At The Track with Ed Coombs - Latest comments

In response to: Boo to the Bristol Naysayers

JW [Visitor] — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 01:04:22 +0000

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....

In response to: Are you a member of the Kyle Busch Fan Club yet? Is he Houdini?

Johnny [Visitor] — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 02:29:03 +0000

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....

In response to: CHANGES IN SPRINT CUP SCHEDULE STARTING TO BECOME OFFICIAL

daycar [Visitor] — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:11:59 +0000

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

Ed's Response:

Damn Spammer

In response to: Boo to the Bristol Naysayers

Kevin [Visitor] — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 21:53:51 +0000

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...

In response to: Are you a member of the Kyle Busch Fan Club yet? Is he Houdini?

Mobile Car Service [Visitor] — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:18:46 +0000

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

In response to: Boo to the Bristol Naysayers

Chuck [Visitor] — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:33:59 +0000

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

In response to: Boo to the Bristol Naysayers

Norman [Visitor] — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:16:49 +0000

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....

In response to: Boo to the Bristol Naysayers

David [Visitor] — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:57:24 +0000

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...