Full Throttle

As always there was a lot said and written about Bristol last week. Both the weekend events and the venue always come under scrutiny when ever NASCAR rolls into the Smokey Mountians.

One thing that was said but many may not realize is Bristol is an “almost a living organism.” (And it lives on a menu of sheet metal - ed)

That’s the description Bristol’s manager Jeff Byrd uses in explanation of why the oval’s surface is being torn up this week and resurfaced in time for the August NASCAR events. The track has become a modern day version of The Blob, it’s “Indescribable… Indestructible! Nothing Can Stop It!”

“This track is moving, it’s almost a living organism,” Byrd said. “Concrete moves, it expands and contracts. Two weeks ago, the concrete was eight inches off the wall; this week, it’s two inches off the wall. That’s how much it’s moving.”

I suppose it’s safe to say The Monster has competition now. Or rather did. The Monster is under going it’s own reconstruction as Bristol begins it’s extreme makeover. I also feel comfortable in saying the changes to Bristol may make an excellent short track into something even better.

Many have called Kyle Busch’s win Sunday “historical” and rightfully so being the first victory for both the CORN and the latest version of the Impala SS (and possibly Chevy’s new V8). Greg Biffle’s season best fifth place finish Sunday may also be a “historical first.”

(NOTE: Impala has 60 NASCAR Cup wins to date. Last Impala victory was December 1, 1963 by Wendell Scott at Jacksonville Speedway, the only African-American driver to ever win a NASCAR Cup race.)

Biffle’s team faces penalties after his car failed post-race inspection for being too low during post-race inspection. Oopsy!

Adding to Kyle Busch’s resum