organization owns the IndyCar Series, along with local sports organizations such as the Texas Rangers.
The weekend isn’t just about racing. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders will kick off the festivities with a performance of Thunderstruck in front of the grandstands.
Several Cowboys legends are also expected to attend, including DeMarcus Ware, Drew Pearson, and Charles Haley. Rangers great Iván Rodríguez — known to fans as “Pudge” — will also serve as an honorary chair.
“If you’re a fan of sport, this is where you need to be,” Jones said. “This is where you want to be.”
Fans can also expect live music. T-Pain is scheduled to perform during the weekend as part of the race festivities. And Jones confirmed, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is expected to be there too.
“He wants to be right in the middle of it,” Charlotte Jones joked. “I think he’d love to be in the car, but we’re all very sure he should never be in the car.”
Race weekend schedule and tickets
Qualifying rounds for the IndyCar race take place Friday and Saturday, with the main race set for Sunday.
General admission tickets start at $35, and children 12 and under get in free, making it one of the more family-friendly sporting events in North Texas this weekend.