History of Bristol Motor Speedway in Timeline
Bristol Motor Speedway, a 0.533-mile oval short track located in Bristol, Tennessee, has hosted diverse events since opening in 1961, including NASCAR races, NCAA football games, and sprint car races. Owned by Speedway Motorsports since 1996 and managed by Jerry Caldwell, the track, also known as "The Last Great Colosseum" and "Thunder Valley", is accessible via U.S. Routes 19 and 11E, and Tennessee State Route 394. Its unique steeply-banked concrete surface, high speeds, and close racing create an exciting atmosphere.
1960: Initial Plans for a Racetrack
In 1960, Larry Carrier considered building a racetrack in Piney Flats, Tennessee. After facing rejection from local ministers, he chose an alternate location five miles south.
January 17, 1961: Announcement of Bristol International Speedway
On January 17, 1961, Larry Carrier announced his plans to build a racetrack in Bristol, Tennessee. This marked the beginning of the speedway's development.
July 23, 1961: Bristol International Speedway Opens
Bristol International Speedway officially opened on July 23, 1961 with a paved half-mile speed record attempt by driver Tommy Morgan.
July 30, 1961: Volunteer 500 Inaugural Race
On July 30, 1961, the first Volunteer 500, now known as the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, was held at Bristol Motor Speedway. This was the first major event at the track.
October 22, 1961: Southeastern 500 Inaugural Race
The first Southeastern 500 NASCAR Cup Series race took place on October 22, 1961, at Bristol Motor Speedway.
1961: First NFL Exhibition Game
Bristol Motor Speedway hosted an NFL exhibition game between the Washington Redskins and the Philadelphia Eagles in 1961.
1961: Bristol International Speedway Opens
On July 23, 1961, Bristol International Speedway officially opened to the public with a speed record attempt by Tommy Morgan. Two days later, the track hosted its first NASCAR-sanctioned event with practice for the Volunteer 500.
October 1964: Negotiations for Dragstrip
In October 1964, it was reported that the track was in talks with the NHRA about the construction of a dragstrip.
1964: Dragstrip Plans Announced
In 1964, plans for a drag strip at Bristol Motor Speedway were announced by track owner Larry Carrier and NHRA officials.
March 1965: Road Course Plans
In March 1965, Bristol Motor Speedway announced plans to build a 2.25-mile road course that would incorporate sections of the dragstrip.
May 1965: Completion of Dragstrip
By May 1965, the 1/4-mile dragstrip at Bristol Motor Speedway was completed after a rapid construction process, following its announcement in 1964.
1966: Road Course Construction Begins
By the start of 1966, construction of the road course at Bristol Motor Speedway was underway.
1968: George Wallace Campaign Rally
In 1968, Bristol Motor Speedway hosted a campaign rally for George Wallace during his 1968 presidential campaign.
1969: Track Reconfiguration and Repaving
In 1969, Bristol Motor Speedway underwent a reconfiguration and repaving. The banking in the turns was changed to a progressive system from 31 to 35 degrees, and the straightaways were altered to 20 degrees.
November 2, 1977: Sale of Bristol International Speedway
On November 2, 1977, Larry Carrier sold Bristol International Speedway to Lanny Hester and Gary Baker for $1 million, shifting the track's ownership.
1977: Sale of Bristol International Speedway
In 1977, Larry Carrier sold Bristol International Speedway to Gary Baker and Lanny Hester due to wanting to focus on his drag racing ventures. This marked a turning point in the speedway's ownership.
1978: Bristol International Raceway's First Night Race
In 1978, Bristol International Raceway (formerly known as Bristol International Speedway), planned to hold its first night race at the Volunteer 500, installing temporary lights for the event.
1978: Volunteer 500 Goes Night Racing
In 1978, the Volunteer 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway transitioned to night racing.
1978: Bristol International Raceway Rebranding
In 1978, the track was renamed from Bristol International Speedway to Bristol International Raceway after being bought by Lanny Hester and Gary Baker. This was part of a rebranding that included renovations, increased prize money, and a return to 500-lap NASCAR races. They also planned the track's first night race.
