Bristol Motor Speedway
The Sprint Cup's Food City 500 and Sharpie 500 will be staged at Bristol. (Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images)
Complete ESPN SportsTravel NASCAR Guide | 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule
Overview
There is no experience quite like a NASCAR race at Bristol Motor Speedway, especially at night. The 0.533-mile oval features some of the highest turns in racing with variable banking as high as 30 degrees, making it possible for the cars to go unusually fast on such a small track.
Bristol's first race is the fifth of the season, the Food City 500, on March 22. It's a day race, but expect plenty of excitement, as competitors here tend to trade paint all race long.
The second race, though, is the jewel sure to light up the night of eastern Tennessee on Aug. 22. The Sharpie 500 is the 24th race of the season, and it may well be the one racers covet as a testament to their driving skills.
Most of the competitors honed their skills growing up on short tracks. This is the track that, more than any other, takes them back to those days, and the fans love it. And there are 160,000 here to prove it.
Address
151 Speedway Blvd.
Bristol, TN 37625
bristolmotorspeedway.com
More track news is available through jayski.com.
Notable Events:
NASCAR Weekends
Friday, March 20, 2009
• Ford Fan Friday (Pole Day), qualifying, 3:40 p.m.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Gates open at 11 a.m.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
• Qualifying, 9:40 a.m.; Scotts Turf Builder 300, 2:30 p.m.
NASCAR Nationwide Series
Gates open at 9 a.m.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
• Food City 500, 2 p.m.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Gates open at 9 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009
• O'Reilly 200, 8 p.m.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Gates open at 9 a.m.
Friday, Aug. 21, 2009
• Food City 250, 8 p.m.
NASCAR Nationwide Series
Gates open at 9 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009
• Sharpie 500, 7:30 p.m.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Gates open at 1 p.m.
Tickets
Ticket office: 423-989-6900
Online: Buy tickets.
Pit passes: Not available.
Fan hospitality: Call the track ticket office for further information.
Special packages: Call the track ticket office for further information.
Track Specs
Track length: 0.533-mile concrete oval
Banking: Variable. 24 to 30 degrees in the corners; 4 to 9 degrees on the straights
Straightaways: 650 feet
(Concrete racing surface is 43 feet wide.)
Race length: 500 laps (Cup)
Seating capacity: 160,000 (53 consecutive Cup sellouts, a NASCAR record)
Carry-In Items:
Coolers: Allowed (limit of 14 inches at its longest dimension.). In addition, one carry-in bag allowed, which may not exceed the 14-inch limit.
Glass containers: Not allowed.
Alcoholic beverages: Allowed.
Cameras/recording devices: Allowed.
Souvenirs and Displays
Merchandise: Driver and NASCAR merchandise haulers on-site.
Gift shop: Located at the speedway.
Autographs
Check local newspapers and TV; drivers rarely available on race day.
Pit Area Guidelines
Pit passes not available for sale.
Camping
Reserved: Unavailable.
Unreserved: Unavailable.
(Note: Visit track Web site to find out about neighboring campgrounds.)
Getting There
Track is located on U.S. Highway 11 East, 5 miles south of Bristol.
• Traveling south:
Access from I-81, exit 69 toward Blountville, Tenn.
• Traveling north:
Access from I-81, Virginia exit 3; take I-381 south and follow track signs.
Parking
Free parking: Available.
BMS grounds: Permit only.
Handicapped parking: Limited availability; arrive early.
• Complete ESPN SportsTravel NASCAR Guide
• 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule
