The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 40

'I" ty iijjwy 8jj.i njg" yi' iy 12C undy. April 13 1997 THE TENNESSEAN 'M SPORTvS: AUTO RACING est draw Teeeessee" race 118,000 fans to dwarf capacity at UT games II i i in minmimni pinuiii i I I IIIJIII I I lll lllll 1 lUJ Ml HJiiiiluiw iwuuiinuiipi.iiii mm 1 1 iiii ii.wwu. pi mmmi ii-iw i i i i I FOOD CITY 500 Noon CDT today: TV: ESPN. Radio: 99.7-FM, 1010-AM, 950-AM, 104.9-FM. Race lineup, 13C.

foot- state's fourth-largest city" on ball Saturdays. "Our fans always took a lot of i. Vl By LARRY WOODY Spuria Writer BRISTOL, Tenn. Move over, Big Orange; NASCAR's making a pass. As of this afternoon, a UT football crowd wont be the state's single-largest sports event Bristol Motor Speedway has expanded Its seating capacity to 118,000 and today's Food City 500 has been a sellout for months.

well have more than 118,000," said Speedway spokesman Wayne Estes, pointing out that 5,000 or more Infield participants are not included in the paid attendance total. And there's more coming. The track plans to have 12,000 additional seats in place for its Aug. 23 race. KU1 130,000 seats are already spoken or.

3 "We cant beat that," UT Athletic jMrector Doug Dickey said last veek, noting that Ney-3and Stadium has reached capacity 3n terms of expansion, i The significance of today's re- PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY When Bristol Motor Speedway opened in 1961, left, it had a capacity of about 22,000 and a football gridiron In the Infield that held local high school games. Over the years, it has been built up to a seating capacity of 118,000, which will Increase to 130,000 for Its Aug. 23 Winston Cup race. pride in that," Dickey said. But he harbors no resentment toward the racetrack for breaking UT's record.

"My congratulations and best wishes go to them," he said. "Racing is a growing sport and the folks at Bristol have done a great job in meeting the demands of their fans." Said Bruton Smith, who is masterminding Bristol Speedway's current expansion at a cost of $29 million: "We're not in competition with UT football or any other sport Our reason for expanding is simply to keep pace with ticket demands." But Smith admitted, drawing the biggest sports crowd in the state's history, "feels pretty good. Well set back-to-back state records." Last Sunday Smith's new track at Fort Worth drew more than 200,000 partner Warner Hodgen. The Nashville track landed in bankruptcy court and Bristol was bought by Larry Carrier. Bristol's boom began under Carrier, whose stated goal was to someday outdraw UT football.

He increased the track's seating to around 71,000 before selling it to Smith in February 1996. Smith expanded the facility to 86,000 seats by last August and kept going. He also built new access roads and leveled a small mountain Stadium and vice versa. I'm tickled to see both my favorite sports doing so well." Gary Baker, a Nashville attorney who from 1978-1983 owned Bristol Speedway, is not surprised at the track's mammoth growth. "We had less than 30,000 seats when I took over the track in 78," Baker said.

"Even back then I knew you could fill seats as fast as you could build them." Baker eventually lost ownership of Bristol and Nashville Raceway to to make room for additional parking. Along with more grandstand seats came 22 new skyboxes. Twenty-three more luxury suites will be ready for the August race. "I can remember back when fans would walk up on race day and buy a ticket at the window," Baker said. "Now they have to get on a waiting list a year to two in advance.

"I've always said that racing had the potential to be our state's No. 1 sport, and the crowds at Bristol are proving me right" fans, a record crowd in the sports-crazed state of Texas. Driver Sterling Marlin is a devout UT football fan who watches Vols home games on the sideline as the guest of Coach Phillip Fulmer. "It's amazing," Marlin said of today's anticipated crowd. "I never believed any single event would out-draw Tennessee football.

"There's plenty of room for both. There's also a lot of crossover, lots of fans whoU be here today will also be in the stands at Neyland fiord-breaking crowd is not lost on pickey, whose school for decades las prided itself on being "the Bristol Ttlotor Speedway Opened In 1961, Bristol Motor Speedway is the "World's Fastest Half-Mile Speedway." The 36-degree banked turns are the Larry Woody steepest In motorsports and provide some ot the Turn 2 most exciting competition in the NASCAR Winston Cup senes. Turn Fans stomp pedal on ticket sales Banking- Turn 4- I Bristol Motor I Speedway i -n-r FOOD CITY 500 TRACK LENGTH: .533 mile RACE LENGTH: 500 laps. 226.5 miles DEFENDING CHAMP: Jeff Gordon RACE RECORD: Charlie Gtotzbach, 101.074 mph. 1971 (266.5 miles) QUALIFYING RECORD: Mark Martin 125.093 mph, set Aug.

