NASCAR BGN: Spencer craves excitement in Food City 250 at Bristol
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
August 23, 2001CHARLOTTE, N.C - The Food City 250 this Friday night at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway is a favorite in the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series for those who crave exciting, wheel-banging action, and no one knows that better than "Mr. Excitement" himself, #1 Yellow Racing driver Jimmy Spencer.
"Why do the fans like Bristol so much? Because there's always action in each corner of the high-banked short track, whether the race cars are racing for the lead or 20th place," Spencer explained. "Things are always happening at Bristol. The constant race action on the track is the reason why it's always exciting."
Bristol's electric atmosphere becomes even more intense under the lights, Spencer said. He enjoys Bristol's night race so much, he hopes to see more night races at other Busch events. Besides Bristol, the only other night race on the Busch schedule are the two Richmond (Va.) dates.
"I enjoy racing under the lights at Bristol," Spencer said. "It's a better show for the fans. At night the paint schemes really pop out and the race cars look like they have more speed. Night racing is the best racing we do right now.
"I think NASCAR should add some more night races to the schedule. I think Dover (Del.) would be awesome under the lights. Atlanta would be another great track to run at night. There are a couple of places you could run under the lights and it would enhance the race."
Spencer is pleased not only with the race, but with the arrangements made by Bristol track officials. Unlike the spring race, where teams practiced, qualified and ran Happy Hour on the same day, the schedule lists qualifying on Thursday and happy hour on Friday.
"I don't like qualifying and happy hour on the same day. It's just too hard on the team," Spencer said. They set the race car up in qualifying trim and then have to break it down and switch it into race trim for a happy hour that starts almost immediately. That's the way it felt last week in Michigan (NAPAOnline.com 250). It's too much. I like having one day to focus on qualifying and one day to focus on race setup."
Spencer has raced in 17 Busch races at Bristol. He won the night race at the .533-mile, high-banked oval in 1997. It is one of his 10 career-Busch victories, two of which have come this year in the #1 Yellow Racing Chevrolet.
Text provided by Chris Hunt
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