What made Bristol the biggest ticket on the circuit? We can name a bunch of incidents that we can recall and of course, Dale Earnhardt probably was in most of those memories. I remember many years ago, I took a ride in a traveling simulator here in Winston Salem. It was just the wife and I who stepped in and so we had the whole show to ourselves, so we took the front row. There were three different races, first was a hydroplane race...plenty of water splashed that we saw but didn't feel. Then if I recall correctly came a sprint car race and finally, a Winston Cup race, obviously from Bristol. Our car (the one with the camera) started on the inside of the second row. We didn't know what car we were riding in, but at that track, in the simulator, you're always thrown to the right. (Nice for cuddling) Anyway, Rick Mast driving the #1 car took the lead on the first lap and our car followed him into second place, on his bumper for many laps. Finally, our driver spun Rick out and the caution came out. In those days, drivers could hit pit road quickly and our driver quickly ducked into the pits. We both laughed outloud when our driver slid into the pit of the #3.
I used to always argue with non-racing fans who would say that the only reason people watch racing is to see the wrecks. While I do love to watch close and exciting racing, there is a lot of truth in what they said. I dare say there are few people who would say that the caution free race is exciting, but on the other hand, those same people would say they don't want to see carnage on the track. Just like baseball or any other stick and ball sport, you never know when a grand slam is hit, or a 75 yard bomb for a touchdown, or a last second bucket is made to win a close game in basketball. I might say that I don't want to see wrecks in a race, its always the most exciting when what I'm watching is on the very edge and anything can happen. And what makes it even more exciting is when the driver that I dislike the most is involved and is a victim, regardless of who is at fault. Bristol Motor Speedway used to have those moments more than just about any other track on the circuit. But now the drivers can race each other without the threat of being taken out. Yes, its great to see a couple of cars go lap after lap, side by side, before one of them eventually takes the lead or gets in front of the other and while that is exciting, its nothing compared to seeing the guy in the back, trying lap after lap to get by what he believes to be the slower car. That is what made Bristol the hottest ticket in town.
