Bristol Night Race

The two Nascar weekends at Bristol Motor Speedway comprise some of the best racing, and highest drama of the Nascar racing season.  The 33 degree high banks, the Colosseum of fans, and the deafening roar of the 43 engines in the field as they speed around Bristol’s half-mile in under 16 seconds create a spectacle unlike no other in the racing world.  From it’s humble beginnings in the 1960′s, BMS has always been a hot spot for the Series.  It’s presence on the schedule along side the big tracks like Talladega and Indy show that not only was Nascar grown out of the bull rings of America, it shows that short track racing… with all of it’s excitement, can stand just as tall in motorsports as superspeedway racing.

Perhaps the most exciting event on the schedule is the Bristol Night Race, I know that it is my second favorite race of the year.  Bristol is the place where modern night racing was born, and the forerunner to the night races in Charlotte, Daytona and Darlington.  From the battles of Dale Earhhardt and Terry Labonte to the current reign of Kyle “Rowdy” Busch, the night races are where Nascar’s finest shine.

This year, I have to wonder if this night race will be the place where old feuds are resurrected, if current rivalries will have a dash of drama added to their legacy and if new enemies will be born.  Can Kyle Busch win the Truck Series, Nationwide, and Cup Series races in the same weekend?  Can an underdog surprise the field and steal a win?  Will the battle for the 12th spot in The Chase be decided here?  Can Mark Martin drive his way into the top twelve?  Will the pace car lead more laps than the race winner?  How many more chapters of history will be written this weekend at Bristol?

As we gear up for the 2010 Bristol Night Race, catch up on how Bristol Motor Speedway became something so grand, so great, so different.