2013 March Race Winner: #5-Kasey Kahne, 92.206mph, started 2nd

2012 August Race Winner: #11-Denny Hamlin, 84.402mph, started 8th

Track Race Record 1st Race: Cale Yarborough, Apr 1977, 100.989

Track Race Record 2nd Race: Charlie Glotzbach, July 1971, 101.074

Slowest Race Record: Ned Jarrett, July 1965, 61.826mph

Oldest Race Winner: Dale Earnhardt, 48 years, 3 months, 30 days, 8/28/1999

Youngest Race Winner: Kyle Busch, 21 years, 10 months, 23 days, 3/25/2007

Worst Starting Spot to Win: Elliott Sadler, March 2001, started 38th

2013 March Pole Sitter: #18-Kyle Busch, 129.535, finished 2nd

2012 August Pole Sitter: none, set by rules book, fastest in 1st practice, #13-Casey Mears, finished 21st

Track Qualifying Record: Kyle Busch, March 15, 2013, 129.535mph

Oldest Pole Winner: Harry Gant, 54 years, 7 months, 17 days, 8/27/1994

Youngest Pole Winner: Joey Logano, 19 years, 9 months, 23 days, 3/19/2010

Most Wins - Active Driver: Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch & Kyle Busch, 5

Most Wins - All Time: Darrell Waltrip, 12

Most Poles - Active Driver: Mark Martin, 9

Most Poles - All Time: Cale Yarborough, Mark Martin - 9

Most Top 5s: 26 - Richard Petty

Most Top 5s - Active: 19 - Terry Labonte; 16 - Jeff Gordon

Most Top 10s: 37 - Richard Petty

Most Top 10s - Active: 33 - Terry Labonte; 22 - Jeff Gordon

Most Cautions: 20 - 3 times, most recently 8/23/2003

Fewest Cautions: 0 - 7/11/1971

Most Caution Laps: 167, 7/25/1965

Fewest Caution Laps: 0, 7/11/1971

Most Running at the Finish: 42 - 3/15/2008

Fewest Running at the Finish: 7 - 3/20/1966

Most Lead Changes: 40 - 4/14/1991

Fewest Lead Changes: 0 - 3/25/1973

Fewest Laps Led by a Race Winner: 1 - Fred Lorenzen 7/26/1964

Most Laps Led by a Race Winner: 500 - Cale Yarborough, 3/25/1973

Most Wins by Manufacturer:
43 - Chevy;
33 - Ford;
8 - Dodge;
5 - Toyota;
17 - others

Bristol Pit Rules: Bristol Motor Speedway operates under a plan where one-pit road will be used during pit stops under caution. Currently, Bristol remains the only track in the Sprint Cup Series that utilizes two pit roads with 22 pit stalls on the frontstrect and 21 on the backstretch. Teams that pit on the backstretch used to be at a competitive disadvantage. Since the spring 2002 race at Bristol, teams will enter pit road in Turn 2 (the current backstretch pit entrance) drive around down the backstretch and around Turns 3 and 4 and exit in Turn 1. Under green-flag conditions teams will enter and exit pit road under the current two-pit-road scheme.

Bristol mascots making debut this weekend: Bump and Run, brother and sister raccoons, debut as the official mascots of Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway prior to this weekend's Food City 500 festivities. Residents of BMS/BD property since the summer of 2011, today is the first time the pair makes an appearance as official representatives of the Speedway at Food City Race Night in Knoxville, Tenn. They are offspring of two other inhabitants of the property affectionately named Thunder and Valley by BMS/BD personnel. The state wild animal of Tennessee since 1971, the raccoons are a fitting symbol for a facility located in the mountains of Northeast Tennessee. Guests are encouraged to look for them, say hello and have their picture taken with Bump and Run.(BMS)(3-15-2013)

Bristol names race officials: Country music icon Charlie Daniels pulls double duty March 17 prior to the start of the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. After the multi-platinum, Grammy-winning artist and members of the Charlie Daniels Band perform the pre-race concert, Daniels will lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Straight off an appearance in the Super Bowl with San Francisco 49ers, Kingsport, Tenn., native Daniel Kilgore is the Honorary Starter. Kilgore played his high school ball at Dobyns-Bennett and spent his college career at Appalachian State University.
Keeping with the football trend, University of Tennessee head football coach Butch Jones is the Grand Marshal.
Specialist Mary Potts of the 129th Army Band and Tennessee National Guard sings the national anthem Sunday.
Jeff Foxworthy, comedian and host of television's The American Bible Challenge and Are You Smarter Than a Fifth-Grader, is the Grand Marshal for Jeff Foxworthy's Grit Chips 300 on Saturday while Sean McDonough, CEO of Roswell Food Group, is the Honorary Starter.(BMS)(3-14-2013)

Johnson to appear at Bristol Kids Zone: Young fans have the chance to spend some time with five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson when he makes a stop in the Bristol Motor Speedway Kids Zone Sunday, March 17 prior to the Food City 500. Johnson appears in the Kids Zone Sunday morning for a special question-and-answer session with his youngest supporters. During that time, fans 15 and under will receive a Lowe's Build and Grow kit of Johnson's #48 machine to construct (Build and Grow Kits limited to first one hundred children in attendance), as well as a BMS matchbox car. Johnson's appearance is limited to children only, although they may be accompanied by Food City 500 ticket holding parent or guardian. The BMS Kids Zone, located in the North parking lot, will be open Friday 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March race weekend.(BMS)(3-10-2013)

More properties join Bristol's lodging program: Six additional properties have joined the Bristol Motor Speedway's Fan-Friendly Lodging Program, giving BMS guests more options when choosing where to stay for the Food City 500 weekend next month. A lodge in Linville Falls, N.C., two hotels in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and two in Bristol, Tenn., have been added to the list, offering reduced rates and special discounts for race fans. "We said last month when we announced the initial group of participants for 2013 that we expected more properties to join the program before race week and this is evidence of that," said BMS General Manager Jerry Caldwell. "We now have about two dozen properties participating, offering more than 40 different pricing options. We would like to add a few more not only for March but August as well." Now in its third year, the Fan-Friendly Lodging Program identifies properties with reduced rates and nightly minimums to help ease the cost of attending events at Bristol Motor Speedway. It is just one of the more than half-dozen such programs established at BMS in the last three years aimed at adding value to the pilgrimage made by guests to the East Tennessee mountains. Program participants range from chain and privately-owned hotels, cabins, lodges and even an historic Inn which has hosted three former U.S. Presidents. They range in distance from 20 miles to 100 in all different directions in three states to accommodate guests. A full list Fan-Friendly Lodging partners may be found at: bristolmotorspeedway.com. For guests looking for more than a place to stay, there are several ticket options. For more information, please contact the BMS ticket office toll-free at 1-866-415-4158 or at www.bristoltix.com.(BMS)(2-28-2013)

Jeff Foxworthy's Grit Chips sponsoring Spring Bristol Nationwide race: Let's face it, some things just "belong" together. So when Roswell Food Group CEO Sean McDonough saw the chance to pair one of the South's favorite comfort foods with one of the country's favorite snack items, Grit Chips were born. Even better, when his young company was presented with the opportunity to pair their new snack with perhaps the one person who represented the South better than anyone  Jeff Foxworthy's Original Grit Chips became a reality. Taking this idea of great "pairings" one step further, McDonough and his Roswell Food Group have agreed to a four-year deal to host the spring Nationwide race at iconic Bristol Motor Speedway, creating what may be the perfect blend of racing, regionalism and great taste. With more than 250,000 fans set to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and an exciting weekend of racing, it's a good time for folks to plan to be a part of the exciting new Spring tradition that is the "Jeff Foxworthy's Grit Chips 300"(BMS)(2-6-2013)

