DETROIT – (April 15, 2015) – The next stop on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tour is Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS). Dubbed the ‘World’s Fastest Half-Mile’ the coliseum-shaped venue is well-known for high banks, fast lap times, cramped racing conditions and hot tempers.
This year racing conditions at BMS will become even tighter as the 0.533 -mile track has installed SAFER barriers to the outside walls on the frontstretch and backstretch. The installation will narrow the racing groove significantly.
“It is going to change the groove slightly, said Chevrolet’s Jeff Gordon during a press conference last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. “There is just a little bit of extra room that we have right where it ends off the corner. Before you had a little bit of room, I don’t know, a foot so that is definitely going to change how we are race there. I hope it makes it more exciting, more action is what I’m hoping. Even if it doesn’t, I don’t care, I want the SAFER barriers inside and outside at all these tracks.”
Three active drivers share the title for most wins at BMS, including two Chevrolet SS pilots, Kurt Busch and Gordon. However, neither Busch nor Gordon has made it to Victory Lane since the track was repaved in 2007. The concrete surfaced venue has brought much parity between winning manufacturers in recent seasons. Yet, the Bowtie Brand continues to reign supreme with 43 wins at the track nestled in ‘Thunder Valley’.
After seven races in 2015, Chevrolet SS drivers and teams have visited Winner’s Circle four times, on the strength of two drivers: Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick. All four wins have come at 1.5-mile tracks. This weekend both Johnson and Harvick would like to claim their first short-track trophies of the season. But, 21 other Team Chevy drivers would like to join the Chase party by making their way through the beating and banging to earn a victory at one of the toughest venues on the circuit.
While at BMS, fans can check out the great lineup of Chevrolet cars, trucks and SUVs on display at the Team Chevy exhibit in the midway.
The display will open at 10 a.m., Friday. Fans can see a variety of vehicles including Cruze, Camaro 1SS Coupe, Impala, Malibu, Traverse, Silverado 2500 High Country, Corvette Stingray, Silverado 1500 Crew Z71, Silverado 1500 Double Cab, Equinox and 2015 Motor Trend Truck of the Year Chevy Colorado Extended Cab. They can also get an up close and personal look at the No. 14 Mobil 1 Chevrolet SS show car.