Nashville Speedway restoration renderings

Article posted by Coliseum, July 26^th, 2023

Image: Bristol Motor Speedway (LinkedIn)

The Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee (US) recently released renderings showcasing the planned restoration of the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.

‘wjhl.com’ stated that the Speedway signed an agreement with the Nashville Mayor’s office last year to restore and operate the historic Nashville Speedway.

The 1,46,000-capacity Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as the Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) short track located in Bristol, Tennessee (US). Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30^th, 1961.

Apply for membership

The 15,000-capacity Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway is a motorsport racetrack located at the Nashville Fairgrounds near downtown Nashville, Tennessee (US). The track is the second-oldest continually operating track in the United States. The track held NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup races from 1958 to 1984.

Image: Bristol Motor Speedway (LinkedIn)

Florida (US)-based the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. It is considered to be one of the top-ranked motorsports organizations in the world, and is one of the largest spectator sports in America.

The name NASCAR Grand National Series refers to the former names of the following NASCAR series: The National-level Stock Car Series: NASCAR Cup Series (known as the NASCAR Grand National Series between 1950 and 1970, then the NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National Series between 1971 and 1986).

‘wjhl.com’ further stated that an independent assessment identified numerous necessary safety fixes, including resurfacing the track, rebuilding and expanding the track’s outside barrier and the catch fence and installing a Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) barrier system, according to the Bristol Motor Speedway.

Other parts of the facility will also require modernization, the Bristol Motor Speedway said.

The Steel And Foam Energy Reduction Barrier (SAFER Barrier), sometimes generically referred to as a soft wall, is a technology found on oval automobile race tracks and in the high speed sections of road and street tracks, intended to absorb and reduce kinetic energy during the impact of a high speed crash, and thus, lessen injuries sustained to drivers and the spectators.

Image: Bristol Motor Speedway (LinkedIn)

The Bristol Motor Speedway President Jerry Caldwell stated, “We are thrilled to unveil our vision for the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, a venue that embodies the heart and soul of racing history in this remarkable City. We continue to be committed to the opportunity to provide an unforgettable racing experience for the fans and racers alike.”

Bristol said the project will preserve history, bring NASCAR racing back to Nashville and generate millions of dollars for the local businesses.

A ‘LinkedIn Post by Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway’ stated, “We are proud to share the release of these stunning renderings showcasing our dream of restoring the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. We are committed to preserving this piece of Nashville’s history and generating millions of dollars of revenue for the local businesses.”

The Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway are two of the nation’s most popular motorsports venues, with NASCAR races at the ‘World’s Fastest Half-Mile’ and the power of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Racing at ‘Thunder Valley’. Visitors can enjoy daily track tour opportunities, shop at the souvenir store, or take advantage of special events throughout the year.

The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is a governing body which sets rules in drag racing and hosts events all over the United States and Canada.

Continue to follow Coliseum for latest updates on venues business news. Coliseum is dedicated towards building the best global community of sports and entertainment venue executives and professionals creating better and more profitable venues.

Become a member of the only Global Sports Venue Alliance and connect with stadiums, arenas and experts from around the world. Apply for membership at coliseum-online.com/alliance and make use of the 365Coliseum Business.

Watch 250 member-exclusive videos with valuable tips for your venue