BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Also known as the “World’s Fastest Half Mile”,
Bristol might be one of the shortest track on the Winston Cup circuit, but it
certainly has the highest banking. The Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee
opened its track back in 1961, which was originally in asphalt but was
resurfaced into a concrete one in 1992, and boasts of some of the fastest
action on its 36-degree banked, half-mile layout The fact that mountains were
moved two years ago in order to add nearly 50,000 seats, taking its total
seating capacity to 135,000, points to the appeal it holds for spectators as
well as the racers.. After a stupendous, though gradual rise in its popularity
as a NASCAR racing track, Bristol recorded tremendous increase in its
attendance from a comparatively insignificant number of 18,000 to an enviable
160,000. HISTORY OF BRISTOL MOTOR
SPEEDWAY Bristol enthusiasts
would find it interesting to note that the land on which the Bristol Speedway
is standing today used to be a dairy farm in Eastern Tennessee. The credit for
what it is today goes to three men- Larry Carrier, Carl Moore and R.G. Pope,
who were inspired to lay the foundation for the Speedway after they had watched
a race, taking place on the Charlotte Motor Speedway. The men each invested $600,000
and purchased an area of 100 acres, which finally materialized into racing’s
fastest half-mile ever. When they had witnessed the race in Charlottesville, it
had a 1.5-mile track, however, the three partners aimed for a more intimate
setting and settled on the half-mile, which as one can plainly see now, was, a
good idea. Construction began in 1960, with the Motorway’s name intended to be
Bristol International Speedway, and carried on for nearly a year.
Source: Bristol
Motor Speedway Official Website, NASCAR Online, 2003 The BMS made its
debut as an official NASCAR track on July 30th, 1961 as a perfect half-mile
oval with 22-degree banked turns. The first driver, who came onto the track for
practice on July 27, was Tiny Lund in his Pontiac. The next to follow was David
Pearson. As far as actual races are concerned Fred Lorenzen won the pole for
the introductory Volunteer 500 with a speed of 79.225 mph. The seating capacity
for this inaugural race was 18,000. While the names and even track
configurations have been changed many times through the years, the racing
action at Thunder Valley continues to thrill its spectators the same way. It
continues to hold its place as the race of attrition in the Winston Cup as well
as the Busch Series; it has been recorded that while 42 cars started in the
first event, only 19 remained at the end of the last event. After the 1976
season, Lanny Hester and Gary Baker became the new owners of the Speedway. And
merely two years later, in 1978 they changed its name to Bristol International
Raceway. In 1982, Lanny Hester sold his share of the track to a man called
Warner Hodgdon. Within a year, on July 6, 1983, Hodgdon managed to acquire the
track 100% and brought another track as well: the Nashville Speedway, through a
buy-sell agreement with Baker, and appointed Larry carrier as the track
manager. But as things turned out, Warner Hodgdon had to file for bankruptcy
and this gave Larry Carrier to take charge by covering all Hodgdon’s
outstanding debts. But the Speedway was not destined to stay in one pair of
hands, and on January 22, 1996, Bruton Smith bought the Speedway from Larry
Carrier for $26 million. On May 28, 1996, the name of the track officially
became what it is even today- Bristol Motor Speedway.
Jam packed
crowd of 135,000 wild NASCAR fans around a half-mile track and you get the
loudest, most raucous racing anywhere in the world. Whether it's the fall
afternoon race or the summer night race, nothing in racing compares to Bristol
Motor Speedway. Source:
Bristol Motor Speedway Official Website, NASCAR Online, 2003 TRACK INFORMATION
Bristol Dragway was host to the NHRA’s introductory Winston Showdown in 1999, matching Top Fuel dragsters against Funny Cars for the first time. John Force emerged the first winner subsequently, surpassing Bob Vandergriff with a 5.470, 262.18 mph effort. After hosting the Winston Showdown, for two years in 1999 and 2000, Bristol Dragway was host to its first NHRA point’s race since the 1967 season with the 2001 Mac Tools NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
Among the many safety features, the dragway’s elevation at the top end is 72 feet higher than at the start, to help slow cars after they pass through the lights. The four-story control tower features 21 luxury suites, a state-of-the-art control room, conference room, elevators and an awning-covered observation deck available to almost 800 occupants. Trackside glass design uses a “curtain wall glass system” which offers no visual obstructions from one end of the building to the other. Bristol Dragway features two pedestrian tunnels from grandstands to pits. Bristol Dragway hosted the NHRA’s inaugural Winston Showdown in 1999, pitting Top Fuel dragsters against Funny Cars for the first time. John Force was the first winner of the event, besting Bob Vandergriff with a 5.470, 262.18 mph effort after smoking his tires. After hosting the Winston Showdown in 1999 and 2000, Bristol Dragway hosted its first NHRA point’s race since the 1967 season with the 2001 Mac Tools NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Now one of the most popular events on the NHRA schedule, the Mac Tools Thunder Valley Nationals, held each April, is in its third year of existence. SEATING ARRANGEMENTS AND
DETAILS The Bristol Motor Speedway has been through more than one renovation phase. The Skybox Suites have been a focus of renovations and 35,447 old Suites were replaced not very long ago. A recent estimate said that the BMS association aims to replace 35,000 more to 43,000 by early next year (2004). The Bristol Motor Speedway will extend its capacity to roughly 160,000 permanent seats by the time the next spring’s race inj March starts. The speedway doesn't have much more room to grow. While the Indy track is 21/2 miles around and Lowe's is 11/2 miles, Bristol is a half-mile, short and steep
Source:
Bristol Motor Speedway Official Website, NASCAR Online, 2003 Bristol hasn't
always had the famous 36-degree banking on a concrete track. It was built in
1961 as a perfect half-mile track with 22-degree banking. Shortly after, in
1969, the track was reconfigured to the present banking and new .533-mile
length. In the years since then, the track has grown to be more fan-friendly
with an increase in seating capacity from 35,000 to 71,000 to the current
135,000. The entire layout for BMS covered 100 acres and provided parking for
more than 12,000 cars. The track itself was a perfect half-mile, measuring 60
feet wide on the straight away’s, 75 feet wide in the turns and the turns were
banked at 22 degrees. Seating capacity for the very first NASCAR race at BMS –
held on July 30, 1961 – was 18,000. Prior to this race the speedway hosted
weekly races. The first driver on the track for practice on July 27, 1961 was
Tiny Lund in his Pontiac. The second driver out was David Pearson. Fred
Lorenzen won the pole for the first race at BMS with a speed of 79.225mph. Area Info: The track is
located on Volunteer Parkway, Highway 11E, on the south side of Bristol, Tenn.
From the south: exit I-81 at I-181 to 11E; or at Tennessee Exit 69 and take
Highway 37 to 11E. From the north: exit I-81 at Virginia Exit 3 and take 11E
south; or at Virginia Exit 17 and take Va. 75 south, Tenn. 44 south, to U.S.
421 north, to Tenn. 394 south (the Bristol Beltway). PRICING
POLICIES AND REGULATIONS
The booking
department allots individual account numbers to every customer, which they are
supposed to keep within reach when they call up to book tickets for an
impending race to make it convenient for customer as well as the cashier. NO
GOLF CARS OR ATVS allowed on speedway grounds. Specially built single person
motorized vehicles for the physically impaired will be allowed. AMS welcomes
families. Children in reserved seat areas must have a reserved seat ticket. PRICING AND TICKETING INFORMATION
Money order or certified check will be processed
immediately. All personal checks require a 2-weeks clearance period before the
order can be processed. All telephone orders must be paid for by credit card.
All ticket orders will be filled as close to the request as possible.
Regardless of age, all children must have a ticket to sit in the reserved
grandstands. Orders not including the postage and handling fee will be held as
guest relations. |
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While Bristol was built as half-mile track
with 22-degree banking, measuring 60 feet wide on the straight away’s and a
width of 75 feet in the turns, it underwent multiple, gradual changes to take
the shape of the famous 36-degree banking that it has today. The track acquired
its present configuration in the fall of 1969, when it was remodeled and
re-measured and given the 36-degree banking and the .533-mile length. Besides
the track reconfigurations, the track-owners have always kept the fans in mind;
the overall layout for BMS is spread over100 acres and the parking space can
accommodate more than 12,000 cars.
The Bristol Motor Speedway facility is
located amidst nature in a beautiful setting, on 100 acres of land. The racing
necessitated a cut of 60-foot wide strip, which was 1 mile long and there also
was a 20-foot wide return road. The facility includes state-of-the-art
communication systems and a Musco lighting system that was installed for a cost
of $500,000. Not only that, the control tower is four storeys high and boasts
of 21 luxury suites, sophisticated control room, conference room, huge
elevators and a shaded observation deck that can house 800 observers.
Approximately one million cubic yards of earth had to be moved for allowing more
pit area and a better grandstand. Over 15,000 cubic yards of concrete was used
to build the Bristol Dragway, counting as well the retaining walls that extend
over the entire length of the dragway. The facility ensures complete security
to its visitors through the incorporation of safety features such as pedestrian
tunnels from grandstand to the pits, a “curtain wall glass system” that
eliminates the risk of visual obstructions from one end of building to the
other. The most important feature though is the careful elevation dimensions of
the dragway, which is 72 feet higher at the end than it is at the start and
this assists slow cars after they have left the well-lit main area.
 © 2003 K & J Productions |