August 20th, 2009 
Journo Sorry to not have new content for Thursday, it was a very long day for me and I just didn’t have time to get to TNI. That being said I have found a great post T.C. wrote last year about Bristol (and since the second Bristol race is this weekend, how timely!). So on to your part. How do you feel about Bristol since the progressive banking? Better? Worse? Any predictions for the double file restarts at the track this weekend? Talk amongst yourselves. – Journo
So I was clicking around today, and came across this blog post from the NASCAR.com Community blog section. It was featured on the front page of NASCAR.com and has had quite a few responses. Long story short, this guy is doing yard work for a lady on top of his actual job to earn enough money to pay for his trip to Bristol, and she questions if Bristol is really worth it. The writer ends the post with this quote: “some people just don’t get it!” I’ve got to say, I agree with him 1000%.
If you call yourself a NASCAR fan and you don’t understand why this guy is killing himself to pay for the trip, then you are shaming every true fan the sport has. My first experience at Bristol was as a fan several years ago, but I had the amazing chance to get a pit pass for the Truck Series race (gotta love connections). Walking through the tunnel in turn three and out into the infield for the first time was a breathtaking experience. Their TV commercial calls it the “Last Great Coliseum,” and I can’t say I disagree.
When you are heading south on Hwy. 11 out of town, you come around a little hill and the race track sits off to the left. That first drive up there from Charlotte, I came around that curve and was amazed at this place. If you ever get the opportunity to attend a race at Bristol, I’m telling you, you have to go. You will not regret it for a second.
I look forward to the Bristol events every year and I think its immensely popular for a few reasons. First, the action. I think the old surface was a little better for this, but the rootin’ and gougin’ that goes on at this track is unlike any other. Sometimes the bump-and-run is just necessary. Second, the noise. You haven’t heard loud at a NASCAR event until you go to Bristol. They don’t call it Thunder Valley for nothing. And third, I think it takes everybody back to the roots of racing. Short track Saturday nights are what racing is all about. A bunch of guys, under the lights, duking it out for the win is why we watch racing. No fuel strategy, no aero crap to worry about, just racing.
Although you can’t usually see the entire track, the view from pit road is pretty cool for these races too. The race track is only a few feet from the crews standing on the pit wall, and the action is right in your face. And having 150,000 race fans right on top of you is something not many professional athletes get to experience.
During my long tenure as a fan, and my shorter tenure as a tire changer, I’ve been to a lot of race tracks. Daytona and Talladega are cool tracks, there is nothing like the history at Darlington, and Martinsville is the essential half mile. But there is no other Bristol.
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Bristol isn’t what it used to be. The first truck race there was amazing. Don’t like the new banking. However, it is still the best racing in NASCAR hands down.
For the folks who can’t make Bristol especially due to finances, go to the fall Salem ARCA race. The fans are the best, camping out for 3 or 4 days. It is a mini Bristol without the cost. And the racing, well if you ain’t ever seen a rookie, past champion and lap car three wide in turn three @ Salem, then you haven’t seen some of the best racing in this country.
The new Bristol reminds me of the saying, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” While in most instances, side-by-side racing is better than single file, that is just not the case at Bristol. They ruined it.
I liked the old Bristol better. I’m a huge fan of progressive banking, just not at Bristol…
Still a good race though. My first time was last year for this coming race. I have never been to a track where you’re only 5 rows up & you can see all the action. Awesome time.
That’s so true about Hwy 11 — turning the corner and seeing Bristol for the first time is a little breathtaking.
My first time at Bristol was for the truck race 2 years ago. (I know you’re tired of hearing this story, Licker but…) I was in the infield for the pre-race stuff and all of a sudden, I was locked in for the modifieds. I had no ear plugs. It was so freakin’ loud I had to hide out in the women’s bathroom for relief every few laps.
It’s a fun place. I’m interested to see how the racing will be this year, the second year into the new banking.
(Licker, you coming?)
Just because I’ve been here for a while, I realize “Ross” is a female. Otherwise hangin out in the infield women’s restroom might seem a bit strange. I hope Ross is wondering if Licker is going to the Bristol race, and not the women’s restroom.
back on track…sorry!
I went to Bristol is 2000 to pick up a race car and thought I might as well stay for the Spring Busch series race. I was pumped to see the action. Unfortunately, is was one of the worst (boring)races I’ve been to. I think they raced no more than (5) green laps and the caution would fly. The race had no continuity whatsoever. I’ll just chalk it up to typical Busch (uh NW) series rookie over-exuberance. I’d go back for a cup race though…post spec-COT era of course.
My buddy has had Bristol season tickets for years. 3/4 of the time he sells them nowadays. Hope this upcoming race is a good one though!
I am not coming. I know you will miss me & my Turkey.
Sold my ticket this year, didn’t renew for next year. Bristol just isn’t Bristol anymore…more like MIS with traffic. Never thought the day would come when I would voluntarily give up my season tickets to Bristol
The multi-lap side-by-side battle between Kyle and White sent the “purists, old schoolers and traditionalists” to their favorite blogs, chat rooms and forums complaining Bristol has been “ruined.”
It seems as if they somehow miss the old one groove Bristol and it’s nearly mandated bump-and-run maneuver to make any forward progress in the field.
Many of the same “purists, old schoolers and traditionalists” complain about other tracks having only one groove and lack of side-by-side racing which only goes to prove Roseanne Roseannadanna was right.
“Well, Jane, it just goes to show you, it’s always something.”
I think what I found boring at Bristol last year was the long green flag runs. With the new banking, when the leader gets in traffic, he has no problem picking another groove to get around a lapped car.
I always looked forward to Bristol because of it’s uniqueness & the promise of a little beating & banging. The progressive banking kind of watered it down & it seems that Bristol is now just another track.
Been going to Bristol for years. Was there before COT, before the track was “ruined”, etc. I will say it is different, but I don’t think it was “ruined”!! I really don’t call follow the leader / single file racing / conveyor belt racing / etc. RACING!! Marc I agree with you 100%!
Bristol is not the same it use to be, it’s not better, it not worse, it’s just different. Then again that IS Bristol, it’s different, now it’s just a different different!
We have been boycotting NASCAR*(edited by Journo) (mostly) this year, for thier blackbag politics, getting our race fix by following F1, but we are tuning in tonight for “The Thundervalley fight under the lights”.
This high speed demolition derby is always a good watch. F1 is good, but it aint got no Thundevalley, btw tune into tonight/tommorow morning to the F1 race in Spain.
Go Mark Martin. YOU CAN DO IT.
Anybody winning the championship, except for that crybaby, Whiney Stewart, would be aightwitme.
Mark Martin is the classiest man in Nascar*(edited by Garry;).
He could have “used the bumper” on Kyle, but he did the classy thing, what a great race car driver Mark Martin is.
GO MARK MARTIN #10 IN POINTS