NASCAR is heading to Bristol Motor Speedway for the final race of the Round of 16 but it will represent the first weekend on the pavement track in 2023. This is due to NASCAR throwing dirt on the venue’s first date on Easter Night. It has been taking place since the 2021 season but could be coming to an end after Christopher Bell claimed the victory in April.
The sport has been rumored to move away from the Bristol Dirt event and while there have been other tracks, such as North Wilkesboro Speedway, mentioned as possible replacements for the first date, what about the concrete track itself? FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass jumped on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and talked about what could be coming for Bristol in 2024.
RETWEET to congratulate Chris Buescher on winning at Bristol! #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/0q33OFopFQ
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 18, 2022
“I certainly think the feeling is that both (Bristol Motor Speedway) races will be on concrete and (Indianapolis Motor Speedway) will be back on the oval (in 2024),” said Pockrass.
The dirt race has been exciting but Bristol is one of NASCAR’s most iconic tracks and some people don’t like the idea of taking away a pavement date. If the sport can fix the short-track package, this becomes an even bigger story moving forward. For now, the Cup Series will embark on its Bristol journey this weekend but another pavement date could be on the horizon.
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