Iconic NASCAR racetrack opens door for Hurricane Helene victims free of charge

NASCAR's fastest half-mile track Bristol Motor Speedway, situated in east Tennessee and the southeastern United States, is hit by the ongoing Hurricane Helene. The hurricane hit the southeastern region, including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, on Thursday after 11 p.m. ET, causing immense damage to lives and properties.

In this time of crisis, the race track has come forward and opened its gates for the survivors. The official X account of Bristol Motor Speedway shared a post with the location and the news with the evacuees. The track will be open from 6 p.m. on Friday, and the entries will be "free of charge" for the Hurricane Helene refugees. They can enter from gate 3 and gain access by scanning the QR code posted by BMS.

The post read:

"🚨EVACUEES WELCOME! 🚨 The Speedway’s Medallion campground is located off Hwy 394, just minutes off of Interstate 81."

NASCAR-related organizations have a rich history of helping the ones in need, and Bristol is doing the same for Hurricane Helene's refugees. This will help people have a roof over their heads after wind speed rises to 140 mph, destroying everything in its way.

The hurricane damaged almost every commercial and residential property in Georgia and Florida. The damages are expected to be around $3 to $5 billion. Moreover, till now, almost 44 people have been killed in the destruction.

NASCAR's fastest half-mile track also sustained damage from the hurricane

Bristol Motor Speedway's iconic 'It's Bristol Baby!' sign in the parking lot of the racetrack sustained hefty damage from the gusty winds. Now the sign only reads 'Istol Baby!'

The WBIR Channel 10 shared the images on X, which showcased the damaged text, and the rest lying on the back of the iconic sign.

If Hurricane Helene had hit the southeastern region a few days before, it would have also impacted the round of 12 race. Moreover, Kyle Larson has a history of making new records at Bristol.

Hendrick Motorsports driver recreated a classic NASCAR moment at the Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday, 21 September 2024. He led a total of 462 laps on the track and became the first HMS driver to lead more than 450 laps in a single race.

Larson crossed the finish line 7.008 seconds before his teammate Chase Elliott and set a new record for the largest margin of victory. He dominated both stages of the race, securing first place and earning ten points with each stage victory. The #5 driver earned a total of 60 points and is now at the top of the NASCAR playoff standings with a buffer of 39 points over the qualifying line.