Texas Motor Speedway to install 109-ton video screen
Texas Motor Speedway announced Monday night it is partnering with Panasonic to create the world’s largest high-definition video board at the facility in time for its April 2014 NASCAR race weekend.
The video board display, which will be located in the center of the backstretch, will feature 20,633.64 square feet of HD display – nearly a half-acre – with dimensions of 218 feet wide and 94.6 feet tall. The entire structure will stand nearly 125 feet above ground level and weigh more than 108 tons.
The display size will allow the video board at TMS to supplant the one at Charlotte Motor Speedway as the world’s largest. Charlotte’s big-screen TV was built in 2011.
“We are extremely proud to have the world's largest video board coming to Texas Motor Speedway as well as now having the top two largest in the world at our facilities," said Bruton Smith, Chairman and CEO of Speedway Motorsports Inc., which owns both TMS and CMS.
“This continues to show our company’s commitment to our great race fans and our efforts to remain at the forefront of our industry."
Smith said TMS President Eddie Gossage frequently reminds him everything is bigger in Texas.
“I wanted to make this video board fit his motto," he said.
No financial terms of the agreement between Texas Motor Speedway and Panasonic were disclosed.
Also Monday, Texas announced a change in its spring race date, which will now be held Sunday afternoon, April 6. In recent seasons, the Texas spring date has been held on Saturday night.
However, in 2014, Dallas/Fort Worth area plays host to the NCAA Final Four on the same weekend as the race.
The shift to April 6 will avoid a head-to-head conflict with the college semifinal basketball games scheduled for Saturday, April 5. There are no games scheduled on April 6. ThatsRacin