The half-mile Bristol Motor Speedway covered in dirt
Beginning in 2021, the Bristol Motor Speedway covered its concrete surface with dirt for the facility’s spring races. A total of three NASCAR Cup Series events along with NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races and a myriad of Dirt Late Model and Sprint Car shows were held over the three years clay was added to the track. However, that will change beginning in 2024 as the dirt will no longer be used by NASCAR at the east Tennessee venue.
That announcement, which had been expected, was made official on Friday as the track prepares for its NASCAR Playoffs weekend.
“As the motorsports world focuses on America’s Night Race tomorrow, we are thrilled to announce Bristol Motor Speedway will host the return of the Food City 500 on the concrete high-banks of the World’s Fastest Half Mile in the spring of 2024,” said Bristol Motor Speedway President and General Manager Jerry Caldwell. “We will revive a logo reminiscent of the first Food City 500s in the early ’90s and resurrect the track’s vintage trademark look and feel of the era. We’re looking forward to a great weekend of racing and what’s to come in 2024.”
Back in 2021, Joey Logano won the first NASCAR Cup Series race held on dirt since 1970. That was followed by victories scored by Kyle Busch in 2022 and Christopher Bell this year.
Cole Custer
Cole Custer drove to a 24th place finish in the Stewart Haas Racing No. 41 Ford in 2021 then followed that up with a 13th in 2022. During a NASCAR Media appearance on Friday at BMS, he offered his views on the return to concrete.
“I think that’s good,” Custer stated. “I think Bristol puts on such a good race without the dirt that I think it deserves two races(on concrete). I think the dirt, there is a spot for that too. A purpose built dirt track might be a little better. It is cool running on dirt, it’s so much different. It’s way different than what we do on a typical week. I think it adds to the series that we have so many different tracks but I think it is good that Bristol is going back to concrete.”
The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series schedule will likely be released in the near future.
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