You forget that the "wreckin' ain't racin'" style made Bristol the second hardest sports ticket to get in the world, next to olympic tickets. If you think the merry-go-round side-by-side racing is exciting, you can see that at every track in NASCAR, and now that includes Bristol. If that's what you like, fine, but they should have repaved Bristol using the same configuration so the track could have still been the most exciting track in the world.

Ed's Response JW There's no sense in arguing with you. However, your one groove dream Bristol was a parade with a wreck every 40 laps and a caution for 15. What you like are called shoot outs...

Oh yeah, not every track is allowing side by side racing....

I just love the wild child Kyle Bush, he is so good driving his car he really shows the other drivers just how it's done and for the life of me I can't figure out why so many nascar fans hate him so much he soooo kool I have a whole room in my mom's house dedicated to KB's memorabilia, I even have the M&Ms #18 Kyle Bush wall paper in my bathroom so I can look at him while I'm in there he is my inspiration
Love You kyle


ED's Response" Wow....

I love this article,,,I recommend you to read it....

Ed's Response:

Damn Spammer

Ed,

I agree that wrecking is not racing. If there is a wreck because of close racing I understand that. But a wreck to move someone out of the way is crazy. I have been to 20 + Sprint Cup races and another 20 + Nationwide races at Bristol. Not including near the other 100 some races from both NASCAR and IndyCar. I have been around both forms of racing most of my life.

I understand where the other side is coming from. The change in the track has taken some of the close racing away. But I think the Chase has also helped that. Drivers want to come out of Bristol with no issues.

In my opinion if you are not going to have the southern 500 at Darlington on Labor Day weekend. Move Bristol to this weekend and be the first race in the chase. You may still have some of the same chase racing issues. But it might add some excitement. You could have the Trucks/Modifieds on Thursday Night, the local football games on Friday night along with the downtown festival and transporter parade, then the Nationwide on Saturday Night and the Sprint Cup on Sunday night.

I also like what they did in the infield.

I personally do not think they had 155,000 there. That maybe how many tickets they sold. But there were plenty of empty seats. One whole section in the Earnhardt Terrace was basically empty.

I am from West Central Indiana. I rent out a portion of a house about 10 miles away from the track. It cost me less than half of a hotel stay. I have been blessed with this deal.

I hate how the hotels/motels in that area have you over the barrel. I even feel some of the campgrounds also have campers over the barrel. It is crazy.

Ed's Response Kevin, thanks for writing. I think Bristol should be in the Chase, over a Kansas , Texas or other cookie cutter track (including Chicago). I'm not sure about Labor Day weekend right now... it's an idea.

I love what they did in the infield. Period... it makes my life easier in some respects, harder in others (photos are tougher from inside the track now due to the way the walls are higher and many areas are now blocked with safety vehicles, pieces of the SAFER Barrier, and other items) but we can get it figured out over time. One other complaint I would have are fans in empty pit boxes sitting on the walls. Frankly, they're idiots. Those cars look slow at 35-40 mph but if they collide they're hitting a wall. Bristol is so small and tight the extras inside just make it more crowded...

Over the years we have moved our camping location. I once had a coveted drag strip spot that only cost $90, not an assigned spot. I let it go last year at $180. It was in the highest lot and air did not move up there. Plus, my partying buds prefer the crazier areas. Still, we pay $200 at Red Barn and its way too much. With tranny issues this year on motor home I like renting a house with a few guys and taking it easy... with the schedule now, I play hard Thursday, that's it... I cant say that about my friends... they play hard, period.

Oh yeah, those season tickets I discussed in an earlier response are available to any fan that wants them...

Yes I am fan of kyle,he is tearing it up,he is on a high at the moment but don't like his arrogance

This is more like the old Bristol when it was asphalt. multi-grooves of racing and I love it.

Wait until March...Attendence will be way down. Bristol is not back. Let me expand...

For the first time in decades, you could be Cup only ticket to the night race (instead of "season tickets" - $125 VS $400 per person). A lot of fans got to checked Bristol off their "bucket list." These are not fans going next twenty races at Bristol. (FYI - I have been to 20+ Cup races at BMS).

