Texas Motor Speedway

For families with budding gearheads, Texas Motor Speedway delivers a sensory experience nothing else in DFW can match: the scale of a 1.5-mile superspeedway and the physical thunder of 40 stock cars going flat out. Unlike a museum or a park, this is an event venue rather than a drop-in attraction, so a visit means picking a date off the calendar. Fortunately, the calendar is packed, with more than 70 public event days a year.

What’s On in 2026

The headline weekend is a NASCAR national-series tripleheader, May 1 to 3, with all three top series racing on consecutive days:

• Friday, May 1: Craftsman Truck Series (SpeedyCash.com 250)
• Saturday, May 2: the Xfinity-level race (Andy’s Frozen Custard 340)
• Sunday, May 3: the NASCAR Cup Series (WÜRTH 400)

The playoffs bring the Cup and Xfinity series back in October. Beyond racing, the speedway hosts car shows like the Goodguys Lone Star Nationals, the Pate Swap Meet, festivals, fun runs, and food events, so “going to the speedway” does not always mean a race. One 2026 note for planning: the IndyCar Series is racing on the Streets of Arlington this year rather than at the speedway.

For Families

Race day is loud and exciting, which is exactly the appeal for kids who love cars and big-event energy. A few things make it work with families: many events offer $1 tickets for children 12 and under, the infield and fan zones have festival-style food and displays, and the speedway runs driving experiences (the NASCAR Racing Experience and the Team Texas racing school) for older teens and adults who want to ride or drive on the track themselves.

Planning for Race Day

• Bring ear protection for kids. Race-day noise is genuinely intense, and small ears need it.
• Arrive early to handle parking and find seats before the green flag.
• Check the specific event’s rules on bags and coolers, which vary from event to event.
• Dress for the weather and pack hats, sunscreen, and water, since the grandstands are open-air.

For a gentler first taste, look for one of the smaller non-race events rather than a marquee Cup weekend.

Nearby Activities

Texas Motor Speedway sits north of Fort Worth, within reach of other family favorites. Sports-loving families can pair a visit with a Texas Rangers game at Globe Life Field or a tour of AT&T Stadium. For a slower-paced day, the historic Fort Worth Stockyards offers cattle drives and Western charm.

Planning a big-event family day? Browse our full directory of family-friendly attractions across DFW to round out your itinerary.