2026 NASCAR Cup Series Food City 500

• 505-lap race extended from scheduled 500 laps due to overtime finish
• Entire race visible from nearly any seat in the bowl-shaped stadium
• Only remaining NASCAR track utilizing dual pit road lanes instead of one
• 36-degree banking produces lightning-fast lap times and side-by-side racing
• Center-hung Colossus video screen suspended above track offers crystal-clear replays
• Tripleheader weekend with Truck Series Friday and Xfinity Series Saturday

Best Way to Experience It

• Higher seats provide full view of entire track without missing a moment
• Bring soft-sided cooler no larger than 18x18x14 inches with snacks and drinks
• Turn 1 Tavern offers climate-controlled indoor/outdoor suite with deck overlooking the track

Good to Know

• Children 12 and under admitted for ten dollars to Cup Series races
• Shuttle buses operate from designated Highway 394 parking areas to speedway gates
• Ear protection recommended along with seat cushion and sunscreen
• More than 50 concessions locations throughout stadium concourses
• Bristol located in Appalachian foothills along Tennessee-Virginia border
• One soft-sided cooler and one bag measuring 18x18x14 inches permitted per guest

• Best fit if you enjoy short-track intensity — 0.533-mile high-banked concrete oval creates 3-G lateral forces, colosseum-style grandstands tower above track, cars pass within seconds, bumper-to-bumper racing drama visible from any seat.
• Best fit if you value historic NASCAR venues — 65-year spring race tradition since 1961, "World's Fastest Half-Mile" hosted first Car of Tomorrow, once Tennessee's largest sports arena surpassing Neyland Stadium capacity by 1997.
• Best fit if you like accessible family events — $60 adult entry-level tickets through Food City grocery stores, children 12-and-under $10 admission, regional community atmosphere drawing fans from Appalachian foothills and beyond.
• Not ideal if you prefer road course variety — high-speed oval format emphasizes drafting, bumping, sustained side-by-side racing rather than technical braking zones, elevation changes, left-right combinations found at road circuits.