Bristol straddles the border of Tennessee and Virgina. State street runs through the center of town as the dividing line. Country music fans know Bristol for its outsized role in the origins of country music. Recording sessions in 1927 introduced Appalachian music through musicians like the Carter family and Jimmie Rodgers.
These days, Bristol remembers its roots, but the soundtrack comes from a half-mile bullring several miles south of town. Built in 1960, the Bristol Motor Speedway is part of NASCAR’s short-track heritage. Today, the track bills itself as the world’s fastest half-mile. High banked turns at either end are linked by straightaways only 650 feet long.
NASCAR Cup drivers only need about 15 seconds to complete each lap. Average speeds exceed 120 miles per hour. With a few dozen cars fighting over the same scarce piece of real estate, some drivers have described it as flying a fighter jet inside a gymnasium.
Lettering along the walls proclaim Bristol as The Last Great Colosseum. There is truth in the tagline. Stepping inside, grandstands stretch from trackside into the sky and all the way around the track. Capacity has grown over the years. In the mid-1990s, Bristol added thousands of seats, growing from 60,000 to 86,000 and eventually over 150,000 with terraces and skyboxes. There are no bad seats.
Transporters and crew equipment wedge into the infield shoulder-to-shoulder. Getting the trailers inside the facility and parked is an event of its own. The speedway broadcasts the load-in process live on the internet.
The sound is thunderous. Half the field making practice laps is enough to make the grandstands shake. A full field sends vibrations through your internal organs. Hearing protection is mandatory and many fans scan team radio chatter through their headphones to keep up with the action.
Spotters for each driver deliver a steady stream of information, guidance, and commentary. Visibility is limited for the driver and margins of error are razor thin. A move too early or late will end the race prematurely. What information is helpful differs for each driver. Some want very minimal spacing and positioning information. Some want to know what lines are being tried by other cars and where they are finding speed. All want a quick alert for trouble ahead.
“Bumper tight…clear…one (car length) behind…inside quarter…clear…looking outside…you’re making better time down low…slower car coming out of the pits…inside…clear…you’re P5…behind is trying the high side but not finding time…one behind…looking inside…still there…clear….”
The driver rarely has time to talk. Breaks produce an immediate stream of feedback from the driver to the crew, describing the car’s handling and looking for adjustments on the next pit stop.
The Saturday evening main event at Bristol is 500 laps under the dark skies and bright track lights. The NASCAR field is a mix of bright colors and sponsor logos. The Friday support race runs 300 laps in front of a crowd looking for future stars but brings the same energy and thunder.
The racing itself is a succession of near misses. Passes in close quarters is the only option and a bit of bumping is not uncommon. After the green flag flies, it takes only a few laps for the leaders to catch up with the back of the pack and start passing them. It is not easy for a slower car to get out of the way – there is nowhere to hide. They hold a predictable and steady line and let faster cars find their way by. Slower cars may have had pace earlier in the race, but encountered accident damage that left them wounded but not finished.
Why do thousands of fans show up in person for the night race at Bristol? It is a spectacle with more energy than comes through on television. The cars sparkle under the lights and V-8 engine music fills the air. Short track racing ensures a steady stream of action and everyone has a front row seat. At 15 seconds a lap, fans see their favorite driver pass by four times a minute.
The shortest way around the track is to hug the yellow line at the bottom. Running next to the outside wall is longer but the driver can carry more momentum and speed through the corner. Shorter and slower or longer and faster? Every lap is a tactical ballet depending on track condition, car set-up, and traffic.
The competition is a fusion of finesse and brute force, relying on handling, split-second decisions, and sharp elbows. Single car accidents without damage are rare. Contract with the inside or outside fence or with nearby cars are more common. It is unusual for any finishing car to emerge without scrapes and bruises.
Some drivers love the track and racing at night, but not every driver loves driving at Bristol. It can be frustrating to find speed. It can be easy to get caught up in others’ misfortune. A good run can quickly end in a clump of wrinkled race cars. But nothing good is ever easy. Those who survive and thrive know they accomplished something.
