In the Rearview Mirror: The history of Bristol Motor Speedway
Does racing get anymore exciting then the beating and banging of Bristol Motor Speedway? No way!!! In honor of the circuit heading to BMS this weekend, I salute Bristol and look back In the Rearview Mirror at Bristol Motor Speedway’s rich history in NASCAR.
This overhead shot shows the greatness of what we call Bristol Motor Speedway |
The track's proposed location was seven miles south of Bristol in Piney Hills, but locals were not keen on the location. What was set to be Piney Flats International Speedway never came to fruition, so less than 10 miles north, on the land of a dairy farm, ground broke for Bristol Motor Speedway.
Work began on what was then called Bristol International Speedway in 1960 and took about a year to complete. The design, done by Carrier, Moore and R.G. Pope, was sketched out on envelopes and brown paper bags. Little did they know those designs would become one of the most exciting tracks in NASCAR.
The layout of Bristol covered 100 acres with parking for up to 12,000 cars upon initial design. The track was exactly a half-mile, featuring 22-degree banking on the turns. The very first race at BMS was held on July 30, 1961. When cars first hit the track for practice, the first driver to lay down a lap was Tiny Lund who was followed by David Pearson.
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Jack Smith and Johnny Allen Credit: RacingOne multimedia |
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This 1981 victory was one of DW's many Credit: RacingOne multimedia |
Bristol Beatin’ and Bangin’
The small race track creates some of, if not the best racing we see in NASCAR. With drivers in close proximity bumpers, fenders, and everything else in between creates some hot tempers.
The spring race at Bristol has created such moments as:
- 1993 - Dale Jarrett throwing his helmet at the car of Bobby Hillin Jr. during the race. Hillin collided with Jarrett and in his frustration the mild mannered Jarrett tossed his helmet in what would become an often aired TV clip.
- 1994 - Mark Martin leads the Goody’s 250 while under caution and believing the race was over, pulled onto pit road, one lap early. David Green won the race due to the error and Martin said afterwards “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever done and there’s nothing else I can say. I thought the race was over when the guys pulled up beside me waving. I thought it was over.”
- 2006 – While racing for third place, Matt Kenseth bumps Jeff Gordon on the final lap, taking the position. Gordon spun out and dropped 18 positions, finishing in 21st. After the race Gordon shoved Kenseth on pit road.
- 1974 – Cale Yarborough bumps Buddy Baker on the last lap to win the Volunteer 500
- 1999 – Dale Earnhardt crashes Terry Labonte for the win but afterwards says all he was trying to do was “rattle his cage.”
- 2002 – In a move similar to the 1997 Food City 500 where Jeff Gordon nudged Rusty Wallace for the win, the playbook repeated itself. Gordon tapped Wallace and passed him in the final two laps claiming his fifth career win at BMS.
- 2008 – After leading 415 of the first 469 laps, Kyle Busch was nudged by Carl Edwards for the lead. Edwards went on to lead the final 31 laps to win the Sharpie 500. After the race Busch knocked into Edwards on the cool down lap and this created more beating and banging between both drivers. As a result, both drivers received a six race probation.
NASCAR By the Numbers and In the Rearview Mirror (looking back at NASCAR's history) are Amanda's two weekly columns with Skirts and Scuffs, but as an Associate Editor her duties are limitless. Amanda also strives to provide exclusive interviews for the readers of Skirts and Scuffs. To read her past columns and interviews click here.. Feel free to contact and follow Amanda on Twitter.
In the Rearview Mirror: The history of Bristol Motor Speedway
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
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