NASCAR's return to historic Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway takes major step
Fox News
Bristol Motor Speedway and Nashville Mayor John Cooper have reached an agreement in principle to renovate the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and bring NASCAR Cup Series racing back to the facility.
The updates are estimated at $75 million and would modernize the infrastructure, increase the capacity from 18,000 to 30,000 and add a sound-mitigating wall to reduce the noise in the surrounding suburban area. BMS would operate the the track under a 30-year lease with a limited amount of rental days allowed.
The track played host to the finale of the inaugural Superstar Racing Experience all-star stock car series in July, where a sell-out crowd saw guest driver Chase Elliott win and Tony Stewart secure the season title. It held Cup Series races from 1958 to 1984, with Geoff Bodine winning the final running of the Pepsi 420.
The agreement still has several hurdles to surpass before work on the track can commence, including approval from the sports authority and city council, which has several members who have voiced opposition to track's expansion or continuation.