January 1981: Baker Buys Out Hester's Share
In January 1981, Larry Baker bought out Gary Hester's share of Bristol International Raceway.
May 1982: Baker and Hodgdon Purchase Dragstrip
In May 1982, Larry Baker and Warner W. Hodgdon purchased the dragstrip adjacent to Bristol International Raceway from Larry Carrier.
July 1983: Hodgdon Purchases Entire Track
In July 1983, Warner W. Hodgdon purchased the remaining share of Bristol International Raceway from Larry Baker, becoming the sole owner. Larry Carrier was appointed general manager.
1984: Hodgdon Faces Legal and Financial Troubles
Throughout 1984, Warner Hodgdon faced numerous legal issues and financial difficulties, including accusations of bid rigging, bankruptcy of his company, lawsuits, and overdue payments related to Bristol International Raceway and other ventures.
January 1985: Bristol International Raceway Faces Auction and Bankruptcy
In January 1985, Bristol International Raceway and its dragstrip were nearly auctioned off due to Hodgdon's financial troubles. However, the auction was canceled after Hodgdon filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Despite this, Larry Carrier, the general manager, confirmed that the track's scheduled events would still take place.
November 1985: Rumors of Track Sale Denied
In November 1985, rumors circulated about the sale of Bristol International Raceway to businessman and drag racer Jim Ruth. However, Larry Carrier, the track's general manager, denied these rumors, stating his own intention to purchase the track.
January 1986: Carrier Purchases Bristol International Raceway
In January 1986, Larry Carrier officially purchased Bristol International Raceway and announced plans for renovations, including a new grandstand and concrete walls. He also sold the dragstrip to Jim Ruth to finance the purchase.
1986: Warner Hodgdon's Financial Troubles
In 1986, Warner W. Hodgdon, who had bought the speedway from Baker and Hester, faced financial difficulties. This financial instability influenced the later return of ownership back to Larry Carrier.
September 1988: First Repave Announced
In September 1988, Bristol International Raceway announced a $500,000 repaving project, which was completed the following month.
May 1989: Second Repave Announced
In May 1989, due to driver complaints about the track surface, Bristol International Raceway announced a second repaving project.
1989: Bristol International Raceway's Growing Popularity and Expansion Plans
By 1989, Bristol International Raceway experienced a surge in popularity with guaranteed sellouts and a renewed contract with ESPN. The track expanded to 50,000 seats, generated significant economic revenue, and planned further improvements, including exploring the possibility of hosting major concerts.
1991: Third Repave Announced
In the fall of 1991, due to continued complaints about the track surface, Bristol International Raceway announced a third repaving project.
1992: Fourth Repave and Switch to Concrete
After the 1992 Food City 500, Bristol International Raceway announced a fourth repaving project, opting to use concrete instead of asphalt for the first time. The repaving was completed in July 1992.
January 23, 1996: Bruton Smith Purchases Bristol International Raceway
On January 23, 1996, Bruton Smith purchased Bristol International Raceway for $26 million. Jeff Byrd replaced Ron Scalf as general manager.
February 1996: Smith Addresses Concerns and Announces Expansion Plans
In February 1996, Bruton Smith addressed concerns about the track's future under his ownership, denying rumors of moving a race weekend and announcing plans to increase capacity.
1996: Bruton Smith's Purchase
In 1996, Bruton Smith acquired Bristol International Speedway, marking the start of a significant expansion and transformation into one of the United States' largest sporting facilities.
1996: Bruton Smith Acquires Bristol International Raceway
In 1996, Bruton Smith purchased Bristol International Raceway (formerly known as Bristol International Speedway), initiating a significant expansion. It led to the track becoming one of the largest sporting venues in the United States, and marked another shift in ownership.
April 1997: Bristol Motor Speedway Becomes Largest Sports Arena in Tennessee
By April 1997, expansions at Bristol Motor Speedway made it the largest sports arena in Tennessee, surpassing Neyland Stadium in capacity.
1997: Dragstrip Renovation
In 1997, the dragstrip at Bristol Motor Speedway underwent an $18 million renovation as part of ongoing improvements since the 1990s.