Bristol Fan-Friendly Lodging partners announced: One of the most recognizable of Bristol Motor Speedway's guest initiative programs takes shape for 2013 with at least three new partners. The Fan-Friendly Lodging Program identifies properties with reduced rates and nightly minimums to help ease the cost of attending events at Bristol Motor Speedway. It is just one of the more than half-dozen such programs established at BMS in the last three years aimed at adding value to the pilgrimage made by guests to the East Tennessee mountains. "When we developed this program more than three years ago, we did not want to limit the definition of lodging properties to just hotels, but any type of facility with accommodations for our guest," said BMS General Manager Jerry Caldwell. "As a result we have chain and privately-owned hotels, cabins, lodges and even an historic Inn which has hosted three former U.S. Presidents. Properties in three states: Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina, make up the preliminary list for 2013. Caldwell expects more properties to join the program.(BMS)(1-31-2013)

Bristol SuperPass provides access for Driver Intros and Charlie Daniels Band Concert: Attending the 2013 Food City 500 at Bristol? Then take your experience to another level with the Food City 500 Pre-Race SuperPass. Imagine walking the Bristol high banks, being stage-side for the Charlie Daniels Band pre-race concert and being on the track to witness Bristol's highly-popular driver introductions prior to the Food City 500 green flag. It's an opportunity to make your Food City 500 weekend extra special. The Food City 500 Pre-Race SuperPass includes: Self-Guided Track Tour, Food City 500 Pre-Race Concert, and Food City 500 Driver Introductions. Pricing is $80 for Food City 500 ticket holders, and just $40 for Bristol's iBelong season ticket holders. Quantities are limited so call 1.866.415.4158 to reserve your Food City 500 Pre-Race SuperPass.(BMS)(12-21-2012)

"Bristol's 12 Days of Christmas" kicks off Friday: With the holiday upon us, Bristol Motor Speedway gets into the giving spirit as "Bristol's 12 Days of Christmas" giveaway kicks off Friday, Dec. 14. BMS boasts the most loyal and dedicated fans in NASCAR and as a thank you, they have the opportunity to win some great prizes, such as pit passes, autographed items and waving the green flag at Ford Fan Friday qualifying March 15. On Dec. 25, 12 entrants win a hat autographed by 12-time BMS winner Darrell Waltrip, and one of those 12 wins a pair of hot passes for the March 15-17 Food City 500 race weekend. To enter the drawing for the daily giveaway, fans can like the Bristol Motor Speedway Facebook page or visit www.bristolmotorspeedway.com and click on the "Bristol's 12 Days of Christmas" banner at the top of the page. To purchase tickets, please contact the BMS ticket office at its toll free number 1-866-415-4158 or 423-BRISTOL (274-7865). Tickets also may be purchased at www.bristoltix.com.(BMS)(12-14-2012)

Charlie Daniels to perform before Brisol race in March: One of the biggest legends in music brings his hard-driving act to the Last Great Colosseum as the Charlie Daniels Band hits Bristol Motor Speedway in March for Food City 500 pre-race show. Prior to drivers receiving the command to start their engines March 17, the multi-platinum, Grammy-winning artist delivers his special brand of music, invigorating race fans before the green flag falls on one of NASCAR's most exciting events. And he is eager to hit the stage in the Tennessee hills. Special Charlie Daniels ticket packages are available soon.(BMS)(12-8-2012)

NASCAR Artist Sam Bass intoduces Speedway in Lights poster: Sam Bass, NASCAR's most prolific artist, returns to Bristol Motor Speedway this month with another piece of original artwork commemorating Ford Speedway In Lights Powered by TVA. Bass created artwork for last year's 15th edition of Speedway In Lights, the first in the series. This year's poster features Santa and a car on the World's Fastest Half-Mile decked out with a holiday paint scheme. Bass has created hundreds of NASCAR-related artworks featuring the sport's premier drivers. He appears at Speedway In Lights the next three weekends, Dec. 7-8, Dec. 14-15 and Dec. 21-22 in the General Shale Christmas Village in the BMS infield from 6-10 p.m. The SIL posters are $5 each. Bass has other prints and posters available as well. A portion of the proceeds from poster sales benefit the Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities. Tickets for Ford Speedway In Lights powered by TVA, open nightly 6-10 p.m. through Jan. 5, are available at the BMS gate. Ticket prices for cars are $12 Sunday through Thursday, and $15 Friday and Saturday. Activity van tickets are $20 each night and bus tickets are $85 each night. Both the Johnson Controls Ice Rink ($7 admission/skate rental) and HVAC Chill Hill ($7) are open through Jan. 15. The rink is closed each Monday for maintenance while Chill Hill is closed Monday through Wednesday. For a complete schedule, please visit bristolmotorspeedway.com. For more information concerning Speedway In Lights, please call 423-989-6900.(BMS)(12-7-2012)

Bruton Smith comments on many NASCAR issues: Bruton Smith, the eccentric billionaire whose Speedway Motorsports Inc. owns eight NASCAR tracks, held court in the Texas Motor Speedway media center on Saturday and addressed a wide range of subjects. Here are some selected notes from his lengthy media session:
• Smith said NASCAR needs to work at "making the racing more exciting." He said NASCAR has made some good moves in recent years - notably double-file restarts - but needs to implement additional improvements. Smith's primary suggestion to improve the racing is to slow the cars down and thus make it easier for drivers to make bold moves.
• Races with too many long green-flag runs are not exciting, Smith said, and he suggested a smaller fuel tank would force drivers to make more pit stops. Fuel-mileage races, he said, are "boring, boring, boring." One solution could be a minimum number of cautions per race to serve as TV timeouts.
• Drivers are "maybe not as eager" right now and NASCAR needs more racers who have a "mean streak."
• Despite a decline in TV ratings and attendance, Smith is still supportive of the Chase. He sounded concerned, though, that the playoff drivers get treated with kid gloves.
• There are no plans to make further adjustments to Bristol's racing surface after a drama-filled night race in August.
• No consideration has been given to moving an SMI race to give Las Vegas a second date, Smith said. He remains hopeful NASCAR will someday see the value in rewarding Vegas with another race.
see more at SB Nation.(11-4-2012)

Bristol 2013 events announced: Bristol Motor Speedway once again kicks off NASCAR's 2013 short track season in mid-March and welcomes fans back for its second Sprint Cup event on the fourth Saturday in August. The main event in March, the Food City 500, which is the fourth Sprint Cup race of the year, takes place on St. Patrick's Day, March 17. The IRWIN Tools Night Race, the sport's most popular event, is Aug. 24. NASCAR kicks off the BMS March race weekend with Ford Fan Friday March 15, followed by the Nationwide Series event March 16, and the Food City 500 Sprint Cup race March 17. August race week begins with the UNOH 200 Camping World Truck Series/Whelen Modified Series doubleheader Aug. 21. The Food City 250 Nationwide Series race is Aug. 23, followed by the IRWIN Tools Night Race Aug. 24. Season tickets, as well as March race weekend only tickets, are now available. To purchase tickets, please contact the BMS ticket office at its toll free number 1-866-415-4158 or 423-BRISTOL (274-7865). Tickets also may be purchased at www.bristoltix.com.(BMS)(9-21-2012)

More changes coming to Bristol?: Bruton Smith, chairman and CEO of Speedway Motorsports Inc., has been weighing feedback from fans and is considering additional changes to the racing surface at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, one of SMI's marquee properties. Smith, who joined fans in a town-hall-style meeting on Saturday, is considering "tweaking the surface a little bit after watching the replay several more times." Disappointed with attendance at the March race at the .533-mile short track, Smith commissioned a seven-figure grinding project that shaved two degrees of banking from the top lane of the concrete track. Far from eliminating the outside groove as a racing option, the top of the track became the fast way around as the third lane rubbered in. The result was an action-filled race that was well received by a broad consensus of competitors and fans alike. Smith has yet to provide specifics about what additional changes he might consider.(NASCAR Wire Service)(9-3-2012)

