Friday at Texas Motor Speedway finally means cars on the track. The Cup Series and Xfinity Series cars both have practice sessions, followed by Cup Series qualifying to round out the day. When night falls, the dirt track hosts the Texas Sprint Car nationals, featuring none other than Tony Stewart sliding in the dirt.
Several of the Cup Series cars have switched over to digital displays. , © Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved.
Measuring jigs in the garages look almost like a Calder sculpture. , © Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved.
A safety worker watches over pit road during the morning practice session., © Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved.
AJ Allmendinger passes the grandstands during morning practice., © Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved.
Season points leader Kyle Larson in turn 1 during morning practice. , © Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved.
Corey Lajoie in turn 2 during morning practice at Texas Motor Speedway., © Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved.
The track at TMS was reconfigured in the off season, and turn 2 seems to be where most of the drama is happening. Kyle Busch gets sideways and hits the wall during practice. , © Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved.
Erik Jones gets a free ride back to the garages after hitting the wall after turn 4 during practice. , © Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved.
The damage to Erik Jones’ car was definitely more than cosmetic. , © Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved.
A track staffer stands by as the Cup Series practice draws to an end. The finish line camera is lined up for photo finishes., © Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved.
A Team Penske spotter stans on top of the hauler during Xfinity series practice., © Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved.
Dale Earnardt Jr.’s car goes through inspection before qualifying begins. Texas Motor Speedway was the site of his first win. , © Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved.
Casey Mears during the Xfinity Series practice session., © Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved.
JJ Yeley glides over the finish line during Xfinity Series practice. , © Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved.
The NASCAR officials take to pit road when Cup Series qualifying begins., © Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved.
The Flagger sports a menacing look in the flag tower. , © Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved.
Danica Patrick en route to qualifying 19th for Sunday’s race., © Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved.
Fans in the infield don’t just sit in RVs and put up scaffolding. They build entire bars. The back straight is visible just through the fence. , © Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved.
The dirt track on site features sprint car racing late into the night. , © Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved.
The dirt track on site features sprint car racing late into the night. , © Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved.
The dirt track on site features sprint car racing late into the night. , © Rip Shaub. All right reserved.
The dirt track on site features sprint car racing late into the night. , © Rips Shaub. All Rights Reserved.