– Groundbreaking for Bristol International Speedway, as Bristol Motor Speedway was originally known, took place in 1960. The track was an exact half-mile. – First NASCAR Sprint Cup race was July 30, 1961; Jack Smith won the event (with relief from Johnny Allen). – In the fall of 1969, the track was reshaped and re-measured to .533-miles. – The name changed to Bristol International Raceway in 1978. – The first night race was held in the fall of 1978. – The surface was changed from asphalt to concrete in 1992. – The name changed to Bristol Motor Speedway in May 1996. – The track was resurfaced between races in 2007, and the turns were ground down last season to eliminate part of the progressive banking. – There have been 105 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Bristol Motor Speedway since the first race in 1961, two races each season. – All races have been scheduled for 500 laps, except for both races in 1976 and the second in 1977, which were 400 laps. – 422 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol; 294 in more than one. – NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in starts at Bristol with 60. Terry Labonte leads all active drivers with 58 starts.(NASCAR)