25, 1995 Nashville TENNESSEE AP Marlin finds Bristol a track to love, hate TWKOHoamKHi (nt our kstwtt traction Is our ionght waring AMI I fyl-fc PASSINOCR TIRE J. RAWAl IMTRIPID lint" AQUATtED INFINITRED Jill Utr JUfi 82 swma mm Tl 165R13 A I.tT -TfT 1 P17570R13 W7.49 P17570R13 SM.14 tL. Jl 17570R13 $43.69 (ML. P18570J13 $70.49 PI8570R14 $74.99 ftl 18570R13 AliO- P18570RI4 $74.24 y- "P19575R14 $80.14 CT-1 Vln 185708,1 J47 49 Alt $77.99 "P2O570RU $84.14 11 1 hL "H'f P19575(U $79-4' "0565815 $89.24 fi P19570RI4 $50.34 VrT W0570R15 $84.99 Y-Z-XU P21570RI5 24 fci P20570R14 $S124 (f-fjM "'570815 $90.74 fc ZStfc fei fc P1SVBOR13 DUAl A0UAOMNNU HIGH PtRFORMtNCE RADiAl (OR OUTSTANDING WET IS ACTION tAGU AQUATRf Ml M0HflKI JO0l KJ mjMRM $132.79 P21565RI5 $141.79 P19560S15 $139.99 P22560HI6 P2C5iIS $147.19 P20555R16 $164.79 0w Uwttt Rriu4 hp1 ladial T-Mrnuc low tikti tnurnm Radial DECATHLON IOWMK1 BRISTOL, Tenn. Forget surveys, polls and fancy marketing studies.

The surest way to determine the popularity of a sport is by how many fans are willing to walk up to the ticket counter and plunk down hard cash to watch IL According to that simple criteri-" on, stock car racing Is living up to its reputation as "America's hottest sport," the headline on a Sports Illustrated cover last summer. It literally is drawing more fans than it can handle. New Texas Motor Speedway opened with a crowd of more than 200,000 last Sunday. The Saturday Busch preliminary drew more than 100,000. Today's Food City 500 has been a sellout for months.

Bris- tol Speedway will expand to 130,000 seats by August, and public rela-. tions director Wayne Estes said that still won't meet ticket demands. Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened its bricks to NASCAR three years ago, and critics sniffed that stockers would never be accepted at the hallowed old Indy track. No? They shut off ticket orders at 1 350,000. Spokesman Bob Walters estimated 1 million tickets could have been sold.

To put the attendance figures Into perspective, consider this: Nashville's new NFL stadium will seat about NASCAR tracks that seat oniy that many are In danger of being phased out Understand, these are not cheap seats that are being gobbled up. Tickets for today's race range from $40 to $67. Daytona 500 tickets with a face value of $125 were scalped for $500. What accounts for racing's fan frenzy? There are several theories. "The economy is strong, resulting In a lot of disposable Income," said Mark Dyer, who Is spearheading the NASCAR Cafe national chain.

OK, so the middle class is rolling In dough. Why are so many electing to spend It op racing? "It's fast-paced, non-stop action, which appeals to today's audience," said Eddie Gossage, a Nashvillian who strawbossed the Texas track. "There are no timeouts, halftimes, pitching changes, huddles and so on In racing. "When Doyle Ford waves that starting flag there's something hap-penlng somewhere on the track ev ery second. "Also, a lot of the public is fed up with Dennis Rodman-type pro athletes baseball players spitting in umpires faces and Junk like thai "I know for a fact that back home in Dallas the public really got sick of the Cowboys and all their problem players.

"Race drivers are good guys who put on an exciting show. It's a pretty simple formula, really, and It appeals to more and more fans." If you don't believe It, try finding a ticket to a race anytime soon.1 Larry Woody It a Tmnessaan toom writer and columnlit. can ba reached at 259-6019. 29.99 Burton claims a Busch race BRISTOL, Tenn. Winning Is habit forming lor Jeff Burton.

Burton, who won his first Winston Cup race last Sunday In Texas, yesterday captured the Moore's Snacks 200 Busch Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, his first victory on that circuit. "It's pretty amazing how these things happen," said Burton, who starts today's feature race In 1 1th position. "You work so hard and go so long, then win two In a week." After rain delayed the start of the race at Bristol Motor Speedway for two hours, Burton led three times for 139 of the 250 laps, Including the final 38 circuits around the high-banked oval. The final four laps of the race were completed under caution after the car of pole-sitter Her-mle Sadler nicked the wall and caught fire. Mike McLaughlin was second, followed by Randy LaJole who regained the series points lead.

Former leader Todd Bod-Ine was taken out in a crash. The next stop for the series is Saturday at Nashville Speedway for the BellSouthOpryland 320. LARRY WOODY wn 155R13 I65RI3 1757013 1 85700 1 3 18570R14 IVHTWT umnia 33.99 36.99 38.99 40.99 42.99 on P18580R13 PI8575R14 PI9575R14 P20575RI4 P20575R15 (31.99 35.99 1 36.99 $38.99 oil, iubi mTiirwuzio I ALIGNMENT II IM895 7 1 WK 1 TkfkicJ SMOOTH RIDING All-Wf A1HIR RADIAl AIS0 CAPAIli Of HANDLING Off-HIGHWAT DUTIES WRANGLER RTS wn monma tin Monptia (moil vtKHiVt) I IB 3 quorn motor brand ol (brondt ry Moelcort Special eheiel nU Wlw By Larry woody Spurts Wntrr BRISTOL, Tenn. Sterling Marlin has a love-hate relationship with Bristol Speedway. "This is the only Winston Cup track in Tennessee, so I consider it my home track on the circuit," says the Columbia, driver, who starts today's Food City 500 on the outside of the front row.