Divers find pilots body involved in helicopter crash: Virginia State Police Search & Recovery Team divers with the assistance of the Sullivan County, Tenn. County Sheriff's Office dive team have spent the day searching the waters of South Holston Lake on the Washington County, Va., side for the pilot of the helicopter that crashed late Friday night (August 24, 2012). The divers will continue their search and recovery efforts through the evening. At approximately 10:30 p.m. Friday, a Bell 407 helicopter, owned by Food City, crashed into the lake shortly after takeoff from a nearby residential property. The helicopter had been ferrying passengers from the Bristol Motor Speedway to the residence. The helicopter had just dropped off six passengers and taken off when the crash occurred. Only the pilot, who is male and an East Tennessee resident, was onboard at the time of the crash.
Virginia State Police Search and Recovery Team (SRT) dive members spent much of Friday night searching the wreckage for the pilot. This morning, the SRT brought to the scene a side-scan sonar to use for the search for the pilot. The helicopter did break apart upon impact with the water, with the bulk of the aircraft still submerged in the water. The depths of the water at the crash site ranges from approximately 25 to 40 feet. The FAA responded to the scene Saturday morning to conduct its investigation. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.(WJHL)(8-25-2012)
UPDATE: The Virginia Highlands Airport was flying its U.S. and state flags at half-mast Saturday in memory of a missing pilot, although airport employees declined to comment on the crash of the Bell helicopter registered to the parent company of the Food City grocery stores. The pilot has been missing since the late Friday crash into South Holston Lake, though rescue crews have been searching nearly round the clock since then. According to a 2011 article in the online trade publication Aviation International News, Food City's pilot, Bill Starnes, had amassed at least 26,500 accident-free flying hours when he was recognized in November with a National Business Aviation Association Pilot Flying Safety Award, as K-VA-T's chief pilot.(Bristol Herald Courier)(8-26-2012)
UPDATE2: After three days of continuous searching, the pilot from Friday night's helicopter crash was recovered from South Holston Lake Monday afternoon (Aug. 27, 2012). Using a side-scan sonar, the Virginia State Police Search and Recovery Team (SRT) located the pilot's body in approximately 80 feet of water about 100 yards from the wreckage of the helicopter. Shortly after 3 p.m., his body was recovered from the water and is being transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Roanoke for examination and autopsy. The pilot, Bill R. Starnes, 64, of Blountville, Tenn., was the only one onboard the Bell 407 helicopter Friday night (Aug. 24, 2012) when it crashed into the lake. The helicopter, owned and operated by Food City, had been ferrying passengers from the Bristol Motor Speedway to a private residence bordering South Holston Lake on the Washington County, Va., side. The helicopter had just dropped off six passengers and taken off when the crash occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m..(WJHL. (8-28-2012)

Pilot only person on crashed Food City chopper: Divers and troopers remain on the scene this morning of a helicopter crash in the Washington County, Va., side of the South Holston Lake. The first 911 call came in at 10:33 p.m. Friday (August 24, 2012) about the crash. The helicopter, a Bell 407, crashed into the lake shortly after takeoff from a nearby residential property. The corporate-owned helicopter had been ferrying passengers from the Bristol Motor Speedway to the residence. The helicopter had just dropped off the passengers and taken off when the crash occurred. Only the pilot was onboard at the time of the crash. Virginia State Police Search and Recovery Team (SRT) dive members spent much of the night searching the wreckage for the pilot. This morning, the SRT is bringing to the scene a side-scan sonar to assist with the search for the pilot. The helicopter also remains in the water, upside down. Now that it's daylight, the state police will work to remove the wreckage. The depth of the water at the crash site is approximately 25 feet. The FAA is responding to the scene this morning.(WJHL)(8-25-2012)

More Bristol Motor Speedway Notes:
" In 1961, the year Bristol Motor Speedway opened, its two NASCAR events didn't take place in March and August as they do now, but in July and October. In '62 the races were in April and July and in '63 the spring race moved to March while the second race remained in July. As a matter of fact, the summer race stayed in July through 1975. The spring race moved to May in 1964 and back to March the following year and since then alternated between March and April every year but one (1983 when it was in May) until 2000. The first Bristol race has been contested in March every year since with the exception of 2005 when it was in April. As for the summer race, which became The Night Race when lights were installed in 1978, it actually took place in November in 1975 before it took up residence in August in 1976 where it has remained.
" This year's IRWIN Tools Night Race is Aug. 25. Only five times in the past 52 years has the race been run on Aug. 25 - 1979 (Darrell Waltrip was the winner), 1984 (Terry Labonte), 1990 (Ernie Irvan), 2001 (Tony Stewart) and 2007 (Carl Edwards).
" Brad Keselowski has captured the last two Sprint Cup races at BMS in a Dodge. Before Keselowski won the 2011 IRWIN Tools Night Race, the last driver to win at the World's Fastest Half-Mile in a Dodge was Kurt Busch in March of 2006. Before that one has to go all the way back to 1975 for a Dodge win when Richard Petty swept both events. The only other two drivers to win in a Dodge at BMS were David Pearson (spring 1975) and Bobby Allison (spring 1969, summer 1970).
" The combined margin of victory for the last seven Sprint Cup events at BMS has been by less than one second.
" In In the first Night Race at BMS, on August 26, 1978, Cale Yarborough and runner-up Benny Parsons, both driving Oldsmobiles, were the only two cars on the lead lap. Yarborough won by 16 seconds. Darrell Waltrip finished third, more than a lap down, while Dick Brooks finished fourth and Richard Petty took fifth. Other notables in the race were Richard Childress (seventh), Neil Bonnett (20th) and Bobby Allison (22nd).
" Back in the 60s and 70s, it wasn't unusual for drivers to win races at BMS by more than a lap. The very first race, the 1961 Volunteer 500, saw Jack Smith beat Fireball Roberts by nearly three laps - even with a driver change.
" In April of 1977, Cale Yarborough won the Southeastern 500 by more than seven laps. The last driver to win by at least one lap was Darrell Waltrip, who accomplished the feat in the 1981 Busch 500. Ricky Rudd finished second, the only car one lap down and Terry Labonte was third, the lone car two laps down.
" None of the last 15 Sprint Cup races at BMS have been won by a driver starting outside the top 20. The last driver to win with a worse starting position than 20th was Dale Earnhardt Jr., who won the 2004 Sharpie 500 after starting from the 30th slot. Elliott Sadler owns the distinction of winning from the worst starting position at BMS when he won the 2001 Food City 500 after starting 38th.(BMS PR)(8-25-2012)

IRWIN Tools Set to Honor America's Tradesmen at Bristol and Beyond: With the IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) just days away, IRWIN Tools has numerous initiatives planned across the country to celebrate tradesmen's skill and contributions, kicking off with a salute to "America's Real Working Hands" at NASCAR's most popular event, and culminating with the second annual National Tradesmen Day on Sept. 21. Throughout race weekend, IRWIN and BMS officials will build awareness for National Tradesmen Day, which is set for Friday, Sept. 21, 2012. In an exclusive opportunity, 300 professional tradesmen from across the country will serve as the IRWIN Tools Night Race Grand Marshals. At the base of the track's turn four, these individuals will give drivers the command to "start your engines." As a special tribute, IRWIN will honor the 23 "Tradesmen of the Track" BMS Operations Team in several ways. More info about the Tradesmen of the Track at nationaltradesmenday.com.(BMS)(8-24-2012)

TDOT sending 'HELP' for race weekend Bristol traffic: The Tennessee Department of Transportation will send special "HELP" to the Tri-Cities this weekend to assist with the heavy traffic expected in conjunction with NASCAR events at Bristol Motor Speedway. Two lime-yellow HELP trucks from Knoxville will patrol the area to assist with incidents to keep traffic moving. The trucks are four-wheel drive and equipped with push bumpers, top-mounted arrow boards, emergency work lights, air compressors, and others tools. Operators can perform a variety of functions from clearing a stalled car off the roadway to changing a flat tire. TDOT maintenance units will be posted throughout the region to assist with any other issues and portable message signs will warn drivers of any possible delays.(Bristol Herald Courier)(8-24-2012)

