-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).
-All of the NSCS races have been scheduled for 500 laps, except for both races in 1976 and the second in 1977, which were 400 laps.
-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 in 2012 to eliminate part of the progressive banking.
(NASCAR)
