NASCAR Drivers Divided on Proposed Bruton Smith Bristol Changes

Mar 23, 7:43 PM EDT

NASCAR drivers divided on proposed Bristol changes

By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer

FONTANA, Calif. (AP) -- If Bristol Motor Speedway goes back to its rough-and-tumble roots before NASCAR returns in August, the drivers say they'll be ready for it.

Even if some are more excited about it than others.

Owner Bruton Smith is thinking about restoring tighter lanes and getting rid of variable banking at the venerable half-mile track, essentially forcing drivers to return to the beating and banging that made its races so entertaining and volatile.

Before preparing Friday for qualifying at Auto Club Speedway east of Los Angeles, Kevin Harvick counted himself among the traditionalists who would love to mix it up again.

"I like that rough-and-tumble type of racing," Harvick said. "I know a lot of the car owners and some of the drivers don't like that style of racing. That's what made Bristol what it was. People don't want to watch cars ride around with no donuts on the doors and no caved-in fenders at Bristol. They don't want to see a 200-lap, 150-lap green-flag run. That's not what they come to Bristol for, and that's why they quit coming."

Brad Keselowski, who won at Bristol last weekend while leading a career-best 232 laps, is equally emphatic in favor of the changes made in 2007 that allow smoother, cleaner racing.

"I think the race track is as good or better than it has ever been," Keselowski said. "I think there are other ways to make the racing better. Everyone's definition of what (to do) is a little different, but in my eyes, the track reconfiguration has helped the facility to what otherwise could have been a worse scenario. ... I do think that it would be a knee-jerk reaction."

Smith said earlier this week he would consider making $1 million in changes to respond to fans' concerns about the current setup at what is billed as the fourth-largest sports venue in the country.

Harvick thinks the current setup is behind declining attendance at Thunder Valley in recent years. The stands only appeared to be half-full last Sunday, although NASCAR announced an attendance of 102,000 in the 160,000-seat venue for what was once among the toughest tickets in sports.

"In all fairness, everybody in Bristol was trying to make the race track better, and in the end it didn't work for them," Harvick said. "The telltale sign of that was standing in the infield and looking at the crowd. It used to be years upon years of waiting lists. ... When you take a risk like they took on changing the race track with engineers, you're taking a big risk. Now they're going to pay probably the ultimate (price)."

Carl Edwards spoke for several drivers who reserved their opinions on the potential changes until Smith actually decides what to do, possibly as soon as next week.

"He can do whatever he'd like to do, and if it were possible to put it back just like it was, and he was willing to do it, then that's fine with me," Edwards said. "If the fans want it and they can do it, then my hat is off to Bruton for having the humility and the pocketbook to go out there and just say, `Hey, I'll do it.' That's pretty spectacular, I think."

Although fan sentiment appears to be leaning in favor of the changes, some drivers speculated that such extensive changes might cost much more than $1 million in practice.

And then there's Keselowski, who will let Smith know what he thinks - eventually.

"I never got his cell number," the Bristol champion said with a laugh.

2012 The Associated Press.

"...some things in this world.......ya just can't explain........"*

*Charlie Daniels.. the Legend of Wooly Swamp

Science and engineering can't improveeverything! I know that's a tough sell for this baby boom-man-on-the-moon-smart-phone culture. Consider NEW Coke, LOL! Not every function is linear, nor every relationship direct. Nope there's the Charlie Daniels extra-dimension of the human psyche and experience, one that can not be easily measured......but that's not proof that it does not exist.

Bristol was a "10"...the proof was at the ticket office. Actually, if any event is continually sold out, why does it need improving, or re-inventing, HEL-LO? The answer, of course, lies in the widely held (and often false) philosophy that your'realways going forward or backward, but standing "still" is impossible...

Although he threw an engineering employee under the bus, Bruton did have the courage to admit a mistake was made, and that is admirable. Should be old school by August.

Bopper, Bopper, Bopper....

You have NAILED it!

The undefined and inexplicable Bristol mystique is gone with the improvements.

I am old enough to remember when Darlington was "improved" sometime in the mid to late 70s. They added the concrete walls all around and eliminated the Armco guardrail and repaved the track, widening the old turn 3 in the process. Much of its mystique also disappeared.

The old turn 3 no longer required leaning the right side of the car against the rail as the quickest way around. "Bear Grease" was no longer needed on the pavement to preserve it. No longer did those of us sitting in Robert E. Lee's Paddock coming off the old turn 4 get to see the cars bobble and weave and slide up to the wall seeking traction and control as they "attempted" to race side-by-side on those 95 degree South Carolina Labor Day afternoons.

Concrete was certainly safer than the metal rail and the track needed repaving, but the character of the old turn 3 was destroyed as was the excitement of the cars coming off turn 4.

And never again could a driver display his "Darlington Stripe" as a badge of honor and badge of courage.

It was never again the same Southern 500 many of us had grown to know and love.

And this actually happened before ISC bought the place when Barney Wallace and Red Tyler were still at the helm.

As I have had said time and again, I hate watching a race on a concrete racetrack. I'll always prefer the original Bristol or the the second incarnation when the higher banks were added, but in both cases the ASPHALT Bristol. And, I'll take the asphalt Dover any day over the concrete Dover.

I've been told for a long time that I'm a little different, and in this case I have to admit I am. I love the new Bristol! I had gotten to the point that I would not watch the old track, I'd watch the beginning and the end, maybe a little in the middle. Most times I would walk in at it would be under another caution with the pace Car racking up the number of laps it would lead. I got so frustrated I would go back out in the shop or yard and piddle till about time for the end of the race. That was not my style of racing.

I heard last year that it had been 11 years since Bristol had a green flag pit stop till the track was changed. That seems a bit high but it did feel that way to me. I like racing, side by side competition, pit strategy and a battle for the checkered flag. All the things the new Bristol now offers. The one after another wrecking, yellow after yellow and the loss of competitive laps are the things I hated about the old Bristol. If they go back to the old track I will still watch as much as I can tolerate. I am a fan and I will tune in and cheer for my favorites no matter the track design.

Wrong, wrong, wrong, lol....

I've never seen anything on concrete to beat DW & Dale dogging it out SIDE BY SIDE and NOSE TO TAIL on the old Bristol ASPHALT!

Concrete is for sidewalks.

And those old Friday night Late Model Sportsman and Busch shows were the best on the circuit.

And, PK... by copying Irwindale, they did just what you disdain... made a cookie cutter!!!

Now I will bow out friends with all.

Lol...I love this discussion. Blame it on the engineer, blame it on the track, blame it on Kentucky (remember that one), blame it on the weather. The reason the seats were empty at Bristol is because 69% of NASCAR fans are between 18 and 24 years old (their numbers) and they can't afford the f'n tickets because they spent their allowance on an new i-something.

and furthermore....while we're watching Lady Hoggers and Swamp loggers they have moved on to what ever grabbed the next brief moment of their attention.

We'll have to wait for the next round of multi-cultural youth to fill those empty seats.

This is a most interesting discussion and I am enjoying ALL comments. However, my two favorite comments are from Jeff (and no I am NOT kissing up to the boss) and Billy Biscoe's. I had flashback memories of all my years in the Darlington infield, both races from 1957 to about 1992. Billy, you're right. The Hunger Games would be a walk in the park compared to some of those nights!!!

I do recall the portable jail at Darlington, lol!

JUST TAKE AWAY THE PROGRESSIVE BANKING AND BANK THAT TRACK THE WAY IT WAS. WHAT WAS IT LIKE YEARS AGO ON THE SHORT TRACKS ACROSS THE STATES. JUST IN CASE THOSE YOUNG GUNS DONT KNOW IT WAS SATURDAY NITE RACING WITH BUMPING AND GRINDING ON ONE ANOTHER. LET THE OLD TIMERS TELL U HOW IT WAS.