1999: Construction of Kulwicki Tower Begins
Construction began on the Kulwicki Tower at Bristol Motor Speedway in 1999, which would significantly increase seating capacity upon its completion.
2000: First Dirt Races Held
In 2000, Bristol Motor Speedway held its first dirt races on a temporary dirt surface.
2001: Last Dirt Races Held
The final dirt races were held at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2001 due to issues with track cleanup.
2002: New Pedestrian Tunnel and Seating Expansion Plans
In 2002, Bristol Motor Speedway constructed a new pedestrian tunnel connecting the grandstands to the infield and announced plans for further seating expansion.
2002: Temporary High School
In 2002, Bristol Motor Speedway served as a temporary high school for Sullivan East High School students due to black mold issues at their school.
2006: Track Repave Announced
A repaving project for Bristol Motor Speedway's surface was announced in 2006 but later rescheduled for 2007.
2007: Banking Correction at Bristol Motor Speedway
Before 2007, Bristol Motor Speedway was marketed as having 36-degree banking. However, it was discovered that the actual banking was 30 degrees, not 36.
2007: Track Repave and Variable-Banking System Completed
In 2007, Bristol Motor Speedway completed a repaving project that included a new variable-banking system and widening of the racing surface.
2008: Track Repave Criticism
The 2008 track repave at Bristol Motor Speedway drew significant criticism for altering the track's characteristic rough racing style. Speedway owner Bruton Smith publicly apologized to fans.
2010: End of Sellout Streak and Byrd's Death
In 2010, Bristol Motor Speedway's 55 consecutive sellout streak for NASCAR races ended. Following the death of track owner Bruton Smith in October, Jerry Caldwell was promoted to general manager.
2013: Battle at Bristol Announced
An NCAA Division I FBS football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Virginia Tech Hokies, dubbed the "Battle at Bristol," was announced in 2013, scheduled for 2016.
October 2015: Colossus TV Announced
In October 2015, Bristol Motor Speedway revealed plans to construct Colossus TV, a massive 30-by-63-foot digital display touted as the world's largest outdoor, permanent, center-hung screen.
April 2016: Colossus TV Completed and PJ1 TrackBite Introduced
Construction of Colossus TV was finished in April 2016. In the same year, the speedway began using PJ1 TrackBite, a traction compound applied to the lower groove to enhance multi-groove racing.
2016: Battle at Bristol and FCS Game
The "Battle at Bristol" took place on September 10, 2016, with Tennessee defeating Virginia Tech. The speedway also hosted an NCAA Division I FCS game between East Tennessee State and Western Carolina that same year.
2017: Hurricane Irma Evacuee Center
Bristol Motor Speedway acted as an evacuee center during Hurricane Irma in 2017.
2018: Hurricane Florence Evacuee Center
The speedway served as an evacuee center for Hurricane Florence in 2018.
2019: Hurricane Dorian Evacuee Center
In 2019, Bristol Motor Speedway was used as an evacuee center during Hurricane Dorian.
2020: Temporary Dirt Surface Experiment
In 2020, Bristol Motor Speedway experimented with a temporary dirt surface for the Food City 500 to address declining attendance. This experiment was discontinued after three years.
2020: NASCAR All-Star Race
In 2020, Bristol Motor Speedway hosted a one-off edition of the NASCAR All-Star Race.
2021: Bristol Motor Speedway Capacity
As of 2021, the Bristol Motor Speedway's capacity was reported to be 146,000.
2021: MrBeast's Tag Game
YouTuber MrBeast organized a tag game with a $500,000 prize at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2021.
September 2024: Fastest Official Race Lap Records Updated
As of September 2024, Bristol Motor Speedway updated its list of the fastest official race lap records.
2024: Bristol Motor Speedway Capacity and Colossus TV
As of 2024, the Bristol Motor Speedway had a capacity of 146,000, down from its peak of 162,000. The facility also features a large television screen known as Colossus TV.
August 2, 2025: MLB Game at BMS
On August 2, 2025, Bristol Motor Speedway is set to host a Major League Baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds. This marks the first regular-season MLB game in Tennessee.