The Bristol Fix???
Current NASCAR
Remember, a few years back, they covered it in dirt for a show?
I'd love it.
Forum Activity for @dave-fulton
Current NASCAR
The Bristol Fix???
Current NASCAR
I still say that if they want to do something constructive, pave it with asphalt. Concrete is for sidewalks.
From an old NASCAR.com article about levigating CMS:
In an effort to make the racing better and remove some of the bumps, track president Humpy Wheeler had the 1.5-mile surface ground down, or levigated, between the 2004 and 2005 seasons. Instead, it produced a record 22 cautions in the 600-miler, so Wheeler repeated the process before NASCAR's premier series returned in October.
But tire testing prior to the fall race -- producing record speeds and multiple crashes -- hinted at the disturbing possibility of an event that would be unusual in its scope. There was just no time available for Goodyear's engineers to come up with a tire compound that would hold up to the new surface.
It become evident early on that tires were going to be an issue. No fewer than 16 incidents, including blown tires by points leader Tony Stewart, Elliott Sadler and Kasey Kahne -- all while leading -- forced NASCAR officials to take the unusual step of throwing a mid-race competition caution and mandating maximum tire air pressures, with the threat of points reduction to any team that failed to follow the rules.
The Bristol Fix???
Current NASCAR
SMI to knock down some banking at Bristol
By Jim Utter - jutter@charlotteobserver.com
Wednesday, Apr. 25, 2012
BRISTOL, Tenn. Wider was not necessarily better for Bristol Motor Speedway.
At least for a loud contingent of fans.
NASCAR's most popular short track is going to some modifications to its surface to eliminate the top racing groove and remove the progressive banking in the turns all in time for the track's August Sprint Cup Series weekend.
Speedway Motorsports Inc. Chairman Bruton Smith announced the changes on Wednesday at a news conference in Bristol, Tenn., flanked by signs proclaiming, Fans Spoke We listened.
The changes focus on the progressive banking applied when the current track surface was put in place in the summer of 2007.
The majority of fans we heard from said they wanted adjustments made and the bulk of those said the progressive banking was what they didnt like, said Smith.
So, thats the focus of our efforts. And that is what we are working to change.
When Smith first began soliciting input from fans on possibly changing the track, the response was overwhelming to change the track. However, once Smith announced he was actually going to make a change, the response began to shift to leaving it alone.
More and more fans kept asking us to do something to the track, Smith said. So I put it out there. They spoke and we listened. I want them to be happy; I want them to love their experience in Bristol.
A grinding process will remove the top lane from the concrete surface and the progressive banking will be knocked down.
A 2007 repaving of the roughly half-mile oval widened the track's racing groove, providing drivers the ability to race side-by-side and pass without having to bump each other out of the way, which was long a prominent feature of the racing.
While attendance at the track's August night race has remained at or near capacity, the last two spring races at the track have only filled half the 160,000 or so seats.
The project will be completed in time for Goodyear to come to Bristol for a tire test before the August Cup, Nationwide and Truck series races. The Goodyear test is scheduled for June 12-13.
Read more here: http://www.thatsracin.com/2012/04/25/85553/smi-to-knock-down-some-banking.html#storylink=cpy
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:04:08PM
Open Letter to Richmond Track Management
Stock Car Racing History
Thanks, Monty... From the Gaston Gazette :
To clarify Richmond International Raceway never hosted a race in what is now the Sprint Cup Series until 1953, but the tracks first NASCAR-sanctioned race was in 1948.
On May 16, 1948, Red Byron won the tracks first NASCAR race, a Modified Division event. Strictly Stock, which later evolved into Grand National, Winston Cup, Nextel and Sprint Cup, didnt begin until the following year and did not visit the Richmond fairgrounds track until April 19, 1953, when Lee Petty won in a Dodge, followed by Dick Rathmanns Hudson.
Monte Dutton; 704-869-1841; twitter.com/montedutton
Read more: http://www.gastongazette.com/articles/notebook-70395-believe-doesn.html#ixzz1tMTDofcU" target="_blank"> http://www.gastongazette.com/articles/notebook-70395-believe-doesn....
Open Letter to Richmond Track Management
Stock Car Racing History
Dennis, there was not a 1954 Cup race held at Richmond.
