Should Bristol Be Repaved?

The opinions on whether Bristol Motor Speedway should be repaved seems pretty split down the middle!  But everyone is forgetting one perspective that is going to drive this entire equation.

Fans hated the old configuration.  TV fans I can imagine might not have been big fans of the old configuration because of the multitude of cautions that would draw out the length of the telecast.  And sometimes, that felt like it took forever.

And recent news is saying that Bruton Smith, owner of Bristol, is considering dropping $1M on a repave, bringing the track back to or close to how it used to be, prior to the 2007 repave.

Despite fans "not liking" the new, progressive configuration, this is true racing.  Racing that involves tactics involved in waiting out the other driver and his team making the right changes during the race.

But fans seem to want to see the fender bending battles that a one groove race produces.  (See the Martinsville race!)

Drivers are even suggesting things that Bruton can do besides drop a mil on a track repave.  Dale Earnhardt Jr suggested softer Goodyears.  Greg biffle thought it might be a risk to do the reconfigure because it might not turn out like expected.

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Repaving will probably return the racing to a one groove race track.  But I have to say...

I used to attend Irwindale Raceway in CA, and was there when they reconfigured to the progressive banking track.  It was amazing to see the difference in the racing.

Irwindale went from a tough, one-groove race to a competitive multi-groove track where suddenly racers were fighting side by side to take positions and win races.  I became a fan of the banking then.

We also saw Homestead go to the progressive banking and I think fans liked the end result.

But it seems fans are fond of the short track of Bristol having the same change.

But earlier, I mentioned without answering, the most important aspect of this entire situation...  that's the all important demographic of TV ratings.

Sure, seat sales are also very important, but it can't be ignored of the monies that TV rating also bring.

I think Bruton will look at what balances out the most important aspect, as he sees fit.  To me, I'd think that would be the fan.
 
[motorsports-soapbox: Should Bristol Be Rebuilt?]
 -Bruce