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Motorsports/Racing

Bristol Motor Speedway Races Tickets

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5 based on 940 reviews

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About

About Bristol Motor Speedway

You can tell a lot about the character of Bristol Motor Speedway from the nicknames assigned to the venue by racing fans. There are four in wide circulation: "The Last Great Colosseum" and "The Bullring" for the track's shape; "The World's Fastest Half-Mile" for its speed (cars complete laps in about 15 seconds); and "Thunder Valley" for its noise. The track is steeply banked and ringed with stadium-style seating. With a capacity of 162,000, it is the third-largest sports venue in the United States and the seventh-largest in the world.

Bristol Motor Speedway History

Bristol Motor Speedway, located in the northeast corner of Tennessee, opened in 1961. It was built by Carl Moore, Larry Carrier, and R.G. Pope on the site of a former dairy farm. They drew their inspiration from a trip to Charlotte Motor Speedway, but the $600,000 Bristol track was a more intimate (and noisier) venue, and in 1969 the track was reconfigured with its signature steep banks. In 1992, BMS replaced its asphalt surface with a concrete surface that is now its other hallmark. It is something of a celebrity, having served as the basis for the fictional Motor Speedway of the South in the Disney/Pixar film Cars.

The speedway is home to races in the NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series East, and the NHRA Mello Yellow Drag Racing Series. In the Cup Series, racing great Richard Petty holds the track record for most Top 10 finishes (with 37) and most starts (with 60). Darrell Waltrip leads with 12 all-time wins. The all-time winningest car owner at BMS is the legendary Junior Johnson, with 21 victories. Over the course of a week in 2010, Kyle Busch made history by winning three NASCAR national series races in a single race meeting: the Truck Series race on a Wednesday, then the Nationwide Series race, and the Spring Cup Series race.

Reviews

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 based on 940 reviews
  • by Trouble88 on 8/27/12Bristol Motor Speedway - BristolRating: 5 out of 5

    It was a great race. Better than the last three we went to.

  • Bring back the Old Bristol

    by TAB88 on 8/27/12Bristol Motor Speedway - BristolRating: 2 out of 5

    I love Bristol but, I hate the new track configuration!!!! The groove has to be on the bottom!!! There was very little passing and it made for a boring race. I love the bump and run but with the new configuration it is the bump and wreck!!!

  • By far best track out there.

    by HollywoodYmcmb on 8/27/12Bristol Motor Speedway - BristolRating: 5 out of 5

    Not a bad seat in the entire place!! Can't wait to come back next year.

  • New ashphalt surface

    by Dutdog on 8/19/12Bristol Week - BristolRating: 5 out of 5

    We will see next weekend if the Bristol owners wasted thier money repaving the track, if it doesn't use money next time and add more bathrooms, lines are a mile long for the guys, it Sucks!! Tickets Prices are too high, take a lesson from Martinsville!!! Cost of concession items are too high lower them and you will sell more and make more. Idea, how about escalators to get up to track? Need more Hotels/Motels and cheaper camping sites.

  • by MrsShortness on 4/2/12Bristol Motor Speedway - BristolRating: 5 out of 5

    We camped near the track for four days, and were impressed with how clean the grounds and restrooms were kept. We felt safe with the Sheriff and Security making rounds. Also, as my husband and I are both disabled, we very much appreciated the easy access of transportation such as the golf carts. And the young men who were driving the carts were very helpful, pleasant and friendly!

  • Bristol is DEAD !

    by KSFNASCARFan on 3/21/12Bristol Motor Speedway - BristolRating: 1 out of 5

    This was my wifes first NASCAR race. I told her of my love for the track and 35 years of memories. after less than 200 laps she was asking how much longer? But, before that, before the race even started we went to grab a burger, the consession stand was SOLD OUT, can you believe a facility would be out of hamburgers before the event even started. This race has become a black eye to NASCAR!, However, the upty ups at NASCAR dont want to listen to the fans that are speaking very clearly by staying away. WAKE UP !!!, sad to say the reconfiguration has so screwed the track it is basically a "Mini Dega" or a "Boring Pocono". I can't understand how new fans can enjoy it? they never got to see #3 bumping his way to the front or Rusty driving to the front. The racing SUX ! Please just re-name the race and say it is based in Bristol. This IS NOT bristol racing. My new track is gonna be the paperclip ! Kevin

  • 1st time at Bristol

    by Podcickle on 3/21/12Bristol Motor Speedway - BristolRating: 5 out of 5

    Great venue and staff. Easy to access Trams. Bathrooms were spotless.

  • Food City 500 was great.

    by ckeen10 on 3/20/12Bristol Motor Speedway - BristolRating: 4 out of 5

    The race was awesome and I certainly recommend this event for anyone who is considering attending a race. The only problem that I had with this event is that it's not the same as it used to be. There are a few rumors that the owner of the race track plans on changing the track back to its original dimensions, which I think will make racing phenomenal.

