Is Bristol back? The Kyle Busch-Kyle Larson door banging battle at the conclusion of Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race provides hope.
Bristol has undergone a series of changes in the last decade. The track was repaved, and reconfigured in the process, and last year the top grove of the track was destroyed by a track owner hoping to again reach sellout status.
There were thoughts that the old Bristol would never be back. Once one of the series most physically demanding tracks, Bristol had been reduced to a two lane cruise for drivers while at times boring fans.
Saturday’s battle provided fans with something they had not seen often enough at Bristol in recent years. Good ole fashioned beating and banging. The race had a share of cautions but those did not get in the way of watching a race long battle for the top spot on the scoring pylon.
Tony Stewart’s helmet toss may have been interesting but it is this type of style that had become synonymous with Bristol.
Sunday will be the second Sprint Cup Series race run on the track since a grinder was used on the track. Should it rival the excitement of Saturday’s Nationwide Series race there will be no doubting that Bristol is back.
