Jerry Caldwell, general manager at Bristol Motor Speedway, confirmed the changes to the racing surface. They include: a ‘polishing’ of the lower racing groove, the addition of a substance that will help tire rubber adhere to the racing surface, and the running of a tire machine on the surface since the changes. The tire machine is similar to the one used at Kentucky Speedway prior to its July race. The track completed its own repaving project this season. ‘After the Food City 500 in the spring, we evaluated the track surface and decided to make some minor modifications to the lower racing groove,’ Caldwell said. ‘We made the changes in consultation with NASCAR and several top Cup series drivers.’ Among the drivers consulted were Tony Stewart, Brad Keselowski and Dale Earnhardt Jr. The changes were completed only this week and the Truck Series will be the first to drive on the surface when it conducts practice sessions on Aug. 17, prior to its race that night.(Motorsport / wcyb.com)(8-8-2016)
