CoServ powers the need for speed at Texas Motor Speedway

By Nicholas Sakelaris | March 26, 2024

The old Big Hoss was installed in 2014 and set a Guinness World Record for the largest outdoor video board. The new one shattered that record. Photo by KEN OLTMANN
The old Big Hoss was installed in 2014 and set a Guinness World Record for the largest outdoor video board. The new one shattered that record. Photo by KEN OLTMANN

Mud flies under the lights as junior sprint cars zoom by on the Lil’ Texas Motor Speedway dirt track. Nearby, race fans camp with the glow of streetlights. Along the southbound Interstate 35W frontage road, the marquee sign advertises the upcoming Autotrader Echo Park Automotive 400 up on April 14.

The ticket office is bustling with activity.

All these signs, lights and cash registers have one thing in common: CoServ electricity.

Since the grand opening in 1997, CoServ has delivered reliable electricity to the meters in our service area on the east side of TMS.

Much like Toyota Stadium, home of FC Dallas, Riders Field, home of the Frisco RoughRiders, and Comerica Center, home of the Texas Legends, CoServ is proud to not only power an iconic North Texas sports facility, but also build a strong community partnership that provides benefits far beyond race day.

The biggest beneficiaries are the educators and first responders in the communities we serve. Every race, CoServ and TMS honor a Teacher of the Race and First Responders of the Race for the work they do.

In September, CoServ and TMS honored Stephen Speer, a physics teacher at Northwest High School, as the Teacher of the Race. Stephen brought students for a behind-the-scenes tour of the garages, met a driver, and received tickets to watch a race – all while applying physics lessons.

“I try to give them experiences in the lab that are real, not just something you’ve seen on TV or on YouTube. Having a real racing experience was awesome,” Stephen said.

With the First Responder of the Race, a fire station or police force is nominated and treated to lunch and tickets to the race. Both the teacher and first responders are recognized with a tribute video produced by CoServ that plays on Big Hoss on race day.

“We support them and more importantly, we promote them during our race weekend,” said Mark Faber, General Manager of TMS. “We think it’s incredibly important, and we support CoServ in that effort.”

Teacher of the Race Stephen Speer took his Northwest High School students with him to TMS last fall. Photo by KEN OLTMANN
Teacher of the Race Stephen Speer took his Northwest High School students with him to TMS last fall. Photo by KEN OLTMANN
Sanger Fire department is the CoServ and TMS First Responders of the Race for the 2024 Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 race. Photo by BRIAN ELLEDGE
Sanger Fire department is the CoServ and TMS First Responders of the Race for the 2024 Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 race. Photo by BRIAN ELLEDGE

TMS has a full lineup of events leading up to the first big race of 2024.

TMS is going all out with movie nights, dirt track races, concerts and other events starting April 5 and culminating in the big race on April 14.

“This gives us a full complement of events and it also expands what we can do for fans,” Mark said.

The stars, or more accurately, the Moon, will align with the sun for a total eclipse just after noon on April 8. Mark said they plan to make an event out of it, adding that it occurs on his birthday.