Bristol Motor Speedway

Bristol Motor Speedway first opened in 1961, in Bristol, Tennessee. In 1978, it hosted the first NASCAR night race. Due to its smaller size, this .533 mile, short oval track has high degrees of banking, which makes crashes all too common.

The 160,000 seat track will host the Food City 500 in March and the Sharpie 500 in August, both races being NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. Also, in March and August, will be the Nascar Nationwide Series races, the Sharpie Mini 300, and the Food City 250, respectively. The Craftsman Trucks will be in Bristol in August as well for the O’Reilly 200. It’s “Racin’ the Way it Ought’a Be.”

Bristol Motor Speedway Fact Sheet

Track Facts:
"World’s Fastest Half Mile," 0.533-mile concrete oval
Degree of banking in corners: 36 degrees
Degree of banking in straights: 16 degrees
Straightaways are 650 feet long.
Concrete racing surface is 40 feet wide.
Seating capacity: 147,000

Distance:
Winston Cup events: 500 Laps (266.5 miles)
Busch Series events: 250 Laps (133.25 miles)

Field:
NASCAR Winston Cup events:
Fastest 36 cars through time trials, plus up to seven provisionals
NASCAR Busch Series events:
Fastest 38 cars through time trials, plus up to four provisionals

TV:
FOX (spring weekends)(Live)
TNT (August weekends) (Live)

Radio:
Performance Racing Network (PRN)

Notes of interest:
* Tony Stewart's initial Bristol win came in the 2001 Sharpie 500.
* Elliott Sadler's victory in 2001 Food City 500 was the first for Bristol victory for Stuart, Va.'s, famed Wood Brothers team.
* In 21 of 40 years since Bristol opened, a driver who won a Winston Cup race at Bristol went on to win the series title later the same year.
* Rusty Wallace snapped Jeff Gordon's four-year Food City 500 winning streak in 1999 and got his 50th win in 2000.
* WCS track qualifying record: Steve Park, 15.184 sec. 126.37 mph, 3/24/00.
* WCS race record: Charlie Glotzbach, 101.074 mph (2:38:12), 7/11/71.
* Most Bristol wins (driver): Darrell Waltrip, 12 (seven consecutive).
* Most Bristol wins (car owner): Junior Johnson, 21 (eight consecutive).
* Most Bristol wins (manufacturer): Chevrolet, 36 (Ford is second with 23).
* Most Bristol poles (driver): Cale Yarborough, nine.
* Johnny Allen crossed the finish line first in the inaugural BMS race, but he was driving in relief of Jack Smith, who gets credit for Bristol’s first victory.

When there is NOT a major event at Bristol Motor Speedway or Bristol Dragway, the most direct route to the Speedway and Dragway from Interstate 81 north is on Hwy. 11E. Take Virginia Exit 3 and Hwy. 11E will take you directly to the Speedway. From Interstate 81 south, take Tennessee Exit 69 and turn east on Hwy. 394. Hwy 394 will take you to the Bristol Dragway Entrance. Turn on Hwy. 11E North to access the North Entrance and South Entrance to Bristol Motor Speedway.

DURING events, several alternate routes planned by city, county and state law enforcement agencies and civil engineers offer ways around the heaviest traffic.

Most of the new, free parking lots are located adjacent to Hwy. 394, so most of the routes funnel traffic to 394.

From the south: Exit Interstate 81 at Interstate 181 to Tennessee 381 (State of Franklin Road), then north on Hwy. 11E, to Hwy. 394.

From the north: Exit Interstate 81 at Virginia Exit 17 and take Virginia State Route 75 South, Tennessee 44 South, to US 421 North, to Hwy. 394 South.

Bristol Motor Speedway property is accessed by three multi-purpose entrances: the North Entrance, South Entrance, and the Bristol Dragway (Hwy. 394) Entrance. During NHRA events, most guests will use this entrance to park free on Bristol Dragway/Bristol Motor Speedway grounds. During NASCAR events, public parking on the grounds is accessible only from the Bristol Dragway Entrance. The North and South Entrances are accessible only with parking permits issued by Bristol Motor Speedway and state issued handicap placards. Bristol Motor Speedway has purchased property and developed satellite parking lots on Hwy. 394, and all parking in these lots is free, with free shuttle service to the speedway. Fees are charged for tent and motorhome camping at the Bristol Dragway. Please note that on property not owned by BMS, parking fees will be charged.

North Entrance: Turn 2. A new road will open for the August race weekend for vehicles with permits to use the North Entrance.

Cars will not be allowed to exit North or South Entrances for 45 minutes after NASCAR races to allow pedestrians leaving the grandstands to cross Hwy. 11E safely.

Note: No turns at Exide Drive (first traffic light north of BMS North Entrance on the Hwy. 11E).

South Entrance: Turn 3. Permit Parking Only.

Exiting the South Entrance: Left lanes will turn south toward Johnson City. Access to I-81 by Hwy. 381 (State of Franklin Road) to I-181. Right lanes will turn north toward Bristol, access to I-81 by Hwy. 11E and I-381.

Note: No turns at Exide Drive (first traffic light north of BMS North entrance on Hwy. 11E). Exide Drive will be one-way outbound after events.

Bristol Dragway Entrance: During NASCAR events, permits are required for entry at the Dragway (Hwy. 394) Entrance. Only tour buses and vehicles with permits will be admitted through the Dragway Entrance. BMS Camping Entrance (motorhome and tent permits required) also accessible with North VIP, North Wheelchair Accessible, and Hospitality Parking Permits.

Exiting the Bristol Dragway Entrance: Left lanes will turn north toward Bristol and US 421. Access to I-81 via Hwy. 394 to U.S. 421 with signs directing to I-81 at Exit 5 in Bristol and Exit 17 in Abingdon. Right lanes will turn south toward Hwy. 11E and Hwy. 37. Signs direct to I-81 from either route.

Several lots offering FREE public parking are available on Hwy. 394, and BMS provides FREE SHUTTLE service from these lots, located near the intersection of White Top Road and at the Bristol, Tenn., Multi-Purpose Park.

Major Parking not owned by BMS (Fee charged):

All-american Campgrounds: Must exit at White Top Road and Hwy. 394. Same options as Bristol Dragway Entrance.

Red Barn Campgrounds: Must exit White Top Road to Hwy. 394 with All-American Campground traffic.

Earhart Parking (Track side of Hwy. 11E north of speedway: Must turn right toward Bristol on Hwy. 11E. No turns at Exide Drive (first traffic light north of BMS North entrance on Hwy. 11E).

Earhart Parking (Across Hwy. 11E from BMS, north of Speedway): must exit onto Exide Drive. Access I-81 two ways: (1) take Exide Drive away from the Speedway, turn right at Bethel Road, right at Carden Hollow Road, right at Hwy. 126, left at 11W to I-81; or (2) Exide Drive to Route 37, right to I-81.

Any traffic north of the Speedway going south on Hwy. 11E should turn at Exide Drive. Access I-81 two ways: (1) take Exide Drive away from the Speedway, turn right at Bethel Road, right at Carden Hollow Road, right at Hwy. 126, left at 11W to I-81; or (2) Exide Drive to Hwy. 37, to I-81.

Note: Northbound Volunteer Parkway traffic will not be allowed to turn left onto Exide Drive.