concurring.
The Court correctly holds that “under the facts of this case the offenses of speeding and racing are lesser included offenses of reckless driving” as prescribed by Article 37.-09(1), V.A.C.C.P. Maj. opinion, at 213. But in addressing the reasons given by the court of appeals for holding otherwise, and also in conducting its own analysis to resolve the issues here presented, the Court leaves the bench and bar without a definitive explication of reasons for so holding. Thus this concurrence.1
I
With respect to Article 37.09(1) the court of appeals noted “that the offense of racing and speeding would not necessarily be established by proof of the same or less than all the facts required to establish the commission of reckless driving,” faulted appellant for not citing any authority for the proposition he was advancing, and added, “Just because speeding and racing were the eviden-tiary means by which the State chose to prove recklessness does not mean they were lesser included offenses of the charged offense.” Bartholomew v. State, 834 S.W.2d 475, at 479 (Tex.App. — Houston [14th] 1992).2
Such reasoning overlooks the fundamental teachings of Day v. State, 532 S.W.2d 302 (Tex.Cr.App.1975), further elucidated by its followings the Court discusses. See maj. opinion, at 212-213. In Sanders v. State, 664 S.W.2d 705 (Tex.Cr.App.1984) (motion for rehearing) my separate opinion capsules the premise for any analysis of a lesser included offense, viz:
“... [T]he essential ingredients of the offense charged must at least through liberal construction, encompass and thereby include the constituents of any lesser offense in order for the latter to be a ‘lesser included offense’ within in the meaning of Article 37.09, supra, (citations omitted).” Id., at 710.
A
The “facts required to establish” the offense charged — that is, the statutory elements of “reckless driving” — are driving “in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.” Article 6701d, § 51(a), R.C.S. See White v. State, 164 Tex.Cr.R. 346, 299 S.W.2d 292 (1957) (pleading merely driving in “a reckless manner” fails to charge offense); see also Garcia v. State, 498 S.W.2d 936 (Tex.Cr.App.1973) (“willful or wanton disregard” element not unconstitutionally vague); accord: Finch v. State, 498 S.W.2d 937 (Tex.Cr.App.1973).
There is no precise statutory definition of, and a dearth of modern caselaw defining, “willful or wanton disregard” for good reason, viz: they and other ambiguous and often contradictory mens rea terms formerly used were replaced by four culpable mental states *215in § 6.03 of the “new” 1974 penal code. Without directly saying so, however, our courts have determined in effect that the essence of the phrase is substantially the same as the gravamen of the culpable mental state of reckless conduct in V.T.C.A. Penal Code, § 6.03(c), viz:
“(c) A person acts recklessly, or is reckless, with respect to circumstances surrounding his conduct ... when he is aware of but consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the circumstances exist[.]”
Thus in White v. State, 647 S.W.2d 751 (Tex.App. — Fort Worth 1983) PDR refused, the late Justice Wm. A. Hughes, Jr., wrote for the court:
“ “Willful and wanton disregard’ means the deliberate conscious indifference to the safety of others[.] Proof of evil or malicious intent is not an element of reckless driving.”
Id. at 753.
More recently construing the thrust of § 51(a) and similar statutes in civil litigation, a court of appeals relied on prior cases to conclude that on the occasion in question, “We do not believe that under the totality of the evidence that [the offending driver], as a matter of law, drove the fire truck with due regard for the safety of others" City of San Antonio v. Schneider, 787 S.W.2d 459, at 465-466 (Tex.App. — San Antonio 1990) writ refused.3
The statute does not prescribe any specific act or omission committed by an accused in the course of driving that would constitute “recklessness.” However, when the State charges that an accused drove recklessly the charging instrument must allege with reasonable certainty “the act or acts relied upon to constitute recklessness[.]” Article 21.15, V.A.C.C.P. Indeed, in this cause the court of appeals determined that the information contains “all the essential elements of the offense of reckless driving that the State is required to prove under Section 6701d, section 51(a),” and held that the acts alleged and relied on to constitute recklessness informed appellant of “the nature of the reckless act[.]” Bartholomew v. State, supra, 834 S.W.2d at 477. Once evidence of the act or acts is admitted, then it is for the factfinder to determine from a totality of circumstances whether any claimed act or omission amounts to a willful or wanton disregard for safety of persons and property within the contemplation of § 51(a).
To prove the ultimate facts required to establish reckless driving the State alleged speeding and racing and relied on evidence clearly showing that at some point or another appellant was speeding or racing, or both; the trial court authorized the jury to convict if it believed from the evidence the theory alleged by the State.4 Proof of a lesser include offense, however, is not restricted to that which the State alleges. See post, at 217-218.
1
As to speeding, the State alleged “recklessness” by “exceeding the posted speed limit.” Article 6701d, § 166(a). Section 166(b) proscribes another form of “speeding.” The respective sections provide in pertinent part:
*216“(a) No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances then existing. Except when a special hazard exists that requires lower speeds for compliance with paragraph (b) of this Section ... any speed in excess of the limits specified in this Section or established as hereinafter authorized shall be prima facie evidence that the speed is not reasonable or prudent and that it is unlawful.”