Bristol is no longer "the" ticket. The change in concrete changed everything. Too bad you did not take the time to talk a lot of fans around Bristol and got their input. Have honest conversations will many attendees.

You would see they are fans, too. And you would not be short sighted and with the name calling ("naysayers"). It is okay to have a difference of opinion.

Every track operator would love to have the loyal fans that BMS turned off/divided.

Just my observations without my opinion of the racing. BMS fans were united...now they are divided. A divided house will fall.

Same thing happened in 2004 with the Chase. I don't know if you like the Chase or not, but don't make changes to your track or sport that may divide you fan base, because everyone loses.

Do you remember when NASCAR came out with schedule in 2004? They referred to the outline as "Realignment 2004 and Beyond" concept. (google it) How did that work out?

Here is your article on the decline of NASCAR. Bold decisions that would divide the fan base versus unite the fan base.

Compare the 50th anniversary celebration of NASCAR versus 60th.

Like NASCAR, BMS fixed something that did not need fixing. I agree the racing is better at BMS, but the event is not. And now the fans are divided.

Ed's Response- Norm, there's a lot here to digest however I will try and address your points....

First, I drive to, stay with and attend the race with fans who have had many complaints about this "change" to Bristol. First of all, wrecking is not racing and anyone who wants to see wrecking rather than racing probably should not go to Bristol or any other race track. Go to a demolition derby. Most of the fans I know and attend with (and in the campgrounds, where I stay)do not complain about the truck, modified or Nationwide Series races, they take issue with the cup race. Is that the tracks fault? I do not think so.

Here's food for thought... the drivers do not want to wreck so they act accordingly. They never really wanted to before but don't you think that 3-wide at Bristol is cool to watch? Don't you appreciate that hight speed they're running? Don't you want to go up and feel the wind off those cars as they fly by? No?? That's OK, you're over it and so am I. Others will come or have the opportunity to go and thats fine too...

Second- BRISTOL WAS BROKEN. The track surface was slipping down the embankment and there was a gap between the wall and the surface all around the track! Sooner or later the track surface would have begun to come up and then you would have that complaint. There were numerous discussions, including reverting back to asphalt but this seemed the best for racing and I agree...

Look Norman... I agree to disagree with you. I call it like I see it and clearly, you're a naysayer....

I agree the track is better for racing. The problem is the chase. No one will race hard because they are afraid they will not make the chase. It has been that way ever since the chase started.

Ed's Response- David- I tend to agree with you... but its not just the chase, there's more to it than that... hopefully we'll get it figured out soon...

I live 50 miles from the track. There are advantages to being "in the middle of nowhere". In big cities, a NASCAR race is just another event that might get a little attention. Out here "in the middle of nowhere", the Bristol races are THE event. It dominates the news for a couple of weeks before each race. We close major streets in the city so the fans, drivers and teams can get together. Almost every business within 50 miles of the track has signs out welcoming race fans.

For Bristol to come as close as they did to a full house without discounting tickets ($109+) is truly amazing in the current economy.

I don't think the repaving ruined the racing at the track. I think points racing is what did it. Racing has gone from the Earnhardt attitude of "second is the first loser" (except for Kyle Busch) to "we had a good points day".

Ed's Response- Ken... thanks for writing. I agree and I myself don't live in a metro area... I also see all those signs and not only is the track hospitable but almost everyone you run into welcomes you...

Bristol had some good attendance this past weekend... for all the events... shocking for as bad as others are doing...

Great article Ed! There is nothing like Bristol! My first night race there, I slept on the ground in a crappy tent with no air mattress, but I would have leaned against a telephone pole all night, just to have been there in August! Bristol, old or new, is the best racetrack on the circuit!

Ed's Response- Jim- I drive long hours to get there and have a season ticket account that my friends that travel with me USED to use because tickets were so hard to get. Now they're buying tickets at 60% off so I can't recoup my money. I have three on the aisle 52 rows up in turn 1, just a few short steps from men's room... Want them?? I will not subsidize the haters..

Last weekend was my first time at Bristol and it was awesome. I haven't had a better experience anywhere and I've been to about 10 different tracks on the circuit. The people are great, the fans are great, the experience of a lifetime. I drove from the northwest corner of Indiana and can't wait to make the drive next year. I will be back at Bristol in 2011.

