Track Trivia: Bristol Motor Speedway

Why did the off week have to coincide with spring break? Unlike many of my younger peers, I had the enviable experience of remaining in the 'burgh the whole time. Oh well, the weather's been better, spring is almost sprung, and NASCAR's off to "The World's Fastest Half-Mile" this week. 

Bristol Motor Speedway is a .53-mile oval concrete track in northeast Tennessee. Completed in 1961, the tiny bullring boasts 160,00 seats, thanks to the renovation(s) by Speedway Motorsports owner Bruton Smith. They included adding variable banking from 24 to 30 degrees in the track's turns, and from 6 to 10 degrees on the straightaways. 

The Food City 500 is...well...500 laps, or 266.5 miles. Jeff Gordon is the going-away favorite for this one, and while I haven't picked my team yet, I have a hunch Kevin Harvick is going to do well. Finishing well is going to be very important for several marquee names, including Mark Martin, Dale Earnhardt, and rookie would-be phenom Joey Logano, because after this race the top 35 cars in the points standings will be locked into starting races, and those outside will have to qualify on time. While this race is not yet sold out--for the past 53  Cup races it has been--this little track is a fan favorite, and the grandstands should be full. This girl, and I know I'm not alone, needs to see some bump-and-run short track action.