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Bristol Motor Speedway is the second smallest track located in the second smallest city on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit, but speedway officials continue to conjure up big schemes.
During an elaborate press conference Wednesday morning, BMS executive vice president and general manager Jerry Caldwell unveiled the latest bold move.

Before next year’s two Sprint Cup races and the historic Sept. 10, 2016 Battle at Bristol football game between Virginia Tech and the University of Tennessee, the track’s existing pylon and screen frame will be removed for a 700-ton creation dubbed Colossus.

The engineering marvel, billed as the world’s largest outdoor center-hung, four-sided screen, comes complete with a 540,000 watt sound system.  The four high-resolution screens will measure approximately 30 feet tall by 63 feet wide.

“The lights, sound, TV and everything is just off the charts,” Caldwell said. “It’s an amazing addition and enhancement for the race fans, and it’s going to take us to a new level.”
That new level at the .533-mile concrete oval could feature a variety of large-scale events, ranging from concerts and more football games to other motorsports attractions.

BMS is already the home to a popular monster truck show spectacle, plus the 160,000-seat  track hosted a Global Rallycross event in 2013.
 
“The sky is the limit,” Caldwell said.

Instead of having one large pylon in the center of the infield, Colossus will feature a bridge-like suspension system that hangs over the center of the infield. The display will rise via four massive support towers ranging in height from 190-220 feet.

Construction is scheduled to begin in November.

According to Speedway Motorsports, Inc. chief executive officer Marcus Smith, the possibilities are limitless for little Bristol.

“It will be a sound system to beat all sound systems to go with the greatest TV in the world,” Smith said. “And what that really means for the city of Bristol and the state of Tennessee is that Bristol Motor Speedway is now home to one of the greatest sports entertainment venues in the entire world.”
 
“As (former BMS general manager) Jeff Byrd always said, we love to exceed expectations and we want to make a big impact on people. What this comes down to is having a place where where hundreds of thousands of people can come and make memories that last a lifetime.”

And Smith hinted at more big projects in the future

“Stay tuned. We love to outdo ourselves,” he said.