Bristol Motor Speedway, Xtreme Sprint Cars, 2011-10-01

TruFuel Xtreme Sprint Series fast qualifier Brian Gerster driving a Mopar powered winged sprint car #50m with a time of 12.742 seconds and speed of 150.585 mph setting a 1/2 mile closed circuit speed record. This gives Bristol Motor Speedway the distinction of being the worlds fastest 1/2 mile oval race track.. Brian then sat on the pole for the 25-lap A-Main feature leading flag to flag. A gallent effort was waged by season point leader Troy DeCaire driving the # 6 machine who missed qualifying and had to earn a starting spot in the 22-car field. Starting at the back, a brilliant charge forward ran out of time and had to settle for 2nd in the race, but did take home the season championship.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Bristol Motor Speedway
• BMS
• TruFuel Xtreme Speed Classic
• Xtreme Sprint
• sprint cars
• winged
• winged sprint
• 1/2 mile speed record
• 1/2 mile
• high banked
• world's fastest
• Brian Gerster
• Troy DeCaire
• Mopar
• A-Main
• 25-lap
• 150 mph

[bo55diesel]

@LogNotching My wife and I live in SW Indiana and she was born and raised in Indy. I grew up around dirt tracks, but they did not race sprints there - Late models were the top class. I introduced my wife to short track dirt racing and she fell in love with it. Her favorite cars are also the WoW sprints. We see them each year at our home track, Tri-State Speedway, and also go to the King's Royal weekend at Eldora. Dirt racing is the best.

[LogNotching]

@bo55diesel We are on the same page about WoO, Sorry about the listing (WoW) error.

[bo55diesel]

I've always wondered about "true" track size. I don't know if they measure around the bottom groove, through the middle, or along the high side. I've always just taken the listed track info at face value - Bristol is 1/2 mile, Eldora is 1/2 mile, Talladega is 2.66 miles, etc... As you said, regardless of the exact number of feet and inches, both Dollansky and Gerster were hauling the mail. Thanks for taking the time to post the video for all of us to enjoy.

[LogNotching]

@bo55diesel Thanks. This was shot with a point&shoot Kodak Zi8 with a Sony external mic fitted with a wind sock. In other words, 'cheap stuff'! I love sprints, WoW my fav, after all, I'm form Indy! Living in TN is like being on the (sprint car) wagon! If you'll notice from the race, I couldn't keep my eyes off #6; I wouldn't have believed a competitor could advance that far forward from last (22nd) to 2nd in 25 laps at those speeds. A magical moment. I miss winged sprints & flatter dirt!

[bo55diesel]

In 2002 at Eldora Speedway (1/2 mile track), Craig Dollansky set the track record with a 12.707 lap.

[LogNotching]

@bo55diesel Certainly noteworthy. I remember doing some research a while back and a discussion regarding actual track measurements. The measuring was years ago and I don't recall either track mentioned but the cloud of doubt was cast when a few feet difference from an actual 1/2 mile was detected. I do recall reading that Bristol might be slightly larger than 1/2 which might 'wind things tighter/longer', but I don't know that for sure. So where is the 1/2 mile measurement taken? For sure, FAST!

[SDSpike]

Doesn't look crowded at all. How much were tickets? Looks cool out.

[jacopman]

@LogNotching Eldora is 4/10s at the most and the actual racing groove is even smaller............I don't even consider Bristol a legit half mile track from the inside.

Penn Motor Speedway in Pgh, PA is a half mile from 20 ft off the inside guard rail and you could practically fit Eldora inside of it................there is so little in the way of measurement standards that world records are claims more than fact.

[jon31072000]

Dirt is for racing. Asphalts how you get there....

[ProfessorIgor]

#26 is Jeff Bloom... my uncle raced him in 1975 in USAC sprint cars.... when they announced the name iwas like.. "oh yeah, he must have a son or grandson racing" the guy in front of me turns around and says, no, it's THAT Jeff Bloom, he's like 67yrs old !!

[edd55r]

That must be pretty scary running on that banking at that speed wheel to wheel.

[gjnick76]

@phakit Must See Racing Xtreme Sprint Series. They put on some good shows, I've seen them at the Dells Speedway in WI a few times. The drivers take the time to talk to the fans after the show as well, good group of guys.

[phakit]

what other tracks do they run? Would love to come out to see a show!

[phakit]

what sanctioning body is this?

[zuzulo56]

Perfect...just PERFECT!

They say that you lads, in Tenn., don't really know "cold"...but ya'll sure did look, well, at least chilly. How cool was it that day?

[jsmoov1166]

they should dump the dirt back on bristol again .. that was awesome