Girl Scouts hosting Bristol Motor Speedway Overnight: The Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians will host Bristol Motor Speedway Overnight, an event celebrating the 100th anniversary of the organization. The event, which has an overnight component, will last from 4 p.m. Saturday until 8 a.m. Sunday. More than 500 are expected to attend. This family-friendly event is open to all members of the community. It will begin with registration at 4 p.m. in the adjacent Earhart Campground. Next, the BMS gates will open at 5 p.m. From 5-6:30 p.m., a hot dog meal will be served and cost is included in the ticket price. From 6:30-7 p.m., the council will hold an opening ceremony and will then move on to activities/games from 7-9 p.m. Finally, a movie will be shown inside the speedway from 9-11 p.m. At 11 p.m., overnight participants will head to Earhart Campground for a campout, or day guests will head home. Activities inside the speedway include crafts, ride-alongs on the track, photo opportunities in Victory Lane, tours of the luxury suites, relay races, face-painting, games and more. Pre-registration is requested and available online at girlscoutcsa.org/events/227. Tickets are $10 via pre-registration and $15 at the gate for the day-only package. Tickets are $15 via pre-registration, $20 at the gate for the overnight package.(Bristol Herald Courier)(8-24-2012)

New York City fire truck on display through race weekend: A fire truck used by New York City firefighters who lost their lives in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks will be on display through race weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. FDNY Rescue 5 will be on display for Food City Race Night Thursday in downtown Bristol, will lead that night's transporter parade, will be used during pre-race activities and be on display at BMS. It is part of the REMEMBRANCE RESCUE PROJECT, an educational nonprofit effort that allows people, especially youngsters, to see, touch and learn from this piece of American history and remember the day when thousands of lives were lost. The project is raffling off the Ultimate Bristol Race Experience with proceeds benefiting the project. Tickets can be purchased at www.wepay.com/stores/therrp or visit the rescue during the race.(Bristol Herald Courier)(8-24-2012)

NASCAR Hauler Parade at Bristol: Bristol Motor Speedway invites you to the 15th annual Ford Transporter Parade, Thursday August 23rd. It's a Bristol tradition and an event you will not want to miss. Featuring the brightly-colored, multi-million dollar machines that haul your favorite Sprint Cup Series cars from track-to-track across America, the parade is an amazing 10-mile trip through Bristol, Tenn., down Volunteer Parkway (Hwy. 11E) to "The Last Great Colloseum" that is Bristol Motor Speedway. The parade leaves Bristol Mall at approximately 9 PM, following Food City Race Night. Be sure to look for the famous fireworks and the Food City big cart along the parade route. More info and the map of the parade route at bristolmotorspeedway.com.(8-22-2012)

Guest Welcome Village to debut at Bristol this week: Race fans visiting Bristol Motor Speedway for its yearly NASCAR weekends know there isn't a more fan-friendly track on the circuit. For the upcoming August Race Week events, the Speedway will extend its attention to the fans with the introduction of the Bristol Guest Welcome Village. The Guest Welcome Village, located beside the orange bridge between BMS and Bristol Dragway on the Dragway side of the creek, is a designated area that provides guests with information, services and entertainment through the race week and weekend. The Village, which will be staffed with personnel who can assist guests with any questions they might have about BMS and its events, features a stage for entertainment and driver and celebrity appearances, concessions, tented areas with cooling stations with misting and cool seats, picnic tables, closed-circuit television, WiFi access, games and more. The BMS Guest Welcome Village opens Wednesday, Aug. 22 at 8 a.m. It will be open at 10 a.m. Aug. 23 and at 8:30 a.m. on both Aug. 24 and Aug. 25. The Village will remain open each race night for one hour following completion of each event.(BMS)(8-21-2012)

Bristol guests to receive flag, coupons courtesy of Outback: Bristol Motor Speedway guests at the Aug. 25 IRWIN Tools Night Race will receive a couple of special rewards from Outback Steakhouse just by finding their seats. As part of the continued involvement in NASCAR racing by the popular restaurant chain, the seat of each guest provides not only a great spot to watch the IRWIN Tools Night Race, but also a flag to wave at the start of the event, as well as a coupon for $10 off at Outback on any two entrees. Outback gives fans a free Bloomin' Onion the Monday immediately following a Sprint Cup race if Ryan Newman finishes among the top 10. To date, Newman, who has one win, has placed among the top 10 eight times this season, giving fans plenty to cheer about on Mondays.(BMS)(8-17-2012)

Pre-Race concert at Bristol: Grammy Award nominated country music artist Jamey Johnson will perform Aug. 25 at the Lawless Pre-Race Concert prior to the start of the IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. This will be the first trip to BMS for the award-winning singer/songwriter, who is set to release his latest album, "Livin' For A Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran" Oct. 16. "Lawless," billed as a "Western crime film", set in Virginia's Franklin County, stars Shia LaBeouf and will be released at the end of August. Tickets still are available for all three nights of racing at BMS. For more information, please call the BMS ticket office at 1-866-415-4158 or visit www.bristoltix.com.(BMS)(8-10-2012)

Michael Buffer particpating in Bristol driver intros: Driver introductions for the Sprint Cup races at Bristol Motor Speedway are unique in the sport - and for the upcoming IRWIN Tools Night Race Aug. 25, a couple of new twists have been added. Well-known ring announcer Michael Buffer, whose "Let's Get Ready To Rumble" catchphrase is known world-wide, takes part in driver introductions, adding his distinct voice to each driver's entrance from a stage in Turn 3 of the track. Fans have been involved pre-race ceremonies at BMS before, including introducing themselves before the drivers. This time, BMS guests get to determine who does it the best. Fans will be asked to vote, via the Sprint Unlimited Text to Vote, for the driver's introduction they like best. The winning driver then will receive $10,000 that will go to his or her favorite charitable organization. In the distinctive pre-race ceremony at Bristol Motor Speedway, Sprint Cup drivers select a specific song to make their entrance. Many become memorable, including Brad Keselowski's "Won't Back Down", and Tony Stewart's "How Do You Like Me Now?" The highlight of last March's ceremony featured Denny Hamlin dancing "The Dougie" on his way down the ramp.(BMS)(8-7-2012)

Speedway Children's Charities Golf Tournament August 20: Before cars take to the track at Bristol Motor Speedway, race weekend kicks off with the 14th Annual Speedway Children's Charities Golf Tournament presented by Baker's Construction Services at Tri-Cities Golf Course on Aug. 20. One of the Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities largest fundraisers each year, the tournament sets the tone for a week of unparalleled racing action which takes place at the World's Fastest Half-Mile later in the week. The tournament, which features a four-person captain's choice format, begins at noon with a shotgun start. Companies may purchase a team, as well as sponsor a hole for $750, or for $600 without a hole sponsorship. A sponsorship includes the company's sign on the tee or hole, four players, cart and green fee and a goody bag, along with lunch (provided by Chick-fil-A), dinner (provided by Levy Restaurants) and beverages. Individuals who would like to participate in the tournament may sign up for $150. This includes one player with cart and green fees, as well as a goody bag, lunch, dinner and beverages. To sign up for the tournament, please contact Betsy Holleman at (423) 989-6975 or via email at betsy@bristolmotorspeedway.com.(BMS)(8-7-2012)

Bristol ticket holders can drive the track: Jealousy may soon hit the drivers in the NASCAR garage area. On Saturday, Aug. 11, race fans with tickets to any BMS racing event during IRWIN Tools Night Race Week will be allowed to drive their own vehicle around the revamped concrete surface, an advantage any NASCAR driver surely would enjoy. Those with tickets to the IRWIN Tools Night Race, the Food City 250 or the UNOH Perfect Storm Doubleheader can come to BMS from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Aug. 11 for an open house to showcase the Bristol high banks. After showing their tickets, fans will line up behind the Official BMS Pace Car for laps around the "World's Fastest Half-Mile." In addition to track laps, Camping World Truck Series competitor Ty Dillon will be on hand from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. to provide ride-along laps to several lucky fans in a street truck. Those without tickets should not fret, however, as they will be available to purchase on site.(BMS)(8-4-2012)

