After Blowing Tony Stewart Off, NASCAR Scrubs Out Bristol Reigniting Hope for the 3-Time Champion

The NASCAR bandwagon makes a stop in Bristol for the second time this year. While the Cup Series playoff action is about to unfold at the half-mile short track, NASCAR nation is treated to a much-awaited decision. With Bristol Motor Speedway‘s final verdict coming on Friday, surrounded by the community’s applause, the authority’s decision might refuel NASCAR veteran Tony Stewart‘s ambitions.

The year was 2021 when the Cup Series cars raced on dirt for the very first time in 70 years. The stage was set for an epic short-track dirt race when the high-banked concrete surface of Bristol was covered with dirt. Although the decision to transform the surface into a makeshift dirt oval received mixed responses, the decision to have a short and exciting dirt race on the calendar did not falter until now.

While the Speedway has made it clear that it will revert back to the concrete pavement, this has now reignited 3-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart’s aspirations to host a dirt race in his own backyard.

The Bristol verdict rekindles hopes for dirt racing veteran Tony Stewart

Besides being an ardent motorsport enthusiast, Tony Stewart, as he is popularly known in the NASCAR circle, is also an avid dirt racing enthusiast. The man who conquered the Indycar and NASCAR scenes back in the day has a solid foundation for racing sprint cars and dirt late models.

And ever since retiring from NASCAR and transitioning into NHRA and drag racing, his love for racing in the dirt hasn’t gone away. While Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner Tony Stewart has four cars racing for him and Gene Haas in the Cup Series, his love for short track and dirt racing has stuck with him, prompting the veteran to host the Eldora Million.

While Bristol Motor Speedway’s president, Jerry Caldwell, broke the news to the community on Sirius XM NASCAR, Stewart’s ambitions of hosting a Cup Series race on his own track (Eldora Speedway) are now not an impossibility anymore. Despite getting his heart broken by NASCAR a few years earlier, Stewart’s ambition to host a Cup race at the 0.5-mile track might be a step closer to reality.

Moreover, the organization’s lack of communication and zeal towards having an Xfinity or Cup Series on Eldora eventually pushed Stewart to take drastic measures to drop the Truck Series races from his track.

WATCH THIS STORY: Tony Stewart’s old enemy Goodyear angers NASCAR nation with its poor tires at Kansas 

Speaking to NASCAR’s radio channel, the Motor Speedway’s president, Jerry Caldwell, explained his thoughts on reverting back to concrete. Though he agreed that the sport has embraced change over the years, he mentioned how sticking to traditions is also a major commitment they focus on.

Bristol Motor Speedway president explains his reasoning

Trending

Rick Hendrick’s Company Drops a Surprise Christmas Gift for Chase Elliott & Co

Hailie Deegan’s Struggles Worsen as Accident From Race Against NASCAR Legends Emerges

NASCAR Found Guilty by Law After Offending Michael Jordan’s Team in Antitrust Lawsuit

Bubba Wallace Faces Brutal Warning on His 23XI Racing Future From NASCAR Veteran

Denny Hamlin Insider Warns Fans as Rumors of NASCAR’s Wild ‘Monopoly’ Move Spread

After 2 years of hosting dirt races, Bristol will finally go back to its old ways of racing on concrete. The facility will see a return to the traditional concrete, paved short track in the spring of 2024. Though the specific dates and details of the spring events are yet to be confirmed by the officials, fans finally have a breather on this one, as many have expressed their distaste.

Covering a conventional concrete-paved track with dirt is not everyone’s idea of entertainment. While the short-track dirt racing package offers a lot of drama with cars banging against each other on the slippery surface, as the race goes on, drivers’ misery goes on as they struggle to keep their cars intact.

“People love our sport, they love tradition, but they also love trying some new things, and they love returning to some old ways, whether that’s North Wilkesboro, whether that’s dirt, maybe it’s the road course in Chicago, all those things are great things. You know, sometimes you do that for a little while, and then you change things up and go back to the way it was, and that’s what we’re doing here. So, thrilled to be able to do that,” said Caldwell.

Read more: “All We Had” – Despite RFK Struggles at Kansas, Brad Keselowski Brings Home Valuable Cheddar

Furthermore, he concluded his take, saying, “I think dirt was great. I love dirt, but I think it’s time for us to go back to the concrete in the spring and see what these drivers can do on concrete twice a year.” 

What are your thoughts? Do let us know your thoughts about the speedway’s decision in the comments below.