Texas Motor Speedway unveils Big Hoss TV with some help from NASCAR and IndyCar friends

Big Hoss TV at Texas Motor Speedway is as big as 16 regular billboards
Credit: Debbie Ross/Skirts and Scuffs

By LJ Cloud and Debbie Ross

I generally try to avoid cliches when I'm writing but sometimes nothing else will do. They say that everything's bigger in Texas and at  94' high and 218' wide, with 20,633 square feet of active display area, Big Hoss TV illustrates that axiom quite well.

After months of construction through one of the snowiest, iciest North Texas winters in recent memory, Texas Motor Speedway unveiled the behemoth screen Wednesday night with the help of Kyle Busch, Helio Castroneves, as well as Duck Dynasty stars Willie and Korie Robertson, and John and Paula Godwin. Of course, Bruton and Marcus Smith of SMI joined TMS president Eddie Gossage Jr. for the occasion. Skirts and Scuffs' intrepid photographer Debbie Ross was in the media center to get the scoop.

According to Bruton, Gossage asked him for a big screen for several years, and finally Bruton gave in. Charlotte Motor Speedway president, Bruton's son Marcus Smith, suggested that it be bigger than the one at CMS. Gossage may not have been born in Texas, but he got here as quick as he could, and he certainly caught on to the "bigger in Texas" concept quickly, so of course he agreed. The result: a half-acre screen that's approximately 30 times brighter than a standard HD television screen acting as the world's biggest drive-in theater, with a track full of fans piling in to view a new episode of Duck Dynasty, Big Hoss-style.

Helio Castroneves
Credit: Debbie Ross/Skirts and Scuffs

Indy 500 champion and winner of the coveted Dancing With the Stars mirror ball trophy, Helio Castroneves is no stranger to Texas Motor Speedway's media center. He earned a fourth win last June to break the tie with Sam Hornish Jr. for most wins at the speedway.

Castroneves was asked if the big screen would be a distraction while racing.

He said his only experience was with the big screen at Indy. He remembers driving by it and seeing his family holding hands & cheering him on.  "That was a crazy moment," Castroneves said.

Kyle Busch signs a boy's arm.
Credit: Debbie Ross/Skirts and Scuffs

Kyle Busch earned his first Sprint Cup win at the Great American Speedway last April, but he's won six Nationwide and two Truck races at TMS.

Busch answered the usual questions about his season, the new Chase format, etc., then signed autographs for for some young fans.

As popular as Castroneves and Busch are, the real stars of the evening were the Duck Dynasty entourage. With the Duck Commander 500 coming up in just over two weeks, the timing was perfect for the Robertsons  to visit and promote the race.

From Debbie's notes:

Willie & Korie Robertson, John & Paula Godwin, and a host of others, made their way into the the

Willie and Korie Robertson
Credit: Debbie Ross/Skirts and Scuffs

MC through a flurry of smiles, handshakes & howdy-do's. Willie & Korie took center stage and pretty much held court. They were down- to-earth, friendly, and seemingly genuine people.
Marcus Smith presented the couple with two custom-designed helmets (which they loved) and then the questions began...

When asked why they were sponsoring the Duck Commander 500, Willie admitted that instead of just sponsoring one car (Clint Bowyer's car had been considered previously), they would sponsor the whole race, guaranteeing a win. If you had asked them a few years ago, they would never have believed they would be doing this. With their philosophies on family, religion and America, NASCAR was the way to go. Of course, Uncle Si's Iced Teas will be debuted at the races!

All in all, they were thrilled to be there and couldn't wait to see themselves on Big Hoss! Korie noted that their shows are like home movies to them. They are loving every moment of their lives.

 Debbie and I will be at the O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 and the Duck Commander 500 to see Big Hoss TV in race trim, so be sure to stay tuned! "Like" our page at www.facebook.com/SkirtsandScuffs, and follow us on Twitter: @SkirtsandScuffs and @ljc777.