Down and dirty times two? Speedway Motorsports exec ponders two dirt races at Bristol Motor Speedway

Two dirt races a year at Bristol Motor Speedway? It’s not out of the realm of possibility according to Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith.

Appearing on Dale Earnhardt, Jr’s podcast on Tuesday, Smith said the buzz generated around the Tri-Cities and NASCAR could motivate track officials to lay down dirt more than once—a chore that Smith said cost Bristol an estimated $2 million to complete.

The decision to have another Food City Dirt Race in 2022 came together over the weekend and Smith admitted when BMS General Manager Jerry Caldwell came to him initially with the dirt track concept he passed on the idea and when Bristol turned to dirt for the first time in 2000, the track had to help neighboring homeowners clean up the dust after complaints were made.

Smith said the dirt removal process from the speedway will take up to 6 weeks.

(IMAGE: Bristol Motor Speedway / Facebook / Speedway Motorsports)