In 1992, the speedway abandoned the asphalt surface that it had used since its inception, switching to the concrete surface it is now famous for.
When did Bristol turn to concrete?
The construction began in the spring of 1992 and with the Aug. 29, 1992 Bud 500, Bristol became the first speedway to host a NASCAR Cup event that boasted a track surface of all concrete. I remember well!
Is Bristol dirt or paved?
Bristol Motor Speedway is one of NASCAR’s most historic venues. Since the 1960s, drivers have raced at Thunder Valley’s half-mile, high-banked oval. But in 2021, the track was covered in dirt for the first race on a non-paved track since 1970.
What is Bristol race track made of?
red clay
The half-mile Bristol Motor Speedway is covered in red clay and ready to host its second NASCAR weekend on dirt, welcoming the Cup and Truck series for a weekend of mudslinging.
What NASCAR tracks are concrete?
Only Nashville Superspeedway was designed with a concrete racing surface. Martinsville installed concrete in the turns in 1976, while Bristol and Dover transitioned from asphalt to concrete in 1992 and 1995, respectively.
How thick is the dirt on Bristol?
The banking of the 2021 events sat at 18-19 degrees. It took 8′ to 10′ of dirt fill to reduce the 30 degree banking of the concrete track under it. This year, the Bristol dirt banking as changed to 16-18 degrees at the bottom. Then a separate lane of 19 degrees toward the top.
How thick is the dirt on Bristol speedway?
1-2 ft. 1 ft. concrete surface. Steve Swift, vice president of operations and development at Speedway Motorsports, says the amount of dirt used on the track could build up a football field to 12.9 feet tall.
Is Bristol still asphalt?
In 1992, the speedway abandoned the asphalt surface that it had used since its inception, switching to the concrete surface it is now famous for.
When did Bristol turn to dirt?
For much of its history, from 1961 to 1992 the race was run on the original asphalt surface, then on concrete from 1993 to 2020 after Bristol changed surfaces, but was moved to a dirt layout beginning in 2021. Kyle Busch is the defending race winner as of 2022.
Does Bristol still have dirt on it?
NASCAR’s experiment with racing on dirt tracks will continue next season. Bristol Motor Speedway announced Tuesday afternoon that it will bring a dirt race back to the venue in 2023, marking the third consecutive year the race at the Tennessee track will be run on the unique surface during its marquee spring event.
Is Bristol a concrete track?
Bristol Motor Speedway is one of only two tracks on the Sprint Cup series with a concrete racing surface.
How do they cover Bristol in dirt?
Four layers of clay were laid down atop a sawdust base by bulldozers and graders guided by a GPS system accurate to within five-hundredths of an inch. Bristol’s signature 24- to 30-degree high banks have been cut to 19 degrees via 8 to 10 feet of fill dirt.
Why is the Bristol track covered in dirt?
The process to convert Bristol Motor Speedway to a dirt track has begun. Days after holiday decorations were taken down around the iconic speedway, sawdust and dirt have started to cover the BMS concrete surface in preparation for the Food City Dirt Race.
Is concrete or asphalt better for racing?
Asphalt does have an advantage, however, in that its flexibility allows it to expand and contract with temperature changes with less cracking. Even so, concrete lasts 10-15 years longer than asphalt. Asphalt is the traditional material for paved racing surfaces.
Are all Nascar tracks asphalt?
This is significant because 28 of the 31 official tracks used in NASCAR races are paved with asphalt; the other three are concrete. Technically, the asphalt tracks are concrete as well; the term concrete denotes a mixture of loose gravel (also called aggregate) held together with a binder, typically cement.
What is the flattest NASCAR track?
Langley Speedway is a paved short track measuring 0.395 miles in length. It is one of the flattest tracks in the region with only six degrees of banking in the corners and four degrees of banking on the straights.
Langley Speedway (Virginia)
| Oval | |
|---|---|
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 0.395 miles (0.636 km) |
| Banking | Turns: 6 degrees Straightaways: 4 degrees |
How steep is Bristol?
One of the things that are making this short and probably the loudest NASCAR venue so specific is a very steep banking of 26-30 degrees in turns and 6-10 degrees at straights which was made after the last resurfacing in 2007 when the track was also widened to 4.3m.
How many truck loads of dirt are on Bristol Motor Speedway?
2,300 truckloads
It took 2,300 truckloads of dirt to create the surface. “Dirt tracks start out wet and muddy, which doesn’t have a lot of grip, and then they go to tacky, which has a lot of grip,” said Stewart Friesen, a truck series driver who has significant dirt racing experience.
How much dirt did it take to cover Bristol?
23,000 cubic yards
No doubt, Bristol Motor Speedway made great use of the estimated 23,000 cubic yards of red Tennessee clay that was spread around the high-banked short track’s legendary racing surface.
How much clay is on Bristol Motor Speedway?
After laying down three to four inches of sawdust to protect the pavement, it took 2,300 truckloads to move the 23,000 cubic yards of clay into the stadium.
How fast was NASCAR at Bristol on dirt?
89.753 mph
533-mile track at 89.753 mph with Kyle Busch, Justin Haley and Kurt Busch completing the top five.