Open Letter to Richmond Track Management
Stock Car Racing History
While we're brushing up on dead languages, I'm sure the state flag of the Commonwealth of Virginia will be proudly displayed the next two nights at the Richmond track.
It's Latin motto, " Sic Semper Tyrannis " is amazingly appropriate at this time.
Sic semper tyrannis is a Latin phrase meaning " thus always to tyrant s ."
In this case, I consider Richmond track management, ISC and NASCAR the tyrants.
If we believe the message on the Virginia flag, race fans and racers shall one day prevail!
Open Letter to Richmond Track Management
Stock Car Racing History
I have had extremely positive e-mail responses to trying to set the Richmond NASCAR record straight from several very top notch folks, including:
Monte Dutton - Gaston Gazette
Randy Hallman - Richmond Times-Dispatch
Nate Ryan - USA Today
All of their e-mails expressed appreciation and the desire to have this kind of thing quit happening regarding NASCAR records.
Nate, the USA Today motorsports writer, mentioned that he considered the absolute highlight of his motorsports journalism career the opportunity to interview two Richmond based dirt track modified drivers before they passed - two-time NASCAR National Champion, Eddie Crouse and Sonny Hutchins.
Nate also says the track claims all of the old records were mistakenly thrown away.
I will keep pushing this subject until I ruffle every feather that can be ruffled.
Yesterday I posted 3 comments on NASCAR.com to correct their Richmond story about the dates and the track configuration.
The NASCAR story claimed 5 different Richmond configurations. That is wrong. There have been 3. NASCAR measured the half-mile asphalt track paved in 1968 three different times with different measurements.
The NASCAR story also claimed Martinsville as the oldest NASCAR track in Virginia. I also corrected that error.
I am surprised that my corrections haven't been taken down. Then again, I may be banned from further posts on NASCAR.com.
I really appreciate old pals like Monte, Randy and Nate jumping to defend the correct information as we know it, not as the Richmond track and NASCAR have incorrectly distributed.
Thanks to all of you for your support.
This is very near and dear to me.
By the way, here is the link to the Richmond story at NASCAR.com that I have corrected 3 times.
http://www.nascar.com/news/120425/richmond-strategic-changes/index.html" target="_blank"> http://www.nascar.com/news/120425/richmond-strategic-changes/index....
The story and my corrections were still up when I made this post. They must not be reading the comments, lol!
Open Letter to Richmond Track Management
Stock Car Racing History
Thanks for the moral support. It has really, really gotten under my skin that they wouldn't publicly recognize their error to the good fans of Richmond, some of whom were there in 1948.
Open Letter to Richmond Track Management
Stock Car Racing History
Just wanted to clarify something many of you already know, but has really irritated me.
When Richmond International Raceway first began to promote the theme of 60 years of NASCAR on January 12 of this year, I wrote them the same day to remind them that NASCAR races at the Richmond 1/2-mile dirt track began on May 16, 1948, not 1953 as they indicated in all their promo material.
As you may know, Red Bryon on 5/16/1948 won the very first NASCAR race of any kind staged in the Commonwealth of Virginia - a Modified event in NASCAR's inaugural season. In fact, in 1998, RIR celebrated its 50th Anniversary, along with NASCAR when former Richmond Times-Dispatch Sports Editor, Jack Berninger arranged for the late Bill France, Jr. to deliver the keynote address to the Associated Press Sports Editors National Convention in Richmond.
When I informed Aimee Turner of the track's real NASCAR history, she claimed she was unaware and that all old media materials had evidently been thrown away. BUT, the track never took any steps to correct its mistake at a time when it could. It continued to publicize the myth that NASCAR racing at Richmond began in 1953, not 1948.
I have no idea how many NASCAR Modified events were held at Richmond between 1948 and 1953, but I'm sure it was a good number. It just strikes me as extremely disrespectful and rude to ignore the true heritage of the Richmond track and men like Red Byron, along with Glen Wood, another Richmond modified winner, as well as the scores of Richmond modified participants and champions, like Junie Donlavey, Eddie Crouse, Sonny Hutchins, Ray Hendrick, Cal Johnson and on and on.
Thanks for letting me get this off my chest.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Regards,
Dave Fulton
Charlotte
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/16/16 07:54:05AM