Bristol Motor Speedway

Work began on what was then called Bristol International Speedway in 1960 and it took approximately one year to finish. Seating capacity for the very first NASCAR race at BMS, held on July 30, 1961, was 18,000. The first driver on the track for practice on July 27, 1961 was Tiny Lund in his Pontiac. The second driver out was David Pearson. Fred Lorenzen won the pole for the first race at BMS with a speed of 79.225 mph. Despite its small size, Bristol is one of the most popular tracks in NASCAR due to its distinctive features that include extrodinarily steep banking.