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Traffic Tips

TRAFFIC TIPS
AUGUST 2010 RACE WEEK AT BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY

All tips and directions courtesy of
David N. Metzger, Traffic Engineer, City of Bristol Tennessee

The city of Bristol, Tenn. along with other area agencies develops the overall race traffic management plan for Bristol Motor Speedway NASCAR races.

Bristol Motor Speedway operates two off-site free parking fields south of the speedway off of Highway 394; both are served by free shuttle bus service. The western of the two lots is called Speedway Parking, located on the southeastern corner of Highway 394 and White Top Road (the driveway to Speedway Parking the driveway connects to White Top Road). The shuttle buses pick up and drop off passengers on the shoulder of Highway 394. If you don’t park up next to Highway 394 on the lot, it is an uphill walk to the shuttle buses. The eastern of these lots is Whitetop Creek Park (despite the similar names, Whitetop Creek Park does not connect to White Top Road) at the southern end of Sportsway Drive southeast of BMS (accessible via the Copperhead Entrance intersection). The shuttle bus picks up and drops off passengers at the intersection of Sportsway Drive and Highway 394 (police officers are on site on race day to help pedestrians cross Highway 394), so it is a walk of about 2,000 feet from Whitetop Creek Park to the shuttle bus stop at the intersection.

After the Nationwide and Sprint Cup races, there is a Pedestrian Hold period of up to one hour. During the Pedestrian Hold period, all motorists on the BMS campus and some roadways adjacent to BMS (including Highway 11E and Highway 394) are stopped to allow the huge flows of pedestrians to cross these roadways in greater safety. If you park at either Speedway Parking or Whitetop Creek Park, you will consume part, if not all, of the Pedestrian Hold period getting back to your vehicle.

Please note that the route to BMS is not always that same as the route away from BMS.

Traffic tips for the following are listed below. Scroll to find your desired origin/destination.

ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA / ERWIN, TENNESSEE
BLUEFIELD, VIRGINIA / WEST VIRGINIA
BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA
ELIZABETHTON, TENNESSEE
GATLINBURG / PIGEON FORGE / SEVIERVILLE, TENNESSEE
JOHNSON CITY / JONESBOROUGH, TENNESSEE
KINGSPORT / ROGERSVILLE, TENNESSEE
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE
LEXINGTON / MIDDLESBORO, KENTUCKY
NORTON, VIRGINIA
ROANOKE / BLACKSBURG, VIRGINIA
WYTHEVILLE, VIRGINIA

ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA / ERWIN, TENNESSEE

TO BMS:

From Asheville or Erwin, go west on Interstate 26 through Johnson City to Exit 19 at Highway 381 (State of Franklin Road). At the bottom of the ramp, turn right and stay in the left lane. Go past the interchange with Highway 36 and take the left ramp to northbound US 11E/19W in northern Johnson City (this is where you enter on Diagram D2). Go north on US 11E/19W across the first Boone Lake bridge (DeVault Bridge) and through the Piney Flats community into Bluff City. Go through the traffic signal at US 19E and continue north on US 11E/19 across the second Boone Lake bridge (Charlie Worley Bridge) into Bristol. After crossing the Charlie Worley Bridge, get in the right lane. Get off at the Highway 394 interchange (a right-side exit); at the bottom of the ramp, turn right onto eastbound Highway 394 and stay in the right lane. Go through the traffic signal at Tennessee Highway 390, staying in the right lane. To go to Speedway Parking, take a right turn at the next intersection (White Top Road); Speedway Parking is the first driveway on the left. To go to Whitetop Creek Park, continue straight on Highway 394 past the Dragway Entrance and take the next right onto Sportsway Drive at the Copperhead Entrance. Go south on Sportsway Drive about 2,000 feet and Whitetop Creek Park is at the end of the road.

TO ASHEVILLE / ERWIN:

You will not be going back to Erwin and Asheville the same way that you came in. Southbound US 11E is among the heaviest-traveled of all the post-race routes. The route below through the Chinquapin community is longer, but takes much less time because the volumes are less and the speeds are much higher.