"We Back Pat" ticket packages at Bristol: Knoxville's Trevor Bayne, a crowd favorite at Bristol Motor Speedway, is back on track in the Nationwide Series for the Food City 250 Aug. 24. Bayne is highlighted in two special ticket packages at BMS to celebrate his return to the World's Fastest Half-Mile as he pilots the "We Back Pat"-themed Roush Fenway Ford in honor of the University of Tennessee's Pat Summitt. The Food City 250 package currently is available, starting at $60, and features a ticket to the Food City 250, a "We Back Pat" t-shirt and admission to a special question-and- answer session with Bayne. Also available is a package for the weekend, which contains a ticket to both the IRWIN Tools Night Race Sprint Cup event Aug. 25 and the Food City 250, a "We Back Pat" t-shirt and admission to the Q&A, starting at $125. A portion of the proceeds from the ticket package will benefit The Pat Summitt Foundation. For more information, call the BMS ticket office toll free at 1-866-415-4158 or visit www.bristoltix.com.(BMS)(8-3-2012)

UNOH extends sponsorship to include Bristol truck race: The University of Northwestern Ohio, like many drivers during a NASCAR race weekend, will be doing double duty at Bristol Motor Speedway in August, sponsoring two events. The sponsor of the UNOH Perfect Storm 150 Whelen Modified event at BMS since 2009, the college also will sponsor the UNOH 200 Camping World Truck Series event Aug. 22, the second half of the Wednesday night doubleheader. Dr. Jeffrey Jarvis, the president of the University of Northwestern Ohio, says the partnership with BMS continues to be extremely beneficial for the university. "Everyone at the University of Northwestern Ohio is very excited about extending our partnership with Bristol Motor Speedway to the Camping World Truck Series," he said "We've been sponsoring the Modified event since 2009 and the opportunities it has given our students, staff and facility since we started have been immeasurable. Steve Farmer, Vice President of Business Development at UNOH, feels moving to the Camping World Truck Series made perfect sense. "With the success we've had sponsoring the Modified race, it just makes more sense for us to be associated with the Truck Series because it is a higher profile event," he said. "It'll be more exposure for the University of Northwestern Ohio and our students and our programs." UNOH is on board as sponsor of the Truck Series race through 2016. This will be the final year of its sponsorship of the Modified event.(Bristol Motor Speedway PR)(7-23-2012)

Bristol Tickets Still Available: Seats in some of the more popular locations at Bristol Motor Speedway rapidly are becoming hard to come by with the IRWIN Tools Night Race quickly approaching. While the Wallace Tower and The Pit Road Party Zone sections are full, the Allison Grandstand on the front stretch of the World's Fastest Half-Mile, as well as several other popular sections, continue to fill with little more than five weeks remaining before NASCAR returns to the newly revamped .533-mile oval. Seats remain available for all three nights of racing in August. Race week Aug. 22 with a doubleheader, which features the Volunteer 200 Camping World Truck Series race and the UNOH Perfect Storm 150 Whelen Modified event. On tap Aug. 24 is the Food City 250 Nationwide Series race, followed by the IRWIN Tools Night Race Sprint Cup event Aug. 25.(BMS)(7-19-2012)

Bristol Camping and RV Options: Bristol Motor Speedway officials announced a new come-as-you-are test program aimed at those needing housing options for the IRWIN Tools Night Race in August. After hearing from BMS guests about lodging costs and gas prices, BMS General Manager Jerry Caldwell said this added opportunity gives a choice to fans who love the camping experience, but currently are not in the position to incur the fuel costs of pulling their RV to Bristol. "We obtained a number of RVs that will sleep up to seven," Caldwell said. "Really nice travel trailers parked on a site with full water, power and sewer hookups, these units rent for $1,500, plus tax, for the week. For a full crew of race fans, that's under $230 a person for the entire week or just under $35 a day. That's a tough deal to beat." But that isn't the only choice race fans have for the August races. "We put a call out to RV owners interested in renting their units," Caldwell said. "We plan three levels of pricing, $500, $750 and $1,000 for the week depending on the unit and the owner's requirements. Our friends at Race Lodging are handling the private-unit and full-hookup RV bookings for us." RV owners wanting to rent their units and fans booking the full-hookup RVs may call (423) 764-5454 or go to www.racelodging.com.(BMS)
AND Additional options are available for campers coming to Bristol Motor Speedway in August as officials continue to find ways to attack the challenges of coming to the IRWIN Tools Night Race events. Speedway officials secured property for approximately 250 additional low-cost camping spaces to help in the financial challenge of traveling. The additional camping options are nearly 150 tent-camping spots for only $50 for the week of the IRWIN Tools Night race and more than 100 non-hook-up RV parking (shower house included) for only $99 for the week. Fans interested in any of these options may call (423) 989-6944.(BMS)(7-17-2012)

Pat Summitt named Food City 250 Grand Marshal: Food City will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its sponsorship of the Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway Aug. 24 with a very special guest serving as grand marshal. The legendary Pat Summitt, the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history who won eight NCAA national championships while coaching at the University of Tennessee, will give the command for drivers to start their engines for the Food City 250, the most popular Nationwide Series race on the NASCAR schedule. This will mark Summitt's first visit to "The World's Fastest Half-Mile." "I have always loved sports and will be honored to be the Grand Marshal for the Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway," said Summitt. "It will be a thrill to hear the engines fire up and the crowd while I say, 'Drivers, start your engines.'" Summitt, who stepped down as coach of the Lady Vols in April of this year, was diagnosed with early on-set Alzheimer's disease in August of 2011 and is now the Lady Vols' head coach emeritus. She is the only coach in NCAA history, and one of three college coaches overall, with 1,000 wins. She was named the Naismith Basketball Coach of the Century in 2009. In 38 years of coaching the Vols (1974-2012) she never had a losing season and finished her career with an amazing 1098-208 record.Most recently, she was honored with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPY Awards. Trevor Bayne, a Knoxville resident and NASCAR Sprint Cup/Nationwide Series driver, will pilot a "We Back Pat"-themed Roush Fenway Ford sponsored by YourRaceCar.com in the Food City 250.(BMS)(7-14-2012)

Outside groove gone at Bristol: Bristol Motor Speedway has witnessed the initial laps on its recently altered surface. On day one of a two-day Goodyear Tire test #14-Tony Stewart, #31-Jeff Burton and #15-Clint Bowyer circled the half-mile concrete oval, and will wrap up the session on Wednesday. While it's impossible to predict how the racing action will be when NASCAR hits Bristol for August race week and the IRWIN Tools Night Race, the trio of drivers offered their comments following a full day of lapping the banks of Bristol. The same drivers will return on Wednesday to complete the Goodyear Tire test. Goodyear has mandated that the test sessions are closed to the public and media.
#14-Tony Stewart (who is the only driver to try to run the high groove): "Well, you've definitely lost the top groove. Guys who run up there aren't going to be able to do that because it's pretty slick up there. There's going to be less room to race, that's for sure. We've gone from a three-groove track to two grooves and any time you've got less room to get around it can get pretty interesting. I'm one of the guys who likes that high groove so it's really going to change things up for me. It'll change things for everybody though because when you take away room to race on a track this small with 43 cars& yeah, it's going to tighten things up."
#15-Clint Bowyer: "That outside line  the upper groove  is out of play now. There's going to be a lot closer racing then we've had here in the past. I don't typically run up there but a lot of guys do and I can't see them going up there now. If they do& it's pretty slippery and they'll figure that out in a hurry. The closer we have to race just means something's going to happen. Is it going to make fans happy? Well, narrowing up the track means less room to get around so there's no question there's going to be closer action."
#31-Jeff Burton: "Goodyear is looking to bring a tire with more grip. I really think they have found some stuff that is really promising. As for the track itself, I really can't imagine running up there in that top groove. I think it is going to force everyone more to the middle and bottom of the track. The drivers aren't going to be happy, but the spectators probably will be because it is going to put more cars in a closer space. By taking away that groove, it is going to change your mind about going up there. I think it is going to be two grooves, unless Goodyear brings a tire with a lot of grip. If that is the case, you'll want to run around the bottom. Making the groove smaller is a good thing, it is going to put the action back to the bottom and middle of the track. What has changed is up near the wall, the bottom is the same. Tony experimented and tried out that top groove, and I know he won't be trying that again. If people liked the older track more than the new, they are going to like this. This takes the top groove out and brings it back toward the old track. Taking the groove out moves the track closer to what it used to be."(see more quotes at bristolmotorspeedway.com)(6-13-2012)

