Bristol Motor Speedway

Bristol Motor Speedway is a NASCAR short track located in Bluff City, Tennessee, near Bristol. It was constructed in 1960, and held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961.

Related Topics:
NASCAR - Short track - Bluff City, Tennessee - Bristol - 1960 - July 30 - 1961

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One of the most popular tracks in NASCAR, this all-concrete construction is similar to Dover, except far shorter. The advertised banking of 36 degrees in the turns makes Bristol the most steeply banked track used by NASCAR (but see the "Trivia" section for a differing opinion on the turns). However, the track is so short that speeds here are far lower than is typical on most NASCAR oval tracks, making for a considerable amount of "swapping paint". Also, the initial starting grid of 43 vehicles extends almost halfway around the track, meaning that the slower-qualifying cars and those using provisional starts begin the race almost half a lap down. Another anomaly is that the short overall length means that there are two sets of pits. Until 2002, slower starters ware relegated to those on the backstretch, but a rule change for caution periods only made two backstretch pits desirable along with two on the frontstretch.

Related Topics:
Dover - "Trivia"

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The congestion inherent in this facility and the power of the cars has been likened to "flying fighter jets in a gymnasium." The track is one that tends to be either loved or hated by fans and drivers alike. Purists who grew up driving or attending races at older short tracks located at fairgrounds and similar places tend to love Bristol; those raised on superspeedway racing tend to chafe at the lower speeds. Often Bristol races are the scene of the highest number of yellow-flag caution laps in the NASCAR season; with so many cars in such a small space, contact is almost inevitable. The short lap length and the unpredictable nature of the racing mean that this is one of the few remaining NASCAR tracks at which it is feasible for a driver to come back to win a race from several laps down; at most modern tracks, especially superspeedways, this is almost impossible. The short lap length also cuts the other way; any unscheduled pit stop for reasons such as a cut tire will result in the driver going two or more laps down as it is almost impossible to get anything done to a car during the time taken to complete one circuit, especially under green-flag conditions.

Related Topics:
Superspeedway - NASCAR

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Ironically, since 2002 pit rules were instituted in virtually making the track's two pit roads one for caution periods, drivers have made major mistakes during green flag pit stops by driving through both pit roads when only one is necessary for green flag periods.

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The drag strip at this facility has long been nicknamed Thunder Valley. Both current Nextel Cup races held at Bristol are for 500 laps; the spring race (daytime) is generally sponsored by area grocery chain Food City and the late summer race (the popular night-time race, considered "the toughest ticket in NASCAR" and one of the most difficult to obtain in all sports) has rotated among several sponsors; the current sponsor is Newell Rubbermaid's Sharpie marker. Tickets for the Bristol NASCAR event are said to be the second hardest to obtain in all of sports, second only to the opening ceremony of the Olympics. Bristol is also a very fertile ground for other levels and types of racing; Busch Series races here often draw over 100,000 spectators, making it one of the best-drawing Busch venues, and resulted in the Fox network televising the race nationally. In 2004, it was the first Busch Series race of the season televised on broadcast network television, and the race, which had been 150 laps in 1982, 200 laps in 1984, and 250 laps since 1990, will be a 300-lap race in 2006.

Related Topics:
Nickname - Nextel Cup - Newell Rubbermaid - Sharpie - Olympics - Busch Series

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It is also the home of the only midweek (Wednesday) night NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event, held in conjuction with a USAR Hooters ProCup event.

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In the past, dirt has been spread over the oval and it has been used for sprint car racing. Even these events have drawn over 100,000 spectators, a crowd almost unheard of in sprint history. Many of the fans come from the East Tennessee area, but thousands more come from all parts of the country to experience Bristol's unique brand of racing. In addition, there is a quarter-mile drag strip that hosts an annual NHRA event each year. Even in the offseason, the complex attracts fans during the Christmas season by facilitating a miles-long holiday lights display that culminates with a lap on the actual speedway track itself.

Related Topics:
Sprint car - East Tennessee - NHRA

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