Bristol Motor Speedway was built by Carl Moore, Larry Carrier and R.G. Pope on a former dairy farm. The three businessmen had attended a race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1960 and decided to build a smaller model of the Charlotte track in northeast Tennessee.

Construction of the Bristol Motor Speedway began in 1960 and was completed in 1961 with the first race being held July 30, 1961. The entire facility encompassed one hundred acres of land and the cost of the project, including the land, was approximately $600,000.

Tiny Lund was the first NASCAR driver to take to the new track in Bristol, turning practice laps on July 27, 1961. The second driver on the track that day was David Pearson, who later became known as the "Silver Fox."

Fred Lorenzen won the pole for the inaugural Volunteer 500 with a speed of 79.225 mph. Forty two cars took the green and Jack Smith was credited as the race winner but had to have a relief driver after 290 laps. Fellow Atlantaian Johnny Allen crossed the line ahead of the other eighteen finishers driving Smith's car and the two Georgia natives took home $3,225 for the victory. The total purse for that first race at Bristol $16,225.

Brenda Lee, a 17 year old country music star at the time, sang the national anthem for that first race on July 30, 1961 before 18,000 hardcore race fans.

There have been many races run at the Bristol Motor Speedway since then and over the years the track has become well known for competitive, side by side racing and it's ability to bring out the temper of even the best NASCAR drivers.

There is plenty of racing scheduled this week at the Bristol Motor Speedway including the truck race Wednesday night, the Nationwide race Friday and the Cup race Saturday night.

I am excited about my first Bristol experience and can't wait to get there.