Hotels partner with Bristol for lower-cost options: Twenty-four properties stretching from East Tennessee to Southwest Virginia and Western North Carolina comprise the first group participating in the Bristol Motor Speedway Fan-Friendly Lodging Partnership Program for the IRWIN Tools Night Race in August. A continued effort to help guests of BMS with the overall cost of a trip to Bristol, the Fan-Friendly Program includes properties that require reduced or no minimum-night stays at lower costs than previous years. Prices for rooms at participating properties start at $35 and visitors are urged to check distance and research the property to determine which one best fits their needs.(BMS)(6-10-2012)

Earnhardt, Jr to appear at Bristol Diet Mountain Dew Half-Mile Club: When it comes to popularity, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Bristol Motor Speedway have plenty in common as both are number one in the hearts of race fans. Put Earnhardt Jr. and the World's Fastest Half-Mile together and it's a can't-miss combination that makes for an unforgettable experience as the driver of the Diet Mountain Dew-sponsored #88 goes after the coveted IRWIN Tools Night Race trophy Aug. 25. Adding to the excitement for Earnhardt Jr. fans is the opportunity to be the audience when the former BMS winner is scheduled to make an appearance in the hospitality area at the Diet Mountain Dew Half-Mile Club that afternoon. The Diet Mountain Dew Half-Mile Club features an exclusive member's-only gift pack, a Saturday track tour, door prizes, entertainment, a souvenir program, and NASCAR celebrity appearances. The Diet Mountain Dew Half-Mile Club is available for the IRWIN Tools Night Race. Limited tickets are available at a cost of $180 for adults and $135 for children 12 and under. To purchase Diet Mountain Dew Half-Mile Club individual hospitality, please call Amy Denton at (423) 989-6930.(BMS)(6-4-2012)

Bristol Motor Speedway Modification Project reaches halfway point: The starter has given the field the crossed-flags as the historical track-modification project at Bristol Motor Speedway reaches the halfway point. The milling of the upper groove in Turns 3 and 4 of the World's Fastest Half-Mile is complete and the construction, or destruction, crew has relocated the equipment to Turns 1 and 2. Work resumed late Thursday (May 17). "It's been an interesting process," said BMS General Manager Jerry Caldwell. "We are asking this machinery to do something it wasn't designed to do in unique conditions. We intended for this surface to last 15 to 18 years and now after five we are tearing up a large part of it and it isn't giving up without a fight. We have had to replace a few machine parts doing it, but things are going well and the project will be complete in time for Goodyear's tire test in mid-June."(BMS PR)(5-21-2012)

Bristol providing more camping spaces for fans: A week after responding to fan requests by making major changes to the track surface, Bristol Motor Speedway General Manager Jerry Caldwell announced the next BMS fan initiative. Attacking the continuing economic challenges facing guests, Caldwell revealed a bold plan to arrange access to enough area property to expand BMS camping options by 700 spaces. Caldwell said it was an easy choice when deciding the Speedway's next fan project. A limited amount of camping spots remain on BMS property, but Caldwell said his goal is to have many of the 700 additional sites in place before current supply is gone. The August race week at BMS kicks off Aug. 22 with a doubleheader, which features the Camping World Truck Series race and the UNOH Perfect Storm 150 Whelen Modified event. On tap Aug. 24 is the Food City 250 Nationwide Series race, followed by the IRWIN Tools Night Race Sprint Cup event Aug. 25.(BMS)(5-6-2012)

Drivers comment on Bristol changes: Bruton Smith's decision not to seek driver input on how to fix Bristol Motor Speedway didn't sit well with several competitors in the Sprint Cup Series. And not all drivers are convinced the decision by the Speedway Motorsports Inc., chairman to grind the top groove will return racing at the half-mile track in Tennessee to the bumping and grinding it was known for before the 2007 reconfiguration. "I think they're wasting their time,'' points leader #16-Greg Biffle said on Friday at Richmond International Raceway. #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. agreed. "I believe the racing will be the same,'' he said. "I know they probably didn't have a lot of time between now and (the August) race to do everything they wanted to do. Just grinding will take away a little groove, but once we lay a little rubber down it'll be just like it was, which I think is fine.'' Kevin Harvick definitely took issue with Smith's comment during Wednesday's news conference that "I do not consult race drivers when I am building a speedway.'' "They were all gung ho on wanting to meet at Texas,'' Harvick said. "The next thing you knew, nobody showed up, nobody called, nobody wanted to talk anymore. I guess maybe they were embarrassed that they just wound up grinding it.'' Harvick said he was told by Don Hawk, SMI's vice president of business affairs, that Smith wanted to discuss changes at Bristol with him at Texas. Hawk acknowledged that Smith wanted to meet with Harvick and his team owner, Richard Childress, and the meeting didn't happen. Hawk said he apologized to Harvick and Childress via text. He added that several other drivers were contacted via text for input on the project, and that some responded and some didn't. He said Smith talked to Brad Keselowski by phone.(ESPN)(4-28-2012)

Goodyear will test at Bristol's new surface: With the track changes at Bristol Motor Speedway, Goodyear felt the need to hold a tire test to evaluate the new surface. We're happy with our current tire set-up at Bristol but we always have to keep up with track changes, so we plan to run a test to determine what will best suit the specific modifications made to Bristol," said Stu Grant, Goodyear's general manager of worldwide racing. "We will start out our test with the existing Bristol tire set-up, in order to determine if the changes to the track surface require any changes to our tread compound formulation. We'll then evaluate if the track surface has changed and if we'll need to bring back something different for the race in August." Being a concrete surface, we always need to manage the 'rubbering in' process," added Grant. "Concrete seems to be more sensitive to taking rubber, so we need to make sure we get the right combination of tires to match up with this race track. The most important thing to us is making sure the actual racing surface is the same from the bottom of the track to the top." Goodyear's tire test will be held at Bristol on June 12-13. Participating teams are to be determined.(Goodyear)(4-25-2012)

Bristol Motor Speedway will remove progressive banking: Less than a month after fan feedback convinced him to make changes to the concrete surface at Bristol Motor Speedway, Bruton Smith, Chairman and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, announced his plans for significant modifications to the track. "I said when this process began last month that I would listen to what the fans said they wanted," Smith said. "After a week to 10 days, there was no question that the overwhelming majority was asking for alterations to the track. Since March 28, when we announced that changes would be made, we have listened to fans, heard from drivers and talked to engineers about what to do and how much time we had to do it. Once we knew the direction, we located the right equipment to make it happen." The changes concentrate on the progressive banking applied when the current track surface was put in place in the summer of 2007. "The majority of fans we heard from said they wanted adjustments made and the bulk of those said the progressive banking was what they didn't like," said Smith in explaining the decision-making process. "So, that's the focus of our efforts. And that is what we are working to change." When the deteriorating BMS track surface was replaced in 2007, variable banking was added. Often referred to as "progressive" because the degrees increase from bottom to top, the layout provided multiple lanes of racing on the famed short track. Smith said the choice to change the track surface did not come easy, but listening to the race fans always has served him well. "More and more fans kept asking us to do something to the track," Smith said. "So I put it out there. They spoke and we listened. I want them to be happy; I want them to love their experience in Bristol. This will accomplish that and I know they will be pleased with the result."(BMS)(4-25-2012)

Bristol Motor Speedway to announce changes on Apr 25th: On Wednesday, April 25, 2012, Bruton Smith, Chairman and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and Jerry Caldwell, BMS general manager, are scheduled to make a special Bristol Motor Speedway announcement concerning alterations to the track surface. Prep work has already begun at BMS as teams have started removing the SAFER Barrier (BMS PR). See video of the removal at the Bristol Herald Courier.(4-12-2012)

Bruton Smith talks to Tennessee Governor about aid for track: Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and the owner of Bristol Motor Speedway discussed potential state assistance for the NASCAR venue Friday, two days after plans were announced to renovate the struggling track. Haslam and Bruton Smith, the North Carolina-based owner of Speedway Motorsports Inc., met in Nashville to hold "preliminary discussions" about potential aid. Speedway Motorsports plans to resurface Bristol before its next race in August in response to declining attendance and fan complaints about the quality of racing at the state's only Sprint Cup track. Restoring the track to its original configuration will cost about $1 million, according to The Associated Press. Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, said he had spoken with Haslam about potential aid to Bristol, which lies within Ramsey's Senate district. "Attendance was down over 50,000 people, and just the lost sales taxes for two races would be $1 million in revenue," he said. "We have done things in the past - for tracks, for minor league ball clubs - and Bristol has never asked for anything before."(Tennessean)(4-5-2012)

Bruton Smith say changes will be made at Bristol: After more than a week of studying requested fan input, Bruton Smith, Chairman and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, announced he has ordered the go-ahead to make changes to the track surface at Bristol Motor Speedway. "The race fans have spoken," Smith said. "We had input that included a wide range of opinions. But the majority we heard from said they wanted to see changes made. As a result, I have ordered the equipment and work will begin within the next two weeks to allow time to have everything ready for August." Smith said an announcement regarding the scope of the work will be made soon. "The question we wanted to answer as quickly as possible was 'Is something going to be done?' Smith said. "The answer to that is 'yes.' We will have the details in two weeks as to what that 'something' is.(BMS)(3-28-2012)

Tires -- not reinventing speedway -- might be Bristol's answer: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. had some advice for Bruton Smith: talk to the drivers before firming up plans to reinvent Bristol Motor Speedway. It might be a good idea for Smith to talk to Goodyear, too, given that changing the tires at Bristol might be a far less expensive alternative to changing the racetrack. Track owner Smith, chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., said he was embarrassed by the turnout for last Sunday's Sprint Cup race at the .533-mile track. Consensus was that the grandstands, which can seat 160,000 fans, were roughly half-full. Possible solutions could a include to a return to the one-groove racetrack that disappeared with a 2007 reconfiguration that added graduated banking and opened the outside lane. Side-by-side green-flag racing replaced the typical Bristol bump-and-run, which inevitably led to a rash of caution flags. Tires with more grip and faster degradation might change the complexion of racing at Bristol, if cars with new tires become significantly faster than those on old rubber. "I think if we show up at Bristol with a tire that lays rubber down and is really soft, and it wears out& we need to get it back to where tires mean something," said Aric Almirola, driver of the #43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford. "Nobody really ever comes in and takes four tires and blows the field anymore." The bottom line is that, if tires degrade rapidly, you'll have cars running radically different speeds on the racetrack, and the mixture of speed and strategy should improve the action.(NASCAR Wire Service)(3-25-2012)

Bruton Smith considering changes to Bristol Motor Speedway UPDATE: Bristol Motor Speedway owner Bruton Smith is considering about $1 million worth of changes to return his Tennessee track to the way it was before a 2007 reconfiguration. "We are going to take a very hard look at it this week," Smith told The Associated Press on Monday. "We have everything in our computers that shows us what the track used to be and what it is now, and we started working on that last night. I'll have an answer for you next week on if we'll alter the track." But Smith insisted it was the rain, not fan apathy over the current style of racing at Bristol, that contributed to Sunday's poor crowd. "We certainly thought it was going to be better, but the rain got us," Smith said. Bristol once was one of the toughest tickets in all of professional sports, but attendance has waned the past several years and its spring race has particularly suffered. The speedway says it seats 160,000, and although the grandstands appeared half empty Sunday, NASCAR's listed attendance was 102,000. Smith said 8,120 sold tickets went unused. But he remained adamant the attendance decline has nothing to do with the new racing at Bristol. At the same time, though, Smith said he began talking to his Speedway Motorsports Inc. officials on Sunday evening about changes to the track. Smith said SMI will study fan comments this week. "I want to be sure that the fans like what they see," he said. "If the fans like three abreast through the turns, we do nothing. If they don't, then we'll alter the track. The fans vote is the most important thing." If changes are made, they'll be done in time for NASCAR's Aug. 25 return to Bristol.(more at the Associated Press / Bristol Herald Courier ans SHARE your input HERE)(3-20-2012)
UPDATE: Speedway Motorsports, Inc., CEO Bruton Smith said yesterday that he is moving ahead with plans to return Bristol Motor Speedway to its previous configuration. Speaking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio's The Late Shift with Buddy Baker and Jim Noble, Smith said feedback from fans has been overwhelmingly in favor of changing the legendary speedway's layout. "I'd say it's about 75% from the race fans that they'd like to see us put it back the way it was five years ago," he said. Smith said he has already consulted with engineers about making the necessary changes. "It will absolutely still be concrete," he said, "but we will (redo) the profiling. We have on paper exactly the way the track was before we came in and redid it. We're going to have all the elevations, the ingress and egress as it was before we completely redid it. We will here again offer race fans (the track) the way it was. It's not a major change that we did," insisted Smith. "We took up all the old concrete that was breaking up and causing a lot of problems. We completely redid the speedway, and fans got the idea that it's not the same. I guess it's not the same, since they told us that, and the race fan is always right. When the race fans speak, you listen. And that's what we're doing now." The SMI owner said the changes will be made before the Aug. 25 Sprint Cup Series night race. "You have a good contractor, your plans, your blueprints and a million dollars, and you just go ahead and do it. I've got engineers working on this as we speak. I have not taken this up with NASCAR yet, but that's what we will do," Smith said. "Once we're ready, we'll do it. There will be a press announcement of exactly what we're doing. I want it to be exactly correct -- the way these fans perceive it -- and I want to see 165,000 fans scrambling for tickets the way they have in the past."(Godfather Motorsports)(3-21-2012)

Changes made in BMS pitroad timing-lines: NASCAR has added two pit road timing lines on each side of the track at Bristol to lessen the advantage of certain pit stalls. #2-Brad Keselowski raised eyebrows during his victory at the .533-mile track last August by accelerating rapidly from his pit stall and slowing suddenly as he approached the next time line. Since pit road speed is measured across areas separated by the timing lines, certain stalls located just beyond timing lines have been particularly advantageous. Consequently, a driver can go as fast as possible in the segment in which his or her pit stop occurs without fear of a speeding penalty, effectively circumventing for a short burst Bristol's 30 mph pit-road speed limit. The timing lines added to the frontstretch and backstretch pits effectively cut the timing segments from the length of 11 pit stalls to six.(NASCAR Wire Services)(3-18-2013)

Irwin Tools Bristol night race pre-sale tickets now available: Fans at Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend may purchase IRWIN Tools Night Race tickets during an exclusive pre-sale event. Guests with tickets to today's Ford Fan Friday, Saturday's Ford EcoBoost 300/Widow Wax 125 or Sunday's Food City 500 can purchase 2012 IRWIN Tools Night Race tickets before they go on sale to the general public March 18 at 2 pm/et. The pre-sale tickets are available at any ticket booth or via telephone at 423-BRISTOL (274-4785). An August race weekend package, which includes the IRWIN Tools Night Race, as well as the Food City 250 Nationwide Series race, is available for $99. IRWIN Tools Night Race Tickets start at $75, Food City 250 pricing begins at $45 and the Camping World Truck Series race tickets are $30. Season tickets are still available through this weekend for the best savings of 25% off.(BMS)(3-18-2012)

