BRISTOL, Tenn. – The legends of NASCAR will race again at Bristol Motor Speedway next spring, but the rules of engagement have been revised.
Along with three former driving greats, BMS officials outlined the details for the 2010 legends race Thursday afternoon.
To be eligible for the event, a driver must not have competed in a Nationwide or Sprint Cup Series event in the past seven years. That would disqualify Sterling Marlin, who led every lap of the 35-lap Scotts Saturday Night Special late-model event last spring. Rusty Wallace, who finished second, would also be ineligible.
Fans and racers suggested several of the changes that have been implemented in the format.
“Race fans let us know in no uncertain teams that they wanted to see guys that they haven’t seen for a while,” said Wayne Estes, BMS vice president of events. “They didn’t want to see people who would be competing in the Food City 500.”
The other major switch involves the cars. Instead of allowing drivers, such as Wallace, to bring their own late models every driver will compete in a car provided by the USARacing Pro Cup Series.
“I’d like for all things to be a level playing field,” Ingram said. “My good friend L.D. and several more, I don’t think they were exactly right when the race started.”
L.D. Ottinger, who finished third behind Wallace and Marlin, attended Thursday’s press conference along with Charlie Glotzbach and Jack Ingram. Ottinger and Ingram were among the most successful drivers in the history of the old NASCAR Sportsman and Busch Series, while Glotzbach set the 500-lap race record for speed with his 1971 victory at BMS for car owner Junior Johnson.
Other drivers who have committed to participate in the 2010 legends race are Phil Parsons, Larry Pearson, Harry Gant and Cale Yarborough. Details of the event are still being formalized, but it will likely be run after the Scotts Turf Builder 300 Nationwide Series event.
“We’re all about trying to make the racing fans happy,” Estes said.
In response to the grim economy, several alterations have been made to the BMS schedule this season. For example, the spring Food City Race Night was moved to the speedway grounds and the inaugural NASCAR Whelen Modified Series event was held Wednesday.
According to track president Jeff Byrd, the addition of the legends race elicited the most response in terms of phone calls and e-mails.
“Undoubtedly it was the most popular thing that we did all year long and it was the thing that we heard most about,” Byrd said. “The fans dictate virtually everything we do, and we never forget that they are the ones that write our paychecks.”
And those fans were eager for another high-speed history lesson with the legends, Byrd said.
“I think we would get lynched if we didn’t do it again,” Byrd said.
The celebrity portion of the 35-lap race has been scrapped. Virginia Tech head football coach Frank Beamer and former National Football League star Mike Compton ran exhibition laps in the spring.
BMS officials also announced Thursday that a 200-lap USARacing event will be held May 15 at BMS. Abingdon’s Caleb Holman won the last BMS event in the revamped USARacing series two years ago.
agregory@bristolnews.com|(276) 645-2544
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement