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 7th 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.
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