Last Saturday Night marked  the 100th Cup Series Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.  The track’s original owners Larry Carrier and Carl Moore opened the famous half mile track in 1961. At the time it was named Bristol International Speedway. In the original concept the track was a perfect half-mile as opposed to the .553 mile oval it is today. It was originally a lot flatter and was an asphalt surface, unlike today’s high banked concrete surface.
The original configuration for the Speedway had concrete bleachers that held 20,000 fans.  Today the track’s grandstands have seating for 160,000 race fans. What hasn’t changed over the past 100 races is the action and competitive drama.  In 1961, Fred Lorenzen sat on the pole for the track’s first Cup race. Jack Smith won the race after dominating most of the event and leading 243 laps.

The NASCAR Nationwide Series new car made its second appearance last weekend at Michigan International Speedway. The race featured a different track distance and layout than its debut at the 2.5 mile Daytona International Speedway. It may not have had the storybook outcome of the historic July 2nd race, an emotional win for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet, but it does have the same air of excitement aimed at the new models for Dodge (Challenger), Ford (Mustang), and the sporty look of the Chevrolet Impala.
Too bad GM will not race its new Camaro. It seems like a natural and a big step forward; the big three manufacturers each racing their new generation pony cars. It also gives the Nationwide series a distinctively different look from the cars in the Cup Series. Unfortunately, Toyota does not have a pony car so they will stick with their Camry. Maybe someone can put a bug in GM’s ear. Get with it guys. Race the Camaro.