From Speedway Parking, exit the parking lot and turn right onto White Top Road. At the intersection with Highway 394, turn right onto eastbound Highway 394. Go past the Copperhead Entrance and get in the right lane. From Whitetop Creek Park, go back north on Sportsway Drive and turn right onto eastbound Highway 394 and get in the right lane. At the next intersection (the Vance Tank Road interchange), turn right onto southbound Sweet Knobs Trail (a concrete ramp) to Vance Tank Road. At the bottom of the ramp, turn right onto westbound Vance Tank Road. Follow the route as listed below (which is equipped with signs reading TO JOHNSON CITY):

Go west on Vance Tank Road to the next left at Broyles Lane; turn left onto Broyles Lane. As soon as you get on Broyles Lane, you will cross the mainline railroad tracks of the Norfolk Southern Railway. Trains pass this point pretty fast, so even if you are stopped by a train, you will only wait a few minutes.
Go south on Broyles Lane to the end of the road; turn right at the STOP sign onto southbound Weaver Pike (State Route 358). As soon as you turn onto Weaver Pike, there is a fork in the road (Weaver Pike is the left fork and Pleasant Grove Road is the right fork). Take the left fork to continue south on Weaver Pike.
Go past Sullivan East High School and over the bridge at the South Fork of the Holston River. At the end of the road, turn right onto State Route 44 (Rockhold Road).
Go along Rockhold Road through a large curve to the left. You will be approaching another fork in the road, with State Route 44 (Dry Branch Road) as the right fork and Chinquapin Grove Road (a local road) as the left fork. Take the left fork onto southbound Chinquapin Grove Road.
In a few miles, the road name will change automatically to Bunker Hill Road. Continue on Bunker Hill Road to the STOP sign at US 19E (a four-lane roadway). Turn left onto southbound US 19E. This is where you will no longer appear on Diagram D12.
Continue on southbound US 19E into the City of Elizabethton. Stay in the right lane. Go over a concrete bridge over the Watauga River; at the traffic signal just beyond the Watauga River bridge (US 321), turn right onto southbound US 321.
Stay on southbound US 321 through the City of Elizabethton and into southern Johnson City. You will intersect Interstate 26 at Exit 24. Take Interstate 26 east to Erwin and thence to Asheville.

BLUEFIELD, VIRGINIA - WEST VIRGINIA

TO BMS:

From Bluefield, go south on Interstate 77 to Wytheville and turn onto southbound Interstate 81. Follow southbound Interstate 81 to Abingdon. At Virginia Exit 17, get off the interstate; at the bottom of the ramp, turn left onto southbound Virginia State Route 75 towards South Holston Dam (you will not go to the dam, but you will pass close by on your way to BMS).

Going south on State Route 75, you will cross into Tennessee and the road name will change automatically to Tennessee State Route 44. At the intersection with US 421 on the east side of Holston Mountain, turn right onto northbound US 421 towards Bristol.
At the first intersection with Tennessee State Route 435, go straight.
At the next intersection with Tennessee State Route 44, go straight.
After passing the State Route 44 intersection, you will go up a hill with a green sign at the top that reads TO BMS LEFT LANE; get in the left lane.
At the traffic signal about a mile beyond, turn left onto Highway 394.
Go past the Weaver Pike (State Route 358) interchange. Go past the Vance Tank Road interchange.
Just past the Vance Tank Road interchange, get in the left lane. To go to Whitetop Creek Park, turn left at the next intersection, which is the Copperhead Entrance, onto southbound Sportsway Drive. Go south on Sportsway Drive about 2,000 feet and Whitetop Creek Park is at the end of the road. To go to Speedway Parking, go past the Copperhead Entrance, past the Dragway Entrance, and turn left onto White Top Road. Speedway Parking is the first driveway to the left.

TO BLUEFIELD:

There are two routes to Bluefield, one of which follows Interstates 81 and 77 back the way you came; the second route takes US 19 from Bristol back to Bluefield without getting on the Interstate system.

Via Interstates 81 and 77

The reverse of the route that you took coming to BMS. From Speedway Parking, exit the parking lot and turn right onto White Top Road. At the intersection with Highway 394, turn right onto eastbound Highway 394. Go past the Copperhead Entrance and over the bridge at the Vance Tank Road interchange. From Whitetop Creek Park, go back north on Sportsway Drive and turn right onto eastbound Highway 394 and go over the bridge at the Vance Tank Road interchange. The next interchange is at Tennessee State Route 358 (Weaver Pike); once you go over that bridge, get in the right lane. At the traffic signal with US 421, turn right onto southbound US 421 (a left turn will also get you to Interstate 81, but you will also have to go past the heavier-traveled Exit 7 area; a right turn avoids the Exit 7 area). On southbound US 421, go past the first Tennessee State Route 44 intersection (that leads to Bluff City) and go to the point where the four-lane roadway reduces to two lanes. Just past that point, Tennessee State Route 44 intersects again, with a left turn towards Abingdon, Virginia; take that left turn. Tennessee State Route 44 will automatically turn into Virginia State Route 75 upon crossing the state line. Get onto northbound Interstate 81 at Virginia Exit 17. Proceed to Wytheville and take Interstate 77 north to Bluefield.

