Fireworks and racin’… Oh yeah!

I have two favorite holidays. Of course one of them is Christmas and the other happens to be Independence Day – or the 4th of July as we so well know it.  I’m a big fan of Independence Day because I love our country and I love fireworks.  Maybe it’s the pyromanic coming out in me, but there’s just something about a big fireworks show that I find quite satisfying.

I’m particularly excited this year as for the first time, Bristol Motor Speedway is combining a huge fireworks show with a great card of racing at “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile,” as the Saturday Spectacular returns to Bristol.

July 5th will see the UARA-STARS Series visit BMS for a 150-lap feature, the Thompson Metal 150. The card also includes three additional races. The Pro Challenge Series will compete in a 30-lapper and the newly formed Charger Series will take on the high banks. 

And then we’ll have some fun with a Trailer Race (cars racing while pulling trailers) and a stunt guy doing jumps through a ring of fire.  Then around 10 pm, we’ll let the fireworks go! The fireworks will be synchronized to patriotic music by WQUT FM 101.5 Tri-Cities Classic Rock. Watchers can tune in to the station while watching for that extra effect that really adds some emotion the show.

Gates open at 6 pm and racing starts at 7. Adult tickets are $15, kids twelve-and-under get in free. Check out additional event information.

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Farewell Scott Kalitta

The loss of Scott Kalitta is a tragedy for the entire drag racing family. The name Kalitta and Thunder Valley go hand in hand with the success the team has seen through the years at Bristol Dragway. Our hearts go out to the Kalitta family and our prayers are with them at this sad time. Read more on NHRA’s Scott Kalitta tribute page.

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BMS makes Stock Racing Mag top-10 list

From industry publications and web sites like NASCAR Scene and NASCAR.com, to the pages of stick and ball sports pubs like ESPN the Magazine and Sporting News, Bristol Motor Speedway has found itself on many “lists” over the years. 

The lists often are similar: Best Track to Watch a Race… Fan’s Favorite Track… Toughest Ticket in Sports and so on.

Last week Bristol found itself on another list, this time on the pages of Stock Car Racing Magazine. While similar in many ways to previous lists, this list is a tad bit different and quite interesting to read for die-hard motorsports enthusiasts and competitors.

The article entitled, 10 Top Tracks to Watch and Race On, was penned by the magazine’s tech editor, John Gibson. 

Gibson restricted his list to short tracks and assembled his list from a racer’s perspective. Interestingly, Bristol was the only NASCAR “Cup” track to make his list.

Gibson wrote, “I won’t go into much explanation on why Bristol is on the list. It is simply King of the Short Tracks. The venue is just incredible. I chose to put it on the list not only because of how amazing and daunting the track can be, but because of the amount of races held there.”

The list also included Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, Ohio), Devil’s Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, Texas), Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, Iowa), Iowa Speedway (Newton, Iowa), Winchester Speedway (Winchester, Ind.), Belleville High Banks (Belleville, Kan.), Concord Motorsport Park (Concord, N.C.), New York State Fairgrounds (Syracuse, N.Y.) and Rockingham Raceway Park (Rockingham, N.C.).

Gibson sums it all up by writing, “So there you have it, the 10 tracks that you have to race at during your career. Or if you’re a race enthusiast, you’ve got to watch a race at each one at some point during your career.” Read Gibson’s full article.

 

Thunder Valley’s NHRA race makes believers out of round-track fans

ADMIN NOTE: The following post comes to us from long-time Bristol Motor Speedway race fans, Tim and Sharyl Kelly from West Monroe, NY.  The couple visits Bristol Motor Speedway regularly for NASCAR racing. They made their first trip to Bristol Dragway last month for the O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

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Wow... 16,000 Horsepower, what more needs to be said? There is nothing like the experience of NHRA Drag Racing at the Bristol Dragway.

We love all types of racing and have been to tracks from Canada to Florida; New Jersey to Iowa, and everywhere in between. Nothing can compare to the NHRA at Bristol. The sights, sounds and smells take control of your body every time the nitro cars make a pass. You literally feel it from the top of your head to the tip of your toes! 

It is great to be able to have total access of the pits in between rounds and be able to say hello to all the drivers and get an autograph or take a quick picture.

The racing at the speedway is second to none, and we have been loyal season ticket holders for over 10 years, but we have found a new favorite at Bristol. We will now have to make the 1,400 mile track from upstate NY three times a year.

Special thanks to Fred King and his wife Judy and Jeff Byrd for the great hospitality, we felt like superstars all weekend.

Tim and Sharyl Kelly
West Monroe, NY