"It's also the home track for our Morgan-McClure race team, which is located about 20 miles across the line in Virginia. "I like running here because Bristol is kinda like Nashville Raceway, where I got started. Each time we come to Bristol it's like a homecoming because we've got so many friends and fans here." Then there is the track's dark side. Marlin had the worst crash of his 21-year career here a few years ago. His car splattered into the first-turn wall and burst into flames.

Marlin bailed out but not before suffering serious burns that landed him in Vanderbilt's Burn Center for two weeks. It was also here that Marlin appeared to be on his way to his first victory when he was tagged by Dale Earnhardt in the fourth turn and sent spinning into the wall. Marlin has not forgotten that bitter experience. "This old track can bite you before you know It," he says. "It's tight and it's fast You put 40 cars out there running 125 mph or so and things happen in a hurry." Marlin is optimistic that he has turned his season around.

An eighth-place finish last Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway broke a four-race skid that saw him finish 20th, 19th, 23rd and 32nd, wiping out his championship hopes. "We've got a lot of races left and we can still have a great season," said Marlin, who ranks eighth in winnings this season with 315,924. "We Just need to go out and win one, and I like our chances here. We've got a front-row starting spot, and at Bristol that's really a big deal. Maybe we'll get lucky and stay out of trouble." Yesterday's second round of qualifying was rained out, meaning jrtv- iWJ75JI5 $107.99 311050115 $132.79 mi7VS $109.59 ini585MD $144.79 P2i575I6 $123.99 a.A.H.o.M,Muk 90 DATS SAMI AS CASHI apply wCa.to,W ft 2tettZ I i mm mmm im tmm aeJLea 1 rill MOUNTINO EREI ROTATION Ewy 6,000 mlai, wilh era purchoM rjmrted erorronliet.

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i i i 2 Wt-bl NASHVKLt IUCAIKJNS DOWNTOWN IOCATON COOt SWINGS AMfRICAN TIRE CO jt-m 7101 CROSSROAD NVO la 2214040 FRANKIIN MOODY TIRE A SVC. 1600 CCHUMBlA AVE 794 1 504 AMfRICAN TIRE CO SCVtER TIRE A SERVICE BfUEVUE 5204 CMAIlOnt RK 234 ao HtCKORY WVO 292 4481 MJ2550 AMiRtCAN TIRF CO at KITH AVE SOUTH IS 25Vilil ers who failed to secure a top 25 position Friday didn't get a chance to Improve their 26-47 times. That left Nashville's Bobby Hamilton stuck in the 34th slot and Franklin's Darrell Waltrtp in 42nd. Other top drivers stuck toward the back of the field include Dale Earnhardt (29th), and Ernie Irvan (38th). Waltrip, Bristol's wlnnlngest driver with 12 victories, is extremely disappointed with his car's performance going into today's race.

"Something's not right and we've got to work on It and find out what it Is," Waltrip said after Friday's dismal qualifying attempt Waltrip Is weathering a 137-race losing streak dating to 1992. i 4 SOUIM NASHVItlE IOCAIIONS F5FU ROAD TIRE NASHFJORO TIRE 5809 NOtENSVRlE R0 mr 72V MUlf IFEStORO 10 8312167 Li 34 1975 GOOOVEAR AUTO SERVICE GOODYEAR TIRE CO 405 HARDtt-JG RIACE mtrm 133726 LtJ McDUFFFE TIRE 4 SERVICE O60 1 THOMPSON LANE 2510253 GAIIATIN GAILATIN TIRE CENTFR rf ISO NORIH BROADWAY aVff 4520987 RIVFRGATE HFRMIIAGf IFBANON HFNfXRSONVIllE AMFRICAN TIRE CO. COIIJMWA AMERICAN TIRE CO AMERICAN TIRE CO HERMITAGE TIRE CENTFR AMERICAN TIRE CO 924 2 MKE RKWY 8593426 731 WtStMAINST 2A4 24O0 460 anob icson wr 889 1933 209 EAST HIGH ST 4441485 El 510 GARWNST 726 2 1 26 or 388 743) 2 MURFKtfcSBORO lOCATIONS AMfRICAN TIRE CO JENNINGS TIRE CO MADISON GOOOYfAR AUTO SfRVKE CO NASHVIUE BRAD RAGAN TIRE 200 FFSSIFRS LANE 2348767 ClrTTIFlID AUTO StHVIt! mr-m jackson wights plaza 803 nw moao st Li 893 9375 8900 1 00 SI I GXUAHN RD fami.