Via US 19

If you do not want to go back along the Interstate system to Bluefield, take the following route, the first part of which is shown on Diagram D12. From Speedway Parking, exit the parking lot and turn right onto White Top Road. At the intersection with Highway 394, turn right onto eastbound Highway 394. Go past the Copperhead Entrance and over the bridge at the Vance Tank Road interchange. From Whitetop Creek Park, go back north on Sportsway Drive and turn right onto eastbound Highway 394 and go over the bridge at the Vance Tank Road interchange. The next interchange is at Tennessee State Route 358 (Weaver Pike); once you go over that bridge, get in the left lane. At the traffic signal with US 421, turn left to get to US 19 by getting onto northbound US 421. Follow the signs to Interstate 81 along the following routes (there are TO 81 signs along the way):

Continue north on US 421 (the street name will change to Virginia Avenue)
Follow northbound US 421 as it turns left to Maple Street
Follow northbound US 421 as it turns right to Pennsylvania Avenue
Go through the traffic signal at Ash Street
At the traffic signal at Anderson Street, the road curves so that a through movement goes onto the Anderson Street bridge over the railroad (still US 421) and a right turn goes onto northbound Pennsylvania Avenue. Go onto the Anderson Street bridge and immediately get in the right lane
At the end of the bridge, turn right onto northbound Martin Luther King, Jr Boulevard and get in the left lane
Go through the Shelby Street and State Street traffic signals; you are now in Virginia
One block beyond State Street, US 421 turns left onto Cumberland Street. At this point, do not follow US 421 anymore and continue straight on northbound Martin Luther King, Jr Boulevard towards Interstate 81
Go through the West Mary Street traffic signal and get in the right lane
At the next traffic signal (Moore Street/Oakview Avenue), turn right; in one block, you will intersect Lee Highway (US 11/19). Continue straight on northbound US 11/19 (Lee Highway).

Go through the East Valley Drive/West Valley Drive traffic signal and past the Exit 5 interchange with Interstate 81. You will go through the Exit 7 area of Bristol, Virginia (but you will not intersect Interstate 81 again; you are going roughly parallel to I-81 along US 11/19). Stay on northbound US 11/19, passing out of the City of Bristol and into the town of Abingdon. As you enter Abingdon, US 11/19 will become a four-lane roadway; stay in the left lane. Just past the overhead railroad bridge, turn left at the traffic signal to follow US 19 back to Bluefield via Lebanon and Tazewell. This is a four-lane route all the way to Bluefield, but it is not an interstate highway.

BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA

TO BMS:

From Boone, it appears on a road atlas that US 421, which connects Bristol and Boone, is the shortest way to go. Don’t go that way. US 421 between Bristol and Boone has to cross over Holston Mountain and Iron Mountain, and vehicles over 35 feet long have a very difficult time with the switchbacks on the mountains. These are steep mountain grades to be avoided, especially at night to unfamiliar motorists. Instead, to get to BMS from Boone, go north on US 421 into the city of Mountain City, Tennessee. In Mountain City, take Tennessee State Route 91 to the town of Damascus, Virginia. By going this way, you are going around Holston and Iron Mountains and staying on more-or-less level ground. In Damascus, get on westbound US 58 and go towards Abingdon, Virginia. On the east side of Abingdon, you will intersect Interstate 81 at Virginia Exit 19; get on southbound Interstate 81. Stay in the right lane. At the next exit (Virginia Exit 17), get off the interstate; at the bottom of the ramp, turn left onto southbound Virginia State Route 75 towards South Holston Dam (you will not go to the dam, but you will pass close by on your way to BMS).

Going south on State Route 75, you will cross into Tennessee and the road name will change automatically to Tennessee State Route 44. At the intersection with US 421 on the east side of Holston Mountain, turn right onto northbound US 421 towards Bristol.
At the first intersection with Tennessee State Route 435, go straight.
At the next intersection with Tennessee State Route 44, go straight.
After passing the State Route 44 intersection, you will go up a hill with a green sign at the top that reads TO BMS LEFT LANE; get in the left lane.
At the traffic signal about a mile beyond, turn left onto Highway 394.
Go past the Weaver Pike (State Route 358) interchange. Go past the Vance Tank Road interchange.
Just past the Vance Tank Road interchange, get in the left lane. To go to Whitetop Creek Park, turn left at the next intersection, which is the Copperhead Entrance, onto southbound Sportsway Drive. Go south on Sportsway Drive about 2,000 feet and Whitetop Creek Park is at the end of the road. To go to Speedway Parking, go past the Copperhead Entrance, past the Dragway Entrance, and turn left onto White Top Road. Speedway Parking is the first driveway to the left.

