NASCAR drivers give the skinny on a more narrow Bristol

Last month here at Bristol we added more than 160 feet of SAFER barrier in Turns 2 and 4. As a result, the width of the racing surface was decreased some three feet. Also as a result, it’s been asked multiple times if this will impact the racing for the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500.

Truthfully, that question can’t be answered yet. What is known is that there is a little less real estate out there on the half-mile for the drivers to negotiate.

Obviously, there will not be any noticeable changes during practice and qualifying. But when drivers choose to go two, or even three-wide under race conditions? That’s when the answer will be delivered. This same question created a little bit of conversation in Atlanta, during the March 7^th race weekend.

Below is a snapshot of what some NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racers had to say about the added change:

CLINT BOWYER: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON SAFER BARRIERS NARROWING BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY?

“Bristol has always been one of my favorite race tracks, no matter before they repaved it or after they repaved it. I think our fans will always get their monies worth, no matter how wide or how narrow it is.”

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TONY STEWART: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE NEW SAFER BARRIERS AT BRISTOL THAT WILL NARROW DOWN THE TRACK?

“The wall is still where the wall is at. We’ll see it when we are out there so we always…the good thing about us as drivers, after all these years of doing this, doesn’t matter where they put it, we have to stay a fraction of an inch off of it and use every bit up to it. I am sure it is going to make a difference, there is no doubt about it, I mean we all use every bit of room we can get there anyway. It will make the exits of the corners a little tighter but I think the racing will still be good there because of it.”

DO YOU THINK IT WILL INCREASE ACCIDENTS?

“No. Like I said, they paint them so you can see them, so that will help us. (LAUGHS) Sorry, I had to say it that way; it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t.”

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CARL EDWARDS: THOUGHTS ON BRISTOL ADDING THE SAFER BARRIER.

“Bristol will be a lot of fun and Martinsville will be a lot of fun.  We’ve had a lot of success at Bristol.  I like racing there.  They’ve paved it and made it to where you could go the same speed anywhere on the track and it makes for some really tough racing and you don’t really have to bump people out of the way to get by them.  Sometimes we still do, but I think that will be fun.  I don’t think that will make much of a difference (the addition of more SAFER barriers).

I think that, if anything, it’ll make it a little tougher, which, I could tell by the release they put out there that that’s what they want.  It sounds like they’d put a jump on the back straightaway if they could, which is fine by me if they want to try that, but it’ll be good.  Those will be fun races.”

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JEFF GORDON: THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT BRISTOL; THE SAFER BARRIERS MOVED IN, WILL IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

“Oh yes. We use every inch of that race track. It is definitely going to be unique. I am anxious to get there and see how many right sides we take off the first hour of practice. It is like anything else, eventually you get used to it. Then it is going to come down to the side-by-side racing and how that is going to affect that aspect of it. I think the most important thing is that you are really going to have to get your car working well. Because, you narrow the track up that means it might be a little harder to pass.

I like the safety aspect of it. It is definitely a good thing. I’m all for. I wish there was a way to move walls so we could keep the width of the track the way it was. But, that’s not the case so we are real happy they put the safety barriers up there on the straightaway.

DO YOU THINK IT WILL BRING ANY OF THE OLD CHARACTER BACK?

“I guess so, if they are hoping for more crashing, then maybe. I mean I think the racing has been spectacular. I love the fact we are able to get three wide there now. We are certainly racing side-by-side. It is just that there is a little bit more room to race on.

You see more side-by-racing, I don’t think that is a bad thing. But want to see sparks fly and this might be the thing that does that.”

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Hate to use a cliché, but we guess one could say, “the jury is still out on this one.”

Join us for the March 21 running of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500 and find out for yourself. Plenty of great seats remain available. You may call toll-free for tickets by dialing 1.866.415.4158 or you may PURCHASE ONLINE NOW.

You Belong At Bristol!

Bristol Trip To-Do Lists

Ah the racin’ rituals have begun. The message boards are hummin’, the Twitter universe is aflutter and Facebook friends far and near are gettin’ Bristol race ready.

