Notebook: More changes coming to Bristol?

Notebook: More changes coming to Bristol?

Sept. 2, 2012

By Reid Spencer

NASCAR Wire Service

HAMPTON, Ga. -- Bruton Smith, chairman and CEO of Speedway Motorsports Inc., has been weighing feedback from fans and is considering additional changes to the racing surface at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, one of SMI's marquee properties.

Smith, who joined fans in a town-hall-style meeting on Saturday, is considering "tweaking the surface a little bit after watching the replay several more times."

Disappointed with attendance at the March race at the .533-mile short track, Smith commissioned a seven-figure grinding project that shaved two degrees of banking from the top lane of the concrete track.

Far from eliminating the outside groove as a racing option, the top of the track became the fast way around as the third lane rubbered in. The result was an action-filled race that was well received by a broad consensus of competitors and fans alike.

Smith has yet to provide specifics about what additional changes he might consider.

THE GOLD STANDARD

Three gold medalists from the 2012 London Olympics -- DeeDee Trotter (track), Vincent Hancock (skeet shooting) and Jamie Lynn Gray (women's rifle) -- visited Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend.

The best part of the experience for Trotter was a 130-mph ride around the track with pace car driver Brett Bodine.

"I definitely have a need for speed, but that was unheard of," said Trotter, part of the United States' winning 4x400-meter relay team and a bronze medalist in the 400 meters. "I have a whole newfound respect for what it takes to be in NASCAR.

"I was literally screaming the whole ride, and Brett's driving with no hands. He's like, Oh, yeah, what we're doing now is . . .,' and I'm like, 'Brett, put your hands on the wheel, dude.' It was crazy. It was a huge adrenaline rush, and we weren't even going 200 miles an hour."

OFFICE DEPOT DEPARTING

Office Depot will leave its role as a primary sponsor of Tony Stewart's No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet at the end of the season, according to reports on ESPN.com and Foxsports.com.

Team spokesperson Mike Arning indicated Stewart-Haas and Office Depot were discussing other ways in which the company might maintain its involvement with the racing organization.

Office Depot is the primary sponsor in 22 of the defending Cup champion's races this season. Mobil 1, which is returning next year, is the primary sponsor for 16 races.

Arning told Foxsports.com that the decision "came pretty recently, so there's certainly a sense of urgency and a good bit of work that needs to be done between now and the start of next year."

Stewart-Haas also is trying to fill out sponsorship for Ryan Newman in order to re-sign the driver of the No. 39 Chevrolet. The U.S. Army has opted not to renew its partial primary sponsorship of Newman's car next year.

Stewart-Haas also will field a full-time Sprint Cup ride for Danica Patrick next season.