Racing at one of the most exciting tracks on the Sprint Cup Series circuit is about to get a little more intense as track officials announced the addition of more than 160 feet of SAFER barriers at the .533-mile short oval.
According to a release "track operations personnel extended SAFER (Steel And Foam Energy Reduction) barriers at the exits of Turns 2 and 4. Work began last week and will be complete before NASCAR teams arrive for the Food City 500 weekend, March 19-21."
How does a softer wall impact make the racing more thrilling? Track officials have the answer.
"We believe with these modifications, we will not only increase driver safety, but will also create a different transition at the exit of the turns," said Jeff Byrd, BMS President and General Manager.
"While we don't know exactly how this will impact the racing, the more confined racing area should create less elbow room and tighten up the racing groove at those points."
It's not entirely a take back, track officials call it return to how it was three years ago.
"A deteriorating track surface forced officials in the summer of 2007 to put down a fresh layer of concrete and an additional four feet of width to the racing groove was part of the change. The modifications will eliminate some of that added room.”
"Without question, this extra four feet added room and aided in creating three and, at times, even four-wide racing," Byrd said. "However, while it is breathtaking, many of our fans have responded that we went too far, in actuality, giving too much racing room to the greatest drivers in the world."
It's an interesting development in light of the "have at, boys" concept enunciated at the Charlotte Media Tour by NASCAR officials. Bristol Motor Speedway previously had the reputation of a brawling track where very few cars left without a racing stripe or doughnut on a fender or rear quarter panel.
photo:NASCAR Getty Images
According to a release "track operations personnel extended SAFER (Steel And Foam Energy Reduction) barriers at the exits of Turns 2 and 4. Work began last week and will be complete before NASCAR teams arrive for the Food City 500 weekend, March 19-21."
How does a softer wall impact make the racing more thrilling? Track officials have the answer.
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| photo: Getty Images |
"We believe with these modifications, we will not only increase driver safety, but will also create a different transition at the exit of the turns," said Jeff Byrd, BMS President and General Manager.
"While we don't know exactly how this will impact the racing, the more confined racing area should create less elbow room and tighten up the racing groove at those points."
It's not entirely a take back, track officials call it return to how it was three years ago.
"A deteriorating track surface forced officials in the summer of 2007 to put down a fresh layer of concrete and an additional four feet of width to the racing groove was part of the change. The modifications will eliminate some of that added room.”
"Without question, this extra four feet added room and aided in creating three and, at times, even four-wide racing," Byrd said. "However, while it is breathtaking, many of our fans have responded that we went too far, in actuality, giving too much racing room to the greatest drivers in the world."
It's an interesting development in light of the "have at, boys" concept enunciated at the Charlotte Media Tour by NASCAR officials. Bristol Motor Speedway previously had the reputation of a brawling track where very few cars left without a racing stripe or doughnut on a fender or rear quarter panel.
photo:NASCAR Getty Images