“(b) No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing. In every event speed shall be so controlled as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any ... vehicle or other conveyances on ... the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care.”
Under these provisions, evidence of driving in excess of the posted speed limit, as well as of driving without regard to actual and potential hazards, is sufficient to support a finding that an accused drove at an unreasonable and imprudent speed. Holley v. State, 366 S.W.2d 570 (Tex.Cr.App.1963); see Gano v. State, 466 S.W.2d 730, at 731-732 (Tex.Cr.App.1971).
All things considered, driving in “willful and wanton disregard” for the safety of other motorists, given a liberal interpretation, does indeed encompass and thereby includes driving at a speed that is not “reasonable or prudent” and also “without regard to the actual or potential hazards then existing.” Article 6701d, § 166(a) and (b).5 Analogizing the “gross negligence” and “ordinary negligence” analysis on the civil side, note 5 ante, we may fairly conclude that if proof of driving at proscribed speeds under the circumstances shown to exist does not establish “willful and wanton disregard” for safety, the proof at least prime facie establishes the offenses of excessive speed that is unreasonable or imprudent, and without regard to actual and potential hazards then existing. Article 6701, § 166(a) and (b).6
2
With respect to the offense of “racing” denounced by Article 6701d, § 185(a) (“no *217person shall drive any vehicle in any race” et cetera), subsection (c) defines the term as pertinent here thus:
“Racing is ... the use of one or more vehicles in an attempt to outgain, outdistance, or prevent another vehicle from passing[.]”
Racing is a contest of speed, and persons who race on our streets and highways do so at their peril. Shaver v. Manziel, 347 S.W.2d 20, at 21 (Tex.Civ.App. — Texarkana 1961) writ refused n.r.e. Racing is a “dangerous activity.” Rogers v. Murrell, 467 S.W.2d 642, at 647 (Tex.Civ.App. — Amarillo 1971) writ dismissed.7
While the thrust of language of the former statute has changed (from no race “shall be held” to no person “shall drive ... in any race”), the teachings in eases cited in note 7 remain viable under § 185. See Dabney v. Home Ins. Co., 643 S.W.2d 386, at 388 (Tex.1983) (holding in Parrott v. Garcia, supra, controls; jury finding party was racing on public highway established negligence per se.)
Under substantially the same considerations and upon like rationale and for similar reasons pertaining to speeding, see Part I A, ante, in my judgment the evidence regarding speeding and surrounding circumstances is sufficient, if not more compelling, to warrant a finding “racing” was a lesser included offense of “reckless driving.”
II
For an appellate court to say that the offenses of speeding and racing would not “necessarily” be established by proof of facts required to establish reckless driving amounts to ruling that, as matter of law, neither may ever amount to a lesser included offense of the “offense charged” in this cause. But as the Court has always insisted since at least Day v. State, supra:
“... [Wjhether one offense bears such a relationship to the offense charged is an issue which must await a case by case determination, both because the statute defines lesser included offenses in terms of the offense charged and because it defines lesser included offenses in terms of the facts of the case.”
Id., 532 S.W.2d at 315-316. Practically every decision following Day v. State, supra, either alludes to its dictum or sub silentio makes just such a determination. See, e.g., Cunningham v. State, 726 S.W.2d 151 (Tex.Cr.App.1987), and eases cited Id. at 153; see also Bell v. State, 693 S.W.2d 434, at 436 (Tex.Cr.App.1985).
Where the alleged primary vehicular offense proscribed by a traffic regulation in Article 6701d, R.C.S. (West 1977), requires a mens rea of “recklessness,” and to prove it the State alleges one or more elementary acts also prescribed by a traffic regulation in Article 6701d, the latter, as well an any other such related act, may become lesser included offenses, depending on the facts of the case presented by the State. Day v. State, supra, at 306, 315-316.
In the instant cause the State itself not only alleged speeding and racing but also proved both offenses through several witnesses. Manifestly, the State believed the “mens rea” required for “reckless driving” was provable by showing unreasonable and imprudent speed, racing in a negligent manner, as well as disregard of actual and potential hazards then existing. That the State chose those offenses as its “evidentiary means” of proving recklessness will not preclude appellant from claiming on the facts and law, and upon a proper analysis, a court from concluding that one or both offenses are lesser included because established by the same or less than all facts required for reckless driving.
*218Accordingly, with those additional contributions and observations, I join the opinion of the Court.
. In addition to the facts presented in the opinion of the Court at 1, from the briefs of the parties we learn some more germane facts. Brief for Appellant, at 5-6; State’s Brief, at 13-14.
Soon after he left his home at about 8:35 a.m. to go to his office, appellant saw the "red car,” variously called a Firebird and a TransAm; he traveled along West Airport behind the red car, that was in the right lane behind a truck. The traffic was "heavy" with drivers on their way to work. Appellant and the red car both turned left from different lanes onto Chimney Rock; and they moved along that street for about one-half mile, appellant in the left lane and the red car in the right lane tailgating the red truck. Appellant passed the red car and truck and moved over into the right lane to make a right turn onto South Willow.