BMS App Debuts this weekend: Race fans visiting Bristol Motor Speedway for this weekend's racing activities have a new informational tool to help them keep track of all the excitement at the "World's Fastest Half-Mile." The Bristol Motor Speedway app provides fans access to race and event schedules, GPS-enabled property maps and several other features to help them get even more from their experience at BMS. Guests can use GPS maps to find their current position, as well as various locations around the BMS property. Restrooms, ATMs, first aid stations and entrance gates are just a few of the amenities featured on the maps. One of the apps most popular features, fans can set GPS coordinates to make finding their seat or locating their car or campsite a breeze. Adding to the app's interactivity, guests can create their own customized schedule, called "My Schedule," which will alert them when a special event is set to take place. Additionally, fans can add driver appearances and other activities to their individual schedule. For more info or to download the App, go to bristolmotorspeedway.com.(BMS)(3-16-2012)

Carl Edwards To Serve as Honorary Starter for NNS race at Bristol: Carl Edwards is used to seeing the green flag fly from behind the wheel of his Roush Fenway Ford Fusion or Mustang, but this weekend he'll get a truly different perspective as he serves as Honorary Starter for Saturday's Ford EcoBoost 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway. As part of its multi-year sponsorship agreement with BMS that runs through 2014, the Region Area Ford Dealers have continually looked for ways to activate and improve the race weekend experience for fans. Ford Fan Friday, where race fans can attend Q&A sessions and get autographs from their favorite drivers, has become a highly-anticipated event. The inclusion of Edwards in this special role continues that philosophy. "It's an honor. I've sat in the grandstands to watch races at Bristol and I've been fortunate to race and win there as well, but this will be something totally different and I'm really excited about it," said Edwards, who won the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Bristol in 2007. "I think Ford has a revolutionary and smart technology with EcoBoost that delivers both performance and fuel economy, which is something fans care about." In addition to Edwards' participation, Ford Group Vice-President of Global Marketing, Sales & Service Jim Farley will serve as the race's Grand Marshal. Farley has been a driving force behind the use of racing as a marketing tool for Ford EcoBoost.(BMS)(3-14-2012)

Tennessee Air National Guard to sing National Anthem at Bristol: Members of the Tennessee Air National Guard's 119th Command and Control Squadron from McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in Knoxville, Tenn. will sing the national anthem Sunday, March 18 prior to the start of the Food City 500. The McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base Quartet consists of native Tennesseans First Lieutenant Stephanie McKeen, Second Lieutenant Sarah Miller, Senior Airman Amanda Winkler and Technical Sergeant Jeannine Brown. The foursome has been handpicked to perform for numerous local, state and federal celebrations and events, including the National Guard 375th Anniversary Celebration and numerous senior leaders military events. Monroeville will perform the anthem Saturday, March 17, prior to the Ford EcoBoost 300/Widow Wax 125. The six-man group, all of whom hail from Northeast Tennessee, boasts a crossover sound between progressive bluegrass and acoustic country. Group members are Daniel Salyer, Eli Johnson, Travis Houck, Zane Petty, Matthew Munsey and Matt Flake.(BMS)(3-9-2012)

Kellie Pickler performing at Bristol: Country music sensation Kellie Pickler will perform in the Pepsi pre-race concert at Bristol Motor Speedway prior to the Food City 500 March 18. The 25-year-old Pickler shot to stardom after finishing sixth on the fifth season of American Idol in 2005. Among the hits from her first two albums, Small Town Girl and the self-titled Kellie Pickler, are "Red High Heels", "I Wonder", "Don't You Know You're Beautiful", "Best Days Of Your Life", "Things That Never Cross A Man's Mind", and "Didn't You Know How Much I Loved You". The first 500 fans who purchase a Track Tour for the Food City 500 also will receive on-track access to Pickler's concert, which will take place on the backstretch. They also will be able to stay on the track for driver introductions. Track Tours are $35 for IBelong members and $65 for non-members. Fans with Pit Road Party Zone access or iBelong Garage Experience passes also can attend Picker's concert.(BMS)(3-3-2012)

Ford to sponsor Bristol's NNS race: Ford Motor Company announced the expansion of the automaker's partnership at Bristol Motor Speedway with the sponsorship of the upcoming Nationwide Series race. The Ford EcoBoost 300 takes place March 17 at the World's Fastest Half-Mile, adding to Ford's involvement at BMS, which also includes sponsorship of Ford Fan Friday qualifying and the Ford Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. Ford also is the official vehicle of BMS. BMS season tickets, which include the Food City 500 and IRWIN Tools Night Race (Aug. 25) Sprint Cup races, as well as both the Ford EcoBoost 300, the Food City 250 and the K&N race, also are on sale. Pricing for all four races begins at just $175 in the Wallace Tower. A March race weekend package also is available starting at $99 that includes the Food City 500 and the Ford EcoBoost 300/K&N East Series 125 events. A package in the Wallace Tower for both Sprint Cup races also is now available for $99, while packages for fans 15 and younger are available for the March races at half price. Lower row seating for the Food City 500 is available, with tickets starting at $65.(BMS)(2-17-2012)

Bristol going green with Danica for St. Pats Day: Bristol Motor Speedway is "Going Green" in a big way with Go Daddy Girl Danica Patrick during a special St. Patrick's Day celebration for the Nationwide Series event March 17. Breaking a long-standing tradition of eschewing green, once a much-maligned hue in the NASCAR garage, the World's Fastest Half-Mile is embracing the color, right along with Patrick who will be driving a special St. Patrick's Day paint scheme in the 300-lapper that day. Patrick pilots the shamrock covered GoDaddy.com ride for JR Motorsports and makes her second start at BMS. As part of the celebration, fans can purchase a special ticket package for the race which also gives them access to a question and answer session with Patrick at Bristol on the morning of March 17. Fans will also receive a limited edition Danica / St. Patrick's Day event t-shirt, featuring the shamrock-themed #7 GoDaddy.com car. In addition, one lucky fan who purchases the package wins two hot passes and the opportunity to view the race from Patrick's pit box. Fans may visit a special website, www.DanicaGoesGreenAtBristol.com, which will keep them up to date with all the current news surrounding Patrick, tickets and the St. Patrick's Day celebration at BMS. The St. Patrick's Day celebration at BMS will be hosted by George Wendt, known for his 11-year role of the beer-drinking Norm Peterson on the television series Cheers. A post-race pit party also is on tap in the hospitality area with live music. In addition, the creek that runs through the property at Bristol Motor Speedway will be dyed green for the race and the lights that illuminate the stadium at night all will be green. The Patrick ticket package is available for $67 and includes a limited edition t-shirt, a $10 coupon to the JR Nation retail store at JR Motorsports, admittance to the question and answer session and the opportunity to be upgraded with pit passes courtesy of Bristol Motor Speedway. Children's ticket packages also will be available for $37.50 and will include a child's sized t-shirt.(BMS)(1-22-2012)

Bristol Fan Advisory Board accepting new member applications: Bristol Motor Speedway, the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series sanctioned facility to institute an advisory group made up of fans, now is taking applications for its Fan Advisory Board. Formed in 2006, Bristol's Fan Advisory Board is a group of loyal fans who provide feedback and new ideas that aid in the growth and development of the Speedway, and its ability to exceed expectations by delivering the ultimate fan experience. Fans may apply online through Tuesday, January 31, 2012. Via online communication and annual meetings, the Fan Advisory Board targets visible issues, identifies challenges and presents ideas to enhance and better the "Bristol Experience." The board is comprised of 30-40 members, consisting of a demographic cross-section of fans. Correspondence and meetings include Bristol senior level management to ensure action items are fulfilled and executed in the vision of the board. Board members serve a "rotational" term that includes three NASCAR race weekends at Bristol Motor Speedway. After serving for three NASCAR race weekends, members rotate off, and new members are appointed.(BMS)(1-19-2012)