Is the old Bristol gone forever?

By Mike Smith (contact)

Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009 | 8 p.m.

It’s as plain as the nose on your face. The racing at Bristol has changed. But has it changed for the better?

Critics of the old Bristol contend that the track produced single-file racing that only allowed cars to pass by using their front bumpers as battering rams. They argue that the racing at Bristol was nothing more than a demolition derby. Sure there were wrecks, but I think the aggressive nature of the racing at this track is what made it unique. Drivers had to use their bumpers to gain track position. And effective use of those bumpers to nudge other cars out of the way was an art form.

Not every race at the old track was a wreckfest. I attended a race at the track before it was reconfigured and there was a mountain of scraping, rubbing and retaliation, but very few cautions.

Drivers seem to like the new, wider and multi-banked track surface that allows for two-wide racing. That’s not surprising. Since the racing isn’t as physical, drivers think it’s easier to pass. Nevertheless, Mark Martin led 240 of the laps last Saturday night.

One thing that is missing from many of the tracks on the Sprint Cup schedule is personality. Bristol was a track with a volcanic personality that made the events at this track some of the most anticipated in the season. Since the track was reconfigured, much of its personality has been diminished. Saturday’s Sharpie 500 was an entertaining race to watch and the final laps were exciting, but the energy level of the race wasn’t on par with the intensity we saw with the old track. In addition, the COT may also be partially responsible for the more subdued racing at the track.

According to a recent issue of NASCAR Scene, the average number of lead changes has dropped from 17 for the four races prior to the track’s reconfiguration to 11.5 in the four races since. And a recent poll conducted by Scenedaily.com asked participants if a perfectly good track has been ruined by the changes. 54 percent said the racing is worse, 33 percent said the racing is better and 13 percent said the racing is no different.

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