South Willow is four lane street with several curves. Shortly after turning onto South Willow, appellant came up behind Linda Smith traveling
toward Post Oak. While there is some dispute about the location of the red car at that time, suffice to say that both agree appellant passed Smith in the right lane and the red car also passed her in one lane of the other. Leaving Smith behind, both .cars moved forward, sometimes around other cars, at speeds other witnesses (presumably drivers themselves) described as running side by side: "really going fast” about the same speed, "approximately seventy or eighty miles per hour,” "excessive rate of speed,” and appeared to be racing.
According to appellant, the red car approached the S curve about twenty yards ahead of him, lost control and started skidding sideways into the S curve, running appellant off the road way, and then proceeded to the eventual crash and consequences described in the opinion of the Court, at 211. Appellant was then about two miles from 'his residence.
. All emphasis above and throughout this opinion is mine unless otherwise indicated.
. The Schneider court drew from White v. State, supra, and opinions on the civil side as well, to determine the meaning of "reckless disregard for the safety of others." In Burk Royalty Co. v. Walls, 616 S.W.2d 911 (Tex.1981), the Supreme Court said:
"... 'Heedless and reckless disregard’ means more than momentary thoughtlessness, inadvertence, or error of judgment. It means such an entire want of care as to indicate that the act or omission in question was the result of conscious indifference to the rights, welfare or safety of persons affected by it.”
Id., at 920. Accord: Napier v. Mooneyham, 94 S.W.2d 564 (Tex.Civ.App. — Eastland 1936) writ dismissed, as paraphrased by the Schneider court, 787 S.W.2d at 465.
. More specifically, the authorization paragraph stated in pertinent part:
"Therefore, if you believe from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that ... [appellant] did in wilful [sic] and wanton disregard for the safety of persons and property, recklessly drive an automobile upon a public highway by exceeding the posted speed limit and engaging in a race with another vehicle, you will find the defendant guilty.”
Tr. 33.
. Just as appellant did not cite authority touching the proposition, neither does the Court; so far as diligent research reveals neither this Court nor any court of appeals has previously addressed the precise issue. However, the civil side deals with acceptable analogues, i.e., gross negligence and ordinary negligence.
“Gross negligence" and "heedless and reckless disregard” are synonymous terms. Burk Royalty Co. v. Walls, supra, 616 S.W.2d at 920. "Ordinary negligence" involves a lesser "mental state.” Id., at 922.
"... The essence of gross negligence is not the neglect which must, of course, exist. What lifts ordinary negligence into gross negligence is the mental attitude of the defendant; that is what justifies the penal nature of the imposition of exemplary damages.”
Id., at 922 (emphasis is original).
In Harbin v. Seale, 461 S.W.2d 591 (Tex.1970), addressing the contention that, as a matter of law, "excessive speed alone cannot constitute gross negligence,” the Supreme Court through Chief Justice Calvert explained:
"... We are not prepared to say that a finding of excessive speed alone will not support a finding of gross negligence; whether a finding of excessive speed alone will support a further finding of gross negligence must depend upon the surrounding facts and circumstances. ***
We have held that in determining whether a given act is so far heedless or wanton as to constitute gross negligence, we must look to the surrounding conditions and circumstances at the time and place the act was committed, (citation omitted). ... [Tjhere are a number of things that must be considered in determining whether the act of driving at an excessive rate of speed constitutes gross negligence.”
Id., 461 S.W.2d at 593. The Supreme Court then examined six cases and noted that in five the court held in effect that although the circumstances presented by the evidence did not support a finding of gross negligence, they would have warranted "jury findings of negligence." Id., at 593-594.
. Although the court of appeals addressed the question also under Article 37.09(3), Bartholomew, supra, 834 S.W.2d at 479, this Court does not, nor will I. Suffice to say that the culpable mental state for "reckless driving” is greater than that for speeding under 166(b), and arguably "differs” from that for ordinary speeding under § 166(a) in that the Court has held consistently that the latter offense does not require a culpable mental state. Zulauf v. State, 591 S.W.2d 869 (Tex.Cr.App.1979); Crabb v. State, 503 S.W.2d 260, at 261 (Tex.Cr.App.1974); Goodwin v. State, 63 Tex.Cr.R. 140, 138 S.W. 399, at 400 (1911).
. Former article 795, P.C. 1925, provided: "No race or contest for speed between motor vehicles of any kind shall be held upon any public highway.” An object of the prohibition was to prevent injury resulting from racing on public roadways. The statute proscribed an unlawful act, such as to constitute the basis to convict an offender of the former offense of negligent homicide under id., articles 1238 ff. Mackey v. State, 400 S.W.2d 764 (Tex.Cr.App.1966). In a civil case, a violation of the statute amounted to negligence per se. Parrott v. Garcia, 436 S.W.2d 897, at 899-900 (Tex.1969).