TO BOONE:

The reverse of the route that you took coming to BMS. From Speedway Parking, exit the parking lot and turn right onto White Top Road. At the intersection with Highway 394, turn right onto eastbound Highway 394. Go past the Copperhead Entrance and over the bridge at the Vance Tank Road interchange. From Whitetop Creek Park, go back north on Sportsway Drive and turn right onto eastbound Highway 394 and go over the bridge at the Vance Tank Road interchange. The next interchange is at Tennessee State Route 358 (Weaver Pike); once you go over that bridge, get in the right lane. At the traffic signal with US 421, turn right onto southbound US 421 (a left turn will also get you to Interstate 81, but you will also have to go past the heavier-traveled Exit 7 area; a right turn avoids the Exit 7 area). On southbound US 421, go past the first Tennessee State Route 44 intersection (that leads to Bluff City) and go to the point where the four-lane roadway reduces to two lanes. Just past that point, Tennessee State Route 44 intersects again, with a left turn towards Abingdon, Virginia; take that left turn. Tennessee State Route 44 will automatically turn into Virginia State Route 75 upon crossing the state line. Get onto northbound Interstate 81 at Virginia Exit 17; stay in the right lane and get off at the next exit (Virginia Exit 19) onto eastbound US 58. Follow US 58 eastbound through Damascus; on the east side of Damascus, take Tennessee State Route 91 to Mountain City. In Mountain City, intersect again with US 421; take southbound US 421 to Boone.

ELIZABETHTON, TENNESSEE

TO BMS:

From Elizabethton, go north on US 19E into Bluff City. As you enter the town of Bluff City, get in the right lane. At the intersection with US 11E, take the right ramp to northbound US 11E. You will cross the Boone Lake bridge (Charlie Worley Bridge) into Bristol. After crossing the Charlie Worley Bridge, get in the right lane. Get off at the Highway 394 interchange (a right-side exit); at the bottom of the ramp, turn right onto eastbound Highway 394 and stay in the right lane. Go through the traffic signal at Tennessee Highway 390, staying in the right lane. To go to Speedway Parking, take a right turn at the next intersection (White Top Road); Speedway Parking is the first driveway on the left. To go to Whitetop Creek Park, continue straight on Highway 394 past the Dragway Entrance and take the next right onto Sportsway Drive at the Copperhead Entrance. Go south on Sportsway Drive about 2,000 feet and Whitetop Creek Park is at the end of the road.

TO ELIZABETHTON:

You will not be going back to Elizabethton the same way that you came in. Southbound US 11E is among the heaviest-traveled of all the post-race routes. The route below through the Chinquapin community is longer, but takes much less time because the volumes are less and the speeds are much higher.

Go west on Vance Tank Road to the next left at Broyles Lane; turn left onto Broyles Lane. As soon as you get on Broyles Lane, you will cross the mainline railroad tracks of the Norfolk Southern Railway. Trains pass this point pretty fast, so even if you are stopped by a train, you will only wait a few minutes.
Go south on Broyles Lane to the end of the road; turn right at the STOP sign onto southbound Weaver Pike (State Route 358). As soon as you turn onto Weaver Pike, there is a fork in the road (Weaver Pike is the left fork and Pleasant Grove Road is the right fork). Take the left fork to continue south on Weaver Pike.
Go past Sullivan East High School and over the bridge at the South Fork of the Holston River. At the end of the road, turn right onto State Route 44 (Rockhold Road).
Go along Rockhold Road through a large curve to the left. You will be approaching another fork in the road, with State Route 44 (Dry Branch Road) as the right fork and Chinquapin Grove Road (a local road) as the left fork. Take the left fork onto southbound Chinquapin Grove Road.
In a few miles, the road name will change automatically to Bunker Hill Road. Continue on Bunker Hill Road to the STOP sign at US 19E (a four-lane roadway). Turn left onto southbound US 19E.
Continue on southbound US 19E into the City of Elizabethton.

