2026 SPECIAL SESSION I
ENROLLED
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2042
Commending Bristol Motor Speedway.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, April 23, 2026
WHEREAS, for 65 years, Bristol Motor Speedway has hosted thrilling National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing events and served as a center of cultural life in Southwest Virginia; and
WHEREAS, established in 1961, Bristol Motor Speedway was constructed on the site of a former dairy farm and featured a half-mile oval track with 22 degrees of banking and just over 18,000 seats; and
WHEREAS, Bristol Motor Speedway quickly became a favorite track for fans and drivers alike and was well known for its tight racing, high drama, and signature roar of the crowd echoing off the surrounding hills; and
WHEREAS, in 1969, Bristol Motor Speedway increased its banking to a steep 36 degrees, creating one of the fastest and most challenging tracks in motorsports; the facility has undergone numerous expansions and renovations over the years, ultimately transforming into a fully enclosed stadium-style venue with grandstands surrounding the track that can accommodate more than 150,000 spectators; and
WHEREAS, as one of the largest and loudest tracks in all of motorsports, Bristol Motor Speedway has earned the nickname “The Last Great Colosseum” and become a bucket-list destination for motorsports fans around the world; and
WHEREAS, Bristol Motor Speedway has been a fixture of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) since its inception and hosted countless NASCAR events in various racing formats; the track's September event, the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, has become a crown jewel of the NASCAR calendar; and