I am in 100% agreement with you. Wreckin' ain't racing and those who say the "old" Bristol was better aren't real race fans!

Ed's Response- Drew, thanks for coming.... I would not make that statement about "real" race fans. I am in the pits/ garage a lot and that's where you find people with a hot pass who go because they got free parking, a hot pass and get to hob-knob with the richers. Then they go watch the race in the suite without nary a care for the cars on the track.... they're not "real" race fans. Those that are interested enough to have an opinion... are racing fans, whether or not they agree with me

You are welcome to visit our website. I believe we have some goods that will be interesting to you. We also offer a wide choice of promotional products of any kind at low cost. ;)

Ed's Response: Were you at Bristol?

Relax Kurt, you can probably get your picture on a douche package,although it would have to be on the how to use illustration.


Ed's Response: Bobby, Bobby, booby... do they still sell/ use those things??

Ed, there is more people on the lead lap due to lucky dogs and wave arounds to make things more exciting. Like you said perception is someone's reality.

I too used to have tickets for a Nascar race and gave them up. The product that is being presented on the track is not worth the costs of camping and being at the track all weekend anymore. I'd rather go to my local short track. At least those races play out naturally and don't have artificial finishes to try and create excitement.

Ed's Response- Steve, local racing is an awesome product. The perceptions you have are your reality. Only NASCAR can change your perception and it'll be a long haul to get you there.

As for the constant rule changes, bogus yellows and the stupid chase, well, I am sick of it all and just read about the races after they are over. I used to have tickets for both NHIS races and went for the whole week end. But the racing wasn't the issue it was the gouging by the hotels and the traffic. I started going to only the Sunday race and then let go of the second race tickets and then started selling the tickets for the early and then I dropped them completely. The reward for going there wasn't worth driving 3 hours and getting to the track between 8 and 9 AM for a race that didn't start until 2:15 just to not sit in traffic jams to get there. Then either waiting for a couple hours after the race or just getting in the middle of the traffic and getting home at midnight and having to work Monday morning.
Now with all the favoritism...err I mean level playing field (don't want the master fining me) the races are boring and they throw bogus yellows to make it close at the end. It aint worth wasting the 3-4 hours to watch it. I go golfing with my other ex nascar fan friends.
If they made the playing field even then why in the history of nascar cup level did we just have a driver win 4 championships in a row and possibly on track for a 5th? Only one driver ever won 3 in a row and it wasn't even Petty or Dale the elder when the gray areas were much grayer and not checked as closely.
Something smells in all that but again, I don't want to get fined so I just read the results and let this thing crumble.
It is a good thing they dropped all the tracks with small grandstands so the 2 track monopolies could line their pockets because if they still had the smaller grassroots tracks that made nascar it would be harder to see all the empty seats.
Hey Brian, how is working out for you?

Ed's Response- Steve, you sound bitter. LOL

Look, this is EXACTLY what NASCAR needs to see. You're not alone with your thoughts, many of my friends, who went to numerous races have toned it down due to the inconveniences they encounter. You touched on them all. However, NASCAR doesn't create the traffic, the hotel gouging and the ticket and concession prices, the tracks do. NASCAR controls the rules. NASCAR rules have actually made the races more exciting, haven't they? Trust me, as a scholar of the sport I assure you that there's record numbers on teh lead lap now compared to yesteryear...

It's all about perception.. and that perception is someone's reality and only NASCAR can fix it. No, I don't have the answer... I'll be different than my media brethren

in my house, we all love watching this on tv and cheer on the drivers! its the one thing we can sit and enjoy without whingeing or anything, but its nice to read other peoples opinions on Kasey!

One of the biggest NASCAR fans here, I was in Baldwin’s Sprint Cup last year. Hope to see good old Geoff back on track!

Ed's Response- Look for more in next weeks Gater edition in print. He definitely wants to race more at the cup level

Great blog!!! Kyle Busch is a great driver of the 2000's my all time favorite was 00 Buddy Baker.

got to love Kyle - knows this stuff