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Since the track’s reconfiguration a few years ago, it seems that every time we get close to Bristol, the comments about how the track and the racing just aren’t the same come back.  When the track’s concrete was redone in 2007, the banking in the corners went from a straight 26 degrees to 24-30 degrees.  And in making the change, the racing at Bristol was forever altered.  The question is, when tracks are getting resurfaced or reconfigured, is variable banking the answer to all that ails them?

The biggest complaint about the new Bristol is that the action just isn’t the same as it was.  Before the new concrete, Bristol was known for it’s close racing and the need for “bump-and-run” passes.  There was one fast way around the half mile track, and that was right on the bottom.  And often, the only way to pass a guy was to move him.  That always led to a lot of wrecks and a lot of angry drivers.  The variable banking all but eliminated this type of racing, and to some, killed Bristol.

The most recent example of a track getting variably banked corners is Phoenix International Raceway.  As part of the track’s reconfiguration that includes new pavement, and a change in the backstretch dogleg, variable (or progressive) banking will be added in turns 1-2 and turn 4.  We wrote back in November about our thoughts on the changes, but I will reiterate that we aren’t fans of them.  I’m all for new pavement, but as to the other changes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Besides Phoenix and Bristol, the other two tracks on the NASCAR schedule that employ this style of banking are Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.  While you can probably make the argument that both of these tracks were helped by the reconfigurations, neither are known for particularly close racing.

As the Cup and Nationwide cars get ready to take to the “World’s Fastest Half Mile” this weekend, I’m curious what your thoughts are on variable banking.  Personally, I think in certain situations it can be good, but it should not be something every track adopts.  It can create more side by side racing, but not every track needs 43 cars running two by two every lap.  Bristol is a perfect example.

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In the midst of all the Chase drama this weekend was a story that went largely under the radar. The Arizona Republic reported on Saturday about possible changes coming to Phoenix International Raceway.

The article quoted PIR President Bryan Sperber as saying the track had put together a request for money to repave (the first time since 1993). In addition the article went on to talk about the possibility of the track adding progressive banking – something similar to what ISC did with Homestead several years ago – widening the track and opening up the turns. Any and all of the above changes could very obviously drastically alter the track.

Say what you will about the racing at Phoenix, I think anything other than repaving would be a mistake. The things that are great about Phoenix are all the things that are on that list for changing.

I like that everyone gets bottlenecked on the front stretch. And I like that turns one and two are different from each other and turns three and four are different from turns one and two. I like the weird shape and the flat surface. I like Monument Hill (not that this is going anywhere) and the dogleg. And I like the history of this great track. There’s really not much about Phoenix I don’t like.

I know ISC is considering making changes in the best interest of the track and by extension the sport – but it makes me a little queasy to think about them molesting this track to the point of unrecognizability.

And let’s be honest, ISC doesn’t exactly have the best track record of late for preserving historic race tracks. From the North Carolina Motor Speedway to Darlington Raceway they’ve managed to get rid of some great facilities, or diminish them. I just hope whatever they do decide to do doesn’t do that to this great track.

The end of the article quoted Tony Stewart and his feelings about the track.

They removed the Goodyear pedestrian bridge, and that was pretty historic. And what used to be a really cool, unique corner – the old Turn 2, where there used to be a gap between the end of that wall and where the wall to the dogleg along the backstretch started – that’s all been eliminated. I didn’t want to see those changes. And if more changes are coming, I’m pretty sure I don’t want to see them, either.

I couldn’t agree more.

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