Yep, hard to believe it, but it’s almost Bristol time. It’s a lot of fun keeping up with all that race fans are doing to get ready for their respective trek to the home of “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile.”

Just in the last couple of days I’ve read posts about fans “airing out” their campers, shopping for new scanners, updating their race wear so they’re in tune with their driver’s new sponsor colors and even entering the directions to Bristol in their GPS in search of that ultimate route to the hills of east Tennessee.

Which brings me to the point of this post… What does your Bristol prep involve? Seems for a lot of fans it’s a multi-day, or even multi-week process.

No doubt there’s a lot to check off your list before you head our way. Let us know what you do, before you’re Bristol bound.

You Really Do Belong At Bristol

It’s always interesting to talk with race fans; more specifically, Bristol fans. As Sr. Director of Fan Relations, I get the privilege of doing it on a daily basis. So does Jeff Byrd, our President and General Manager, who publishes his desktop phone number and e-mail address in every newsletter. So do all of our customer service representatives in the ticket office.  Heck, all of us here at Bristol enjoy talking with our fans.

Conversations are numerous and include various topics. But practically every conversation, be it by e-mail, phone or face-to-face, is woven with a common thread. Invariably somewhere along the way, the fans tell us two things in one way or another: 1) Bristol is more than just a race and 2) I feel like I belong at Bristol.

Obviously we think Bristol is more than just a race, or a race track as well. Around the halls here in the O. Bruton Smith Building, we call it “the Bristol experience.”  And of course we think fans belong here as well. The whole “belong” thing is certainly an intended double entendre.

We think fans “belong” here and we want them to buy tickets to our races. But more importantly, “you belong at Bristol” translates into the sense of belonging our fans feel after a trip to these northeast Tennessee mountains.

And so is the basis for our latest television spot promoting the March 19-21 Food City 500 race weekend. This spot was forged out of the stories we’ve heard, the relationships we’ve built and everything that truly is, the Bristol Experience.

By the way, my name is Ben Trout and as I said earlier, I’m the Sr. Director of Fan Relations here at BMS. I invite you to stop in and say hello when you come to Bristol. My office is on the first floor of the O. Bruton Smith Building. Also, feel free to give me a call (423.989.6954) or shoot me an e-mail. We love to hear your comments and suggestions.

I’m also one of the gang behind the scenes of our Facebook and Twitter pages. So if you’re into the social media thing, friend us and follow us – we provide quite a bit of insider info through those channels.

But most of all, remember… You Belong At Bristol!

NASCAR Newscast: Food City 500 Preview

Ford Fan Friday a Jewel – and Pepsi makes it Free!

Granted, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500 is the king of Bristol Motor Speedway’s 2009 March race weekend.  However, one of the jewels of the Bristol Experience is Ford Fan Friday.

You want to see your favorites on the track? Then this is the day for you. It’s a full day of Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series practice, plus qualifying for the Food City 500.  Also, if you’re like most fans, Ford Fan Friday provides that perfect opportunity to cruise the souvenir haulers, visit the Bruton Smith Building and rekindle those camp side friendships.

But rest assured, the day doesn’t end there.  For the first time in the 20-plus-year history of Food City Race Night, the fan gala moves to Bristol Motor Speedway.  The event kicks off soon after qualifying and will last into the evening hours. You can expect plenty high of profile driver appearances, live entertainment, interactive displays, show cars and much more. Check out the lineup here.

And to add some icing to the cake, our good friends from Pepsi have provided a means for fans to experience the day absolutely free.  Just bring a specially marked Pepsi can, like the one you see here, and the day’s experience is all yours without a dime out of your pocket.

Of course, we’d love for you to stop by a Food City location to pick up your Pepsi.  However, the cans are also available at various retailers throughout the region.

And if you must buy a ticket, they’re only five bucks.  It’s a great day to grab the family and head out to Bristol Motor Speedway.

We hope to see ya’ll there.