The fan scene has changed at Bristol Motor Speedway

Consider the colorful Friday morning scene outside Bristol Motor Speedway.

Picture expensive recreational vehicles with elaborate dining areas and a range of Wi-Fi devices.

In simpler times at BMS, fans would park in the front yards of nearby homes, sleep in tents and swap endless stories while fueled by bacon, beer and southern rock.

Many clever locals made decent money by saving parking spots twice a year, supplying food and arranging souvenir stands.

Much like Gatlinburg, NASCAR followers trek to little Bristol from across the nation to experience hardcore racing in a Mayberry-type setting.

The fall race weekend at BMS remains vital to the economy and vitality of the entire region, but the experience has changed.

From the parking lots to the infield, the vibe is corporate, fresh and refined.

And to the dismay of traditionalists, the drama inside Bristol Motor Speedway has evolved from a county fair thrill ride to a test of technique.

The take-no-prisoners style of snarling short track ruffians has been replaced by a nuanced chess game orchestrated by armies of engineers and well-groomed and well-connected phenoms from mega teams.

Flash back to the 2024 Food 500 City 500 spring race.

Simply put, this event was one of the most unique in track history.

With every driver battling tire problems to some degree, the melodrama featured a NASCAR short track record 54 lead changes among 16 drivers.

While even veteran observers came away confused by all the attrition, this throwback to the days of Saturday night Late Model shootouts earned rave reviews.

Drivers gushed about the rootsy flavor of the action and television ratings saw a double-digit increase.

What did we learn from the entire episode?

In an era where major league auto racing is sanitized and corporate, something unexpected is good and something gritty is even better.

Let’s hope something wicked comes this way with the 2024 edition of the Night Race at Bristol.