Fans hoping for an exciting Duck Commander 500 this weekend are also hoping to dodge the severe weather threat for North Texas yet again.
The possibility for strong, even severe storms is in the forecast for the weekend, putting fans at Texas Motor Speedway on alert for delays and possibly dangerous conditions.
However, that may be just as much a tradition for this event weekend as the race itself.
Several fans setting up RVs and tents at TMS Thursday said they can’t remember a year for the mid-April NASCAR event that wasn’t accompanied by some sort of adverse weather.[[299252291,C]]
From the freezing cold to the sweltering heat, from big hail to all-out tornado warnings, fans said they’ve seen just about every bad weather condition since the first races there in 1997.
"Everyone that was in the stands had to get into the bathrooms,” recalled race fan Ted Skinner, who took shelter at the race during a tornado scare several years ago.
Along with the actual race day, TMS events bring in thousands of fans to camp on the speedway grounds in RVs and tents. Some said that can be quite an experience depending on what Mother Nature brings.
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"When the storm came in, it started hailing, and the camper was rocking,” said Billy Gilbert, who rode out a heavy storm in his RV just last year. "We was glad when it was over with."
However, fans said the response to the “yearly bad weather” is always handled well at the track.
Representatives from Texas Motor Speedway said they have a full severe weather plan with several concrete shelters throughout the campgrounds, warning systems via PA and the "Big Hoss" screen, and on-ground first responders to aid in warning visitors when there is a threat, which they said is their number one concern.
"The cops will come by with their sirens and loudspeakers going," said Gilbert.
"They’ll tell you to get out, you need to seek shelter immediately," said Jarrod Wallum.
Many fans also carry their smart phones and radios as alert systems at the event.
Most said they’re ready to make it through whatever storms may come. Their main concern is just avoiding the worst of it on race days. They’ll soon find out if they’ll be so lucky this year.