  • One boring race!

    by norubbing on 3/20/12Bristol Motor Speedway - BristolRating: 1 out of 5

    The free parking was the best part of the race. The seats were steeper than the seating chart made them out to be. Not alot of people there, so getting was manageable. The race itself was very boring, when you think Bristol you think bumping, rubbing, and wrecking; where even the winning car had a few dents. The cars were loud, so I would recommend some kind of hearing protection when you go. The workers were nice and helpful and everything seem to flow well after the race ended.

  • First NASCAR race

    by saddrabbit on 3/20/12Bristol Motor Speedway - BristolRating: 5 out of 5

    This was my first NASCAR Race. Went with a friend will go again to other races. Really enjoyed myself. Loved the prerace show.

  • Awesome!!!!!!

    by Mtowns825 on 3/20/12Bristol Motor Speedway - BristolRating: 5 out of 5

    I absolutely love this race....if you are a NASCAR fan this event is a must see

  • A site to see

    by ZoominNewman on 3/20/12Bristol Motor Speedway - BristolRating: 4 out of 5

    The weather cleared just in time to get the Bristol 1/2 mile dried out for some great racing. The race was great, but it's not the same Bristol since the track was resurfaced. There were only a few cautions throughout the entire day of racing. I drove 1000 miles to see it and I was glad I did. Just visiting this historic track is an experience within itself. I'd recommend visiting the smoky mountains while you're in the area. Tennessee has some beautiful country. Spring the extra 20 bucks for a seat on the Dale Earnhardt Terrace for a nice theater style seat and an awning to keep you dry and unbaked. Well worth it!

  • AWESOME!

    by MrsStubbs12 on 3/20/12Bristol Motor Speedway - BristolRating: 5 out of 5

    Long time NASCAR Fan. This was my first time at a race and I am so glad I decided to go. It was a honeymoon trip for my husband and I since we were married on 3-16-12. We are talking about going to the fall race in Bristol in August. Can't wait to go back!

  • so-so

    by dhbucks on 2/21/12Bristol Motor speedway - BristolRating: 3 out of 5

    The racing isn't what you expect for bristol anymore. i go to both races each year and have for the last five years. The night race has a better atmosphere. Just seems like everybody is trying to not get into a confrontation instead of trying to win the race anymore there. Im still gonna go cuz i live an hour from the track but to travel i long distance i would not recommend it. Plus seeing kyle busch win almost every spring race gets old too.

  • Boring Bristol

    by Redhound88 on 9/12/11Bristol Motor Speedway - BristolRating: 1 out of 5

    This last Fall race was the most boring race I have ever witnessed at Bristol. Ever since they repaved the track, racing there is not as exciting as it use to be. The fans are still great and it is still something you showed go to, if you have never been. But there were a lot of empty seats (something unusual for Bristol) and I noticed fans leaving long before the race ended.

  • It Bristol Baby!!!!!!!!

    by Justin2722 on 9/7/11Bristol Motor Speedway - BristolRating: 5 out of 5

    Always a good show, worth the trip and traffic every time

  • Thunder Valley

    by J93Jones on 9/1/11Bristol Motor Speedway - BristolRating: 5 out of 5

    Keeps you on your feet and your hands on your ears!

  • Pitiful !

    by mschief41 on 9/1/11Bristol Motor Speedway - BristolRating: 2 out of 5

    Having attended exciting races at Thunder Valley for a number of years- we were most disappointed in this years event. It was infact, a very boring race. There didn't seem to be any of the kind of racing we expect at Bristol. To be sure, it was more like we were attending a "tire testing". Hopefully, this was a once in awhile occurence and our next race will prove to be as it always has- full of nail biting excitement. Other than that we totally enjoyed our annual Bristol trek.

  • MY FIRST RACE

    by she0226 on 8/30/11Bristol Motor Speedway - BristolRating: 5 out of 5

    THIS WAS MY FIRST NASCAR RACE!! WHAT A RACE AT BRISTOL !!!! I WAS SEATED ROW SEVEN CLOSE TO THE CHECKED FLAG!! WHEN THEY STARTED THEIR ENGINES, IT SENT CHILLS ALL OVER ME!!! I AM A JEFF GORDON FAN, HE RAN A GREAT RACE FOR ME, EXCEPT WIN, BUT WAS NOT TO BE!! MY SON WAS WITH ME AND HE HAD BEEN TO OTHER NASCAR RACES BUT HE SAID THIS WAS THE BEST AS HE SAID YOU CAN SEE THE WHOLE TRACK AT BRISTOL!!! I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING BACK TO BRISTOL NEXT YEAR!!!

  • Nascar Ruined It

    by BobHJr on 8/29/11Bristol Motor Speedway - BristolRating: 3 out of 5

    Let's play follow the leader-this is supposed to be Bristol! Where's the bumping and shoving?