Record NASCAR Race Weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway

16 April 1999
Record NASCAR Race Weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway
    CONCORD, N.C., April 15 -- Speedway Motorsports
officials today announced a record NASCAR race weekend at Bristol Motor
Speedway April 9 - 11.
    More than a quarter of a million people flocked to Bristol for the Food
City 500 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Moore's Snack Food 250 Busch Series and
First American Pole Day at the world fastest half mile.  It was the largest
attendance weekend in the speedway's 38-year history.
    ESPN's national cable rating for the Food City 500 reached a 4.9 with a 12
share, indicating that approximately 3.8 million households saw Rusty Wallace
win from the pole.  The Moore's Snack Food 250 earned a 1.7 national cable
rating on ESPN, up 12% from last year's 1.5 rating.  The outstanding rating
came against tough competition as The Masters golf tournament challenged the
races for viewers.
    New roads constructed by the State of Tennessee and 16 local law
enforcement agencies smoothed the record traffic created by the mass of race
attendees.  Approximately two and one-half hours after the checked flag
dropped, Bristol Police declared the traffic normal.
    "We are extremely pleased with the success of this event weekend.  Our
employees did a good job accommodating all of our guests," stated Bruton
Smith, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Speedway Motorsports.  "I'm
especially pleased with the law enforcement agencies that provided the great
traffic control."
    Speedway Motorsports will host the VisionAire 500 Indy Racing League race
at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 1.  SMI is a leading marketer and promoter of
motorsports entertainment in the United States.  SMI owns and operates the
following premiere facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway,
Lowe's Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Sears Point Raceway, and
Texas Motor Speedway.  SMI also provides event food, beverage, and souvenir
merchandising services through its Finish Line Events subsidiary, and
manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars through its
600 Racing subsidiary.