GATLINBURG / PIGEON FORGE / SEVIERVILLE, TENNESSEE

TO BMS:

From Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, or Sevierville, go east on Interstate 40 and take Exit 421 (a left-side exit) to northbound Interstate 81. Get off at Tennessee Exit 69 (Tennessee Highway 394), which is the second Blountville exit. At the bottom of the ramp, turn right onto eastbound Highway 394. Go through the community of Blountville, and under the US 11E bridges. Get in the right lane. Go through the traffic signal at Tennessee Highway 390, staying in the right lane. To go to Speedway Parking, take a right turn at the next intersection (White Top Road); Speedway Parking is the first driveway on the left. To go to Whitetop Creek Park, continue straight on Highway 394 past the Dragway Entrance and take the next right onto Sportsway Drive at the Copperhead Entrance. Go south on Sportsway Drive about 2,000 feet and Whitetop Creek Park is at the end of the road.

TO GATLINBURG / PIGEON FORGE / SEVIERVILLE:

You will not be going back to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Sevierville the same way that you came in. Westbound Highway 394 is the heaviest-traveled of all the post-race routes. The route below is longer, but takes much less time because the volumes are less and the speeds are much higher.

From Speedway Parking, exit the parking lot and turn right onto White Top Road. At the intersection with Highway 394, turn right onto eastbound Highway 394. Go past the Copperhead Entrance and over the bridge at the Vance Tank Road interchange. From Whitetop Creek Park, go back north on Sportsway Drive and turn right onto eastbound Highway 394 and go over the bridge at the Vance Tank Road interchange. The next interchange is at Tennessee State Route 358 (Weaver Pike); once you go over that bridge, get in the left lane. At the traffic signal with US 421, turn left to get to Interstate 81 (a right turn will get you there as well, but adds about 25 miles to the trip) by getting onto northbound US 421. Follow the signs to Interstate 81 along the following routes (there are TO 81 signs along the way):

Continue north on US 421 (the street name will change to Virginia Avenue)
Follow northbound US 421 as it turns left to Maple Street
Follow northbound US 421 as it turns right to Pennsylvania Avenue
Go through the traffic signal at Ash Street
At the traffic signal at Anderson Street, the road curves so that a through movement goes onto the Anderson Street bridge over the railroad (still US 421) and a right turn goes onto northbound Pennsylvania Avenue. Go onto the Anderson Street bridge and immediately get in the right lane
At the end of the bridge, turn right onto northbound Martin Luther King, Jr Boulevard and get in the left lane
Go through the Shelby Street and State Street traffic signals; you are now in Virginia
One block beyond State Street, US 421 turns left onto Cumberland Street. At this point, do not follow US 421 anymore and continue straight on northbound Martin Luther King, Jr Boulevard towards Interstate 81
Go through the West Mary Street traffic signal and get in the right lane
At the next traffic signal (Moore Street/Oakview Avenue), turn right; in one block, you will intersect Lee Highway (US 11/19). Continue straight on northbound US 11/19 (Lee Highway)
Go through the East Valley Drive/West Valley Drive traffic signal
You are now approaching the Virginia Exit 5 interchange with Interstate 81. When the roadway turns into a five-lane section, get in the left lane. Go under the Interstate 81 bridges and turn left onto southbound Interstate 81.

In about five miles, you will re-enter Tennessee at Mile Marker 75. As you approach Exit 69, you may be advised to get in the left lane, depending on what time you get there. Traffic coming onto southbound Interstate 81 at Exit 69 is given their own lane, so all southbound traffic already on the Interstate must get in the left lane. Past Exit 69, you can travel in either lane as you typically would.

JOHNSON CITY / JONESBOROUGH, TENNESSEE

TO BMS:

From Jonesborough, go north on US 11E into Johnson City and turn left onto Highway 381 (State of Franklin Road). Stay on northbound State of Franklin Road; after you pass Interstate 26, get in the left lane. Just beyond Interstate 26, go past the interchange with Highway 36 and take the left ramp to northbound US 11E/19W in northern Johnson City (this is where you enter on Diagram D2). Go north on US 11E/19W across the first Boone Lake bridge (DeVault Bridge) and through the Piney Flats community into Bluff City. Go through the traffic signal at US 19E and continue north on US 11E/19 across the second Boone Lake bridge (Charlie Worley Bridge) into Bristol. After crossing the Charlie Worley Bridge, get in the right lane. Get off at the Highway 394 interchange (a right-side exit); at the bottom of the ramp, turn right onto eastbound Highway 394 and stay in the right lane. Go through the traffic signal at Tennessee Highway 390, staying in the right lane. To go to Speedway Parking, take a right turn at the next intersection (White Top Road); Speedway Parking is the first driveway on the left. To go to Whitetop Creek Park, continue straight on Highway 394 past the Dragway Entrance and take the next right onto Sportsway Drive at the Copperhead Entrance. Go south on Sportsway Drive about 2,000 feet and Whitetop Creek Park is at the end of the road.

