August 26, 2007
By Kim Roberson

Kim Roberson

When it comes to most things, the saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” applies to something when it provides entertainment, excitement, and enjoyment. In the last few years, NASCAR has been ignoring that idea, and has been tweaking things to see if the fix makes the thing even better.

First there was the Chase, then the Car of Tomorrow. Next, it was completely redoing one of the fans favorite tracks. Not only do you have the amazing pre-race festivities, including multiple fly over’s and the always impressive card signs that are created in the stands by the 150,000 fans, you have a track that has always provided more than it’s share of rubbin and racin.

Bristol is not only a fan favorite, but a driver favorite too. When they dug it up the day after the spring race, there was concern that the changes, including widening the track and smoothing the corners, would change the thrill and excitement of racing the track. Apparently, the fear was unfounded.

Dale Jarrett said Friday night during the race “The racetrack is great. You see cars running low, midland, and on top, and the track is just great….It is a whole different scenario here now, because it is a whole different race track. These people are to really be commended for making a better race track.”

Dale Junior agreed. “The track’s going to be quicker and we’ll be beat by some guys but that’s OK. Love the race track. They did a good job on it. I think the fans are gonna appreciate it. I think this race will be exciting but give it about two or three more years and you’re really going to have something here. It’s pretty neat and once they can get the tire dialed in, it’s a little hard right now, but if we come off that a little bit and get a little softer tire we’ll be able to race all over this thing, so it’ll be fun.”

The hardest part about Bristol used to be passing.

Usually, drivers would run single file along the bottom of the track, and hope that some opportunity would present itself to pass the guy in front of you. Because of the continuous nose to tail racing, the front and back bumpers of the cars have had to be reinforced with heavier bars and braces.

Adding to the challenge of the annual Bristol night race is the fact that it is run in August…and this year has been one of the hottest Augusts’ on record in the south.

“The heat is what will get you at Bristol because when it is hot, it’s hot.” said Jeff Burton earlier this week. “The heat is the biggest thing and it is probably one of the most physically demanding tracks that we go to. At this point in the season, everyone is a little tired and a little drained. It is a tough time of year for that race to come up but it is there every year. You need to be conditioned for it.”

The high yesterday was in the mid 90’s, with a heat index pushing 100. Add that to the fact the guys sit in a car that even at night runs 130 or so, the drivers’ bodies are going to need all week to recover from a race like last nights. For drivers like Kasey Kahne, Dale Jarrett, Kevin Harvick, Dave Blaney, Jeff Burton, and Ryan Newman who ran both races this weekend, my guess is their entire weekend was spent hydrating, and possibly with IV’s at the infield care center. Add the heat to the challenge of driving a half-mile track for 500 laps, and that proves to be a true test of endurance.

The quality of racing at the new and improved Bristol is just as challenging, if not more so now because of the ability to pass and run two and three wide in some places. I can’t remember ever hearing a spotter call out “Three wide, three wide, back off!” like I heard Kenny Wallace tell his nephew early in the race Friday night. Three wide is not something you hear at Bristol. And while it isn’t suggested for an extended period of time, it is now possible.

In the closing laps Friday night, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne and Jason Leffler were running three wide when Newman and Kahne made contact, and Newman cut down a tire. Kahne picked the high line, Leffler and Reutimann the low line, and great racing ensued.

Last night, the racing was even better, and the combination of the CoT and the new track made for a brief glimpse into the new era of NASCAR.

If this is the kind of racing we have to look forward to in the future, I’ll be anxiously awaiting the start of the 2008 NASCAR season.

The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.