The 1984 Dallas race that changed Formula 1
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A failed event four decades ago kept Dallas-Fort Worth from becoming a car racing hub.
Why it matters: Though Dallas has a lot of empty land for circuits, it hasn't hosted a Formula 1 race since 1984.
The big picture: Texas Motor Speedway, in Fort Worth, hosts NASCAR races and other large events.
- This month, IndyCar announced the new Grand Prix of Arlington, with a temporary 2.73-mile circuit built around AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field. The first race will be held in March 2026.
Yes, but: The 1984 Dallas Grand Prix left a "searing impression" on Formula 1 as a lesson on how not to host a race, per a new story by the Athletic. That's likely why the organization hasn't returned.
- Vegas, Miami and Austin host annual F1 races.
What happened: Organizers decided to hold the Dallas race in July, despite concerns about 100-degree temperatures.
- Over 100,000 spectators packed Fair Park to watch the 26 drivers. It was "a race of attrition," Lotus-Renault driver Derek Warwick told the Athletic. Drivers passed out, engines wore out and tires melted.
- Months later, a City Council member filed a class-action lawsuit against Dallas Grand Prix Inc., alleging that the company didn't consult enough with neighborhoods around Fair Park. The FBI and SEC also investigated one of the main investors over his business dealings.
- The Dallas Grand Prix went into bankruptcy in 1985.
Zoom out: Taking lessons from the Dallas race, F1 and Austin's Circuit of the Americas decided to host a race in the fall.
- Austin will host its 12th U.S. Grand Prix this weekend.
What they're saying: "It's one thing to want to introduce your city to F1. It's another to find the balance between sport and spectacle, to nail the logistics of running a race — practical, political and financial," the Athletic writes.