TO JOHNSON CITY / JONESBOROUGH:

You will not be going back to Johnson City the same way that you came in. Southbound US 11E is among the heaviest-traveled of all the post-race routes. The route below through the Chinquapin community is longer, but takes much less time because the volumes are less and the speeds are much higher.

Go west on Vance Tank Road to the next left at Broyles Lane; turn left onto Broyles Lane. As soon as you get on Broyles Lane, you will cross the mainline railroad tracks of the Norfolk Southern Railway. Trains pass this point pretty fast, so even if you are stopped by a train, you will only wait a few minutes.
Go south on Broyles Lane to the end of the road; turn right at the STOP sign onto southbound Weaver Pike (State Route 358). As soon as you turn onto Weaver Pike, there is a fork in the road (Weaver Pike is the left fork and Pleasant Grove Road is the right fork). Take the left fork to continue south on Weaver Pike.
Go past Sullivan East High School and over the bridge at the South Fork of the Holston River. At the end of the road, turn right onto State Route 44 (Rockhold Road).
Go along Rockhold Road through a large curve to the left. You will be approaching another fork in the road, with State Route 44 (Dry Branch Road) as the right fork and Chinquapin Grove Road (a local road) as the left fork. Take the left fork onto southbound Chinquapin Grove Road.
In a few miles, the road name will change automatically to Bunker Hill Road. Continue on Bunker Hill Road to the STOP sign at US 19E (a four-lane roadway). Turn left onto southbound US 19E.
Continue on southbound US 19E into the City of Elizabethton. Stay in the right lane. Go over a concrete bridge over the Watauga River; at the traffic signal just beyond the Watauga River bridge (US 321), turn right onto southbound US 321.
Stay on southbound US 321 through the City of Elizabethton and into southern Johnson City. You will intersect Interstate 26 at Exit 24. To get to Jonesborough, continue past Interstate 26 on US 321 and it will take you though Johnson City to Jonesborough.

KINGSPORT / ROGERSVILLE, TENNESSEE

TO BMS:

From Rogersville or Kingsport, go north on US 11W to a point east of Kingsport. Once you go past the shopping center with Target in it, get in the right lane on northbound US 11W. In a few miles, you will come to the intersection with Highway 394 (a new traffic signal was installed here a few months ago). Take a right turn onto eastbound Highway 394. Go under Interstate 81, go through the community of Blountville, and under the US 11E bridges. Get in the right lane. Go through the traffic signal at Tennessee Highway 390, staying in the right lane. To go to Speedway Parking, take a right turn at the next intersection (White Top Road); Speedway Parking is the first driveway on the left. To go to Whitetop Creek Park, continue straight on Highway 394 past the Dragway Entrance and take the next right onto Sportsway Drive at the Copperhead Entrance. Go south on Sportsway Drive about 2,000 feet and Whitetop Creek Park is at the end of the road.

TO KINGSPORT / ROGERSVILLE:

You will not be going back to US 11W the same way that you came in. Westbound Highway 394 is the heaviest-traveled of all the post-race routes. The route below is longer, but takes much less time because the volumes are less and the speeds are much higher.

From Speedway Parking, exit the parking lot and turn right onto White Top Road. At the intersection with Highway 394, turn right onto eastbound Highway 394. Go past the Copperhead Entrance and over the bridge at the Vance Tank Road interchange. From Whitetop Creek Park, go back north on Sportsway Drive and turn right onto eastbound Highway 394 and go over the bridge at the Vance Tank Road interchange. The next interchange is at Tennessee State Route 358 (Weaver Pike); once you go over that bridge, get in the left lane. At the traffic signal with US 421, turn left to get to Interstate 81 (a right turn will get you there as well, but adds about 25 miles to the trip) by getting onto northbound US 421. Follow the signs to Interstate 81 along the following routes (there are TO 81 signs along the way):

