Fans Got Their Money’s Worth At Sharpie 500

BRISTOL, Tenn. – For months we awaited its arrival. Like Christmas, it was over too soon.

Carl Edwards’ marathon victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sharpie 500 on Saturday night concluded five days of elite auto racing at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn.

The real action happened after the checkered flag, when Kyle Busch to a retaliatory shot at Edwards during his victory lap.

Busch, apparently upset with Edward’s pass for the lead, was then bumped by Edwards, sending the No. 18 car into a spin.

The history of the track – from Dale Earnhardt and Darrell Waltrip to Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards – brought more than 270,000 total racing fans to the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile” throughout the week.

On Saturday night alone, BMS experienced its 53rd straight sellout, welcoming raucous fans to the 30th anniversary of “Night Racin’ ” at Bristol. The evening cemented BMS’ reputation as NASCAR’s hottest ticket.

The racing festivities this week began on Wednesday, with fans being treated to a win in the Hooters Pro Cup Tour’s Aaron’s 150 by a hometown hero, Caleb Holman of Abingdon, Va.

In Wednesday’s nightcap, Busch, auto racing’s most reviled – and perhaps talented – driver was treated to both boos and applause from the crowd when he won the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series O’Reilly 200.

Friday night, Brad Keselowski, one of NASCAR’s rising stars, made his presence known at the expense of the Nationwide Series’ current points leader. Keselowski, in a car owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. took advantage of a Clint Bowyer gaffe to steal the Food City 250.

The weekend’s title bout, the Sharpie 500, commenced after a rousing 160,000 person, record-setting wave by BMS fans and a dazzling fireworks show.

But when the green flag dropped, the real explosions erupted. Through 350 laps, the race featured five cautions, two red flags, the flaming carcass of Kasey Kahne’s No. 9 Dodge and a back-and-forth battle for first-place between Kurt Busch and Carl Edwards.

But the competition at BMS is only half of the race week story. Along with full coverage of every BMS race, the Bristol Herald Courier brought readers into the world of NASCAR fans, from acrobatic canines at the Food City Family Race Night on State Street to Toyota’s rising dynasty on NASCAR’s Sprint Cup series.

And while NASCAR at BMS will now go into a deep seven-month slumber, this past week gave fans three electric nights to remember.

It’s Bristol, baby.   

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