While the epidemic continues, the facility has already sold out its 30,000-person socially-distanced audience limit for the March 28 Cup race. Why Bristol for the return of the Cup Series to dirt? The track's wide-open layouts suit the 250cc machines well and the fans love the action. The Cup race was first held in 1950 and since then it's been staged at various locations across the country.
Bristol is known for its athletic facilities and the Cup race will be no exception. As part of its effort to host the race while limiting crowd sizes, Bristol has announced plans to re-purpose Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Track & Field Center into a multi-sport complex that would include an arena suitable for basketball, volleyball, wrestling and other events. The TVA facility is located near Trousdale County High School in Brentwood, Tennessee. It features a 400-meter indoor track that is also used for races during major sporting events such as the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament and NFL Europe games.
The Cup race will be the first event held at the new complex when it opens in the fall of 2020. In the meantime, the track will remain open for use by local high school athletes who can practice safely without risking spreading COVID-19.
Fans became bored of high local hotel costs and uncertain weather (it snowed during the 2006 race weekend), but a dirt race allows Bristol to re-establish itself as a must-see event. The first dirt race was held in 1949 and has been held every year since then with the exception of 1951 and 1952 when there were no dirt tracks due to rain delays.
The most recent dirt race saw Greg Biffle win for Joe Gibbs Racing after leading 92 of 200 laps. It was Biffle's third win at Bristol and his second in a row for JGR. He beat out Kevin Harvick and Mike Bliss by about four seconds. This also marked the first time that three different drivers have won from the top three spots on the grid. There were seven lead changes among five drivers during the final lap.
In addition to Biffle, Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon both won earlier this season at Bristol. This makes four straight years that an owner has won the race twice with different drivers. Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson each had three victories this season.
Bristol Motor Speedway is a NASCAR stock car racing track located near Bristol, Tennessee. The track is owned by Speedway Motorsports Inc., which also owns Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.
Following Monday's race at the Bristol Motor Speedway—the championship's first dirt event since 1970--soil racing will stay on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule at the track until 2022. During the COVID-19 epidemic, Bristol had sold out of tickets for both races under existing social distancing norms. The decision was made to keep fans safe and allow them to enjoy the sport they love from home.
Bristol is one of a few tracks that has kept its race weekend schedule intact through this pandemic. Other tracks still planning to hold their events as scheduled include Atlanta, Chicago, Kansas City, Las Vegas, New Hampshire, Phoenix, Richmond, Toronto and Virginia.
The postponements have forced most tracks to make changes to their season schedules. Some have opted to run only part of their schedule while others have canceled all of their events for 2020. It remains to be seen how many races will be held next year but it seems likely that we'll see more than the usual number of cancellations due to weather or health issues.
Bristol Motor Speedway has been working with local and state officials to ensure the safety of our staff and patrons during this difficult time. We are grateful for their efforts and look forward to returning to racing in 2022.
In addition, NASCAR is permitting more than a few thousand spectators to attend a race for the first time since the COVID-19 epidemic. Up to 30,000 people are expected to attend the activities in Bristol on Wednesday night. TIME TO BEGIN: 7 p.m. ET FS1 is the channel. The pre-race coverage starts at 6 p.m. ET. The green flag will drop at 7 p.m.
The race itself starts at 7:30 p.m. All fans entering Bristol Motor Speedway must wear a face mask when inside the facility. Parking spots may be available outside of the entrance to SB Nation Avenue with additional safety measures in place (see below). Fans are encouraged to use an online form to find out if their section is available before arriving at the track.
Bristol Motor Speedway has implemented additional safety measures including requiring all attendees at this year's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bankers Life Fieldhouse Bristol pre-race event to wear a face covering when in public spaces.
Bristol Motor Speedway is becoming a little gritty. The.533-mile Tennessee short track is already being prepared for the NASCAR Cup Series and Camping World Truck Series to race at the end of March. View the scenery as the concrete high banks are covered. It should be quite the sight when it's done.
There are no dirt tracks at Bristol Motor Speedway but that doesn't mean there aren't any great views from some of the corners! The highest point on the racing surface is just over 200 feet above sea level. That's lower than most other tracks including the mile-and-a-half Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.
The unique aspect about Bristol Motor Speedway is its location within the city limits of Bristol, Tennessee. Race fans from all over the world come to see where Neil Armstrong landed before his first trip to the Moon. After the race, people can walk around the track and view the historic sites while they eat barbecue and drink sweet tea.
During the season, Bristol Motor Speedway hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, with the exception of the Daytona 500. The trucks also race here during the spring season along with the ARCA Racing Series. There is a large crowd turnout for these races which proves that not only do people come to see the best drivers in the world compete, but they also come to have a good time.
On Sunday, there will be no dirt racing at Bristol. On Saturday, the qualifying races for both the trucks and the cup were canceled due to rain. Before further rain hit Saturday afternoon, NASCAR attempted to conduct a Truck Series heat race, but the race was called off after a lap due to muck building on drivers' windshields. The checkered flag will wave once again today at 3 p.m. A Cup Series practice is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
The Bristol Motor Speedway track surface gets its name because it's built with asphalt from the former Bristol Township. It used to be known as "Dirt Track Bristol." Race fans remember some wild finishes at Bristol over the years: Denny Hamlin won in 2001 by one inch; Mike Bliss won in 1995 by one car length; and Mark Martin won in 1990 by one second.
Here are this week's race dates and times: Friday, April 27 - Truck Series Heat Race 1a; Saturday, April 28 - Truck Series Qualifying Races 1-3; Sunday, April 29 - No Dirt Racing (but watch the Cup Series race live); Monday, April 30 - Truck Series Race 2b.
Bristol is one of only two tracks on the NASCAR circuit with seating on both sides of the track (the other is Talladega Superspeedway).
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