Continue north on US 421 (the street name will change to Virginia Avenue)
Follow northbound US 421 as it turns left to Maple Street
Follow northbound US 421 as it turns right to Pennsylvania Avenue
Go through the traffic signal at Ash Street
At the traffic signal at Anderson Street, the road curves so that a through movement goes onto the Anderson Street bridge over the railroad (still US 421) and a right turn goes onto northbound Pennsylvania Avenue. Go onto the Anderson Street bridge and immediately get in the right lane
At the end of the bridge, turn right onto northbound Martin Luther King, Jr Boulevard and get in the left lane
Go through the Shelby Street and State Street traffic signals; you are now in Virginia
One block beyond State Street, US 421 turns left onto Cumberland Street. At this point, do not follow US 421 anymore and continue straight on northbound Martin Luther King, Jr Boulevard towards Interstate 81
Go through the West Mary Street traffic signal and get in the right lane
At the next traffic signal (Moore Street/Oakview Avenue), turn right; in one block, you will intersect Lee Highway (US 11/19). Continue straight on northbound US 11/19 (Lee Highway)
Go through the East Valley Drive/West Valley Drive traffic signal
You are now approaching the Virginia Exit 5 interchange with Interstate 81. When the roadway turns into a five-lane section, get in the left lane. Go under the Interstate 81 bridges and turn left onto southbound Interstate 81.

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE

TO BMS:

From Knoxville, go east on Interstate 40 and take Exit 421 (a left-side exit) to northbound Interstate 81. Get off at Tennessee Exit 69 (Tennessee Highway 394), which is the second Blountville exit. At the bottom of the ramp, turn right onto eastbound Highway 394. Go through the community of Blountville, and under the US 11E bridges. Get in the right lane. Go through the traffic signal at Tennessee Highway 390, staying in the right lane. To go to Speedway Parking, take a right turn at the next intersection (White Top Road); Speedway Parking is the first driveway on the left. To go to Whitetop Creek Park, continue straight on Highway 394 past the Dragway Entrance and take the next right onto Sportsway Drive at the Copperhead Entrance. Go south on Sportsway Drive about 2,000 feet and Whitetop Creek Park is at the end of the road.

TO KNOXVILLE:

You will not be going back to Knoxville the same way that you came in. Westbound Highway 394 is the heaviest-traveled of all the post-race routes. The route below is longer, but takes much less time because the volumes are less and the speeds are much higher.

From Speedway Parking, exit the parking lot and turn right onto White Top Road. At the intersection with Highway 394, turn right onto eastbound Highway 394. Go past the Copperhead Entrance and over the bridge at the Vance Tank Road interchange. From Whitetop Creek Park, go back north on Sportsway Drive and turn right onto eastbound Highway 394 and go over the bridge at the Vance Tank Road interchange. The next interchange is at Tennessee State Route 358 (Weaver Pike); once you go over that bridge, get in the left lane. At the traffic signal with US 421, turn left to get to Interstate 81 (a right turn will get you there as well, but adds about 25 miles to the trip) by getting onto northbound US 421. Follow the signs to Interstate 81 along the following routes (there are TO 81 signs along the way):

Continue north on US 421 (the street name will change to Virginia Avenue)
Follow northbound US 421 as it turns left to Maple Street
Follow northbound US 421 as it turns right to Pennsylvania Avenue
Go through the traffic signal at Ash Street
At the traffic signal at Anderson Street, the road curves so that a through movement goes onto the Anderson Street bridge over the railroad (still US 421) and a right turn goes onto northbound Pennsylvania Avenue. Go onto the Anderson Street bridge and immediately get in the right lane
At the end of the bridge, turn right onto northbound Martin Luther King, Jr Boulevard and get in the left lane
Go through the Shelby Street and State Street traffic signals; you are now in Virginia
One block beyond State Street, US 421 turns left onto Cumberland Street. At this point, do not follow US 421 anymore and continue straight on northbound Martin Luther King, Jr Boulevard towards Interstate 81
Go through the West Mary Street traffic signal and get in the right lane
At the next traffic signal (Moore Street/Oakview Avenue), turn right; in one block, you will intersect Lee Highway (US 11/19). Continue straight on northbound US 11/19 (Lee Highway)
Go through the East Valley Drive/West Valley Drive traffic signal
You are now approaching the Virginia Exit 5 interchange with Interstate 81. When the roadway turns into a five-lane section, get in the left lane. Go under the Interstate 81 bridges and turn left onto southbound Interstate 81.

LEXINGTON / MIDDLESBORO, KENTUCKY

TO BMS:

From Lexington, travel south on Interstate 75 and get off at Exit 29 (US 25E) at Corbin, Kentucky. Travel south on US 25E (a four-lane roadway) to Middlesboro, Kentucky. Go through Middlesboro and enter the Cumberland Gap tunnel. Before entering the tunnel, get in the right lane, as one cannot change lanes once inside the tunnel. As soon as you emerge, take the exit to eastbound US 58 towards Jonesville, Virginia.

Continue east on US 58 (which is mostly a four-lane roadway with a few two-lane stretches) over two mountains through Jonesville (do not take US 58A in Jonesville; stay on US 58) to Duffield, Virginia. In Duffield, you will come to a traffic signal at the intersection with US 23; turn right to continue on eastbound US 58. Go past the entrance to Natural Tunnel State Park and take the bypass at Gate City. Go through the traffic signal on the Gate City bypass into Weber City, Virginia. Go under the railroad bridge and get in the left lane. At the next traffic signal, take a left turn to follow eastbound US 58, southbound US 421 and Virginia State Route 224 (going straight will put you on US 23). Immediately get in the right lane as you cross a concrete four-lane bridge. At the far end of the bridge, a left turn will take you along eastbound US 58 and southbound US 421, while a straight through will take you along Virginia State Route 224. Even though the sign says a left turn along US 58 will take you to Bristol, stay straight on to State Route 224 (east of here, US 58 is very winding and is the long way to BMS). In a few miles, you will cross the Tennessee state line and Virginia State Route 224 will become Tennessee State Route 93. Continue on State Route 93 and get in the right lane when it becomes a four-lane roadway. At the interchange with US 11W, get off and take northbound US 11W at the bottom of the ramp (a left turn) towards Bristol. Stay in the right lane on northbound US 11W. In a few miles, you will come to the intersection with Highway 394 (a new traffic signal was installed here a few months ago). Take a right turn onto eastbound Highway 394. Go under Interstate 81, go through the community of Blountville, and under the US 11E bridges. Get in the right lane. Go through the traffic signal at Tennessee Highway 390, staying in the right lane. To go to Speedway Parking, take a right turn at the next intersection (White Top Road); Speedway Parking is the first driveway on the left. To go to Whitetop Creek Park, continue straight on Highway 394 past the Dragway Entrance and take the next right onto Sportsway Drive at the Copperhead Entrance. Go south on Sportsway Drive about 2,000 feet and Whitetop Creek Park is at the end of the road.

TO MIDDLESBORO / LEXINGTON:

From Speedway Parking, exit the parking lot and turn right onto White Top Road. At the intersection with Highway 394, turn right onto eastbound Highway 394. Go past the Copperhead Entrance and over the bridge at the Vance Tank Road interchange. From Whitetop Creek Park, go back north on Sportsway Drive and turn right onto eastbound Highway 394 and go over the bridge at the Vance Tank Road interchange. The next interchange is at Tennessee State Route 358 (Weaver Pike); once you go over that bridge, get in the left lane. At the traffic signal with US 421, turn left to get to Interstate 81 (a right turn will get you there as well, but adds about 25 miles to the trip) by getting onto northbound US 421. Follow the signs to Interstate 81 along the following routes (there are TO 81 signs along the way):

Continue north on US 421 (the street name will change to Virginia Avenue)
Follow northbound US 421 as it turns left to Maple Street
Follow northbound US 421 as it turns right to Pennsylvania Avenue
Go through the traffic signal at Ash Street
At the traffic signal at Anderson Street, the road curves so that a through movement goes onto the Anderson Street bridge over the railroad (still US 421) and a right turn goes onto northbound Pennsylvania Avenue. Go onto the Anderson Street bridge and immediately get in the right lane
At the end of the bridge, turn right onto northbound Martin Luther King, Jr Boulevard and get in the left lane
Go through the Shelby Street and State Street traffic signals; you are now in Virginia
One block beyond State Street, US 421 turns left onto Cumberland Street. At this point, do not follow US 421 anymore and continue straight on northbound Martin Luther King, Jr Boulevard towards Interstate 81
Go through the West Mary Street traffic signal and get in the right lane
At the next traffic signal (Moore Street/Oakview Avenue), turn right; in one block, you will intersect Lee Highway (US 11/19). Continue straight on northbound US 11/19 (Lee Highway)
Go through the East Valley Drive/West Valley Drive traffic signal
You are now approaching the Virginia Exit 5 interchange with Interstate 81. When the roadway turns into a five-lane section, get in the left lane. Go under the Interstate 81 bridges and turn left onto southbound Interstate 81.

Stay in the right lane on southbound Interstate 81 and cross back into Tennessee. Get off at Tennessee Exit 74B (the first exit after the Welcome Center) to get onto southbound US 11W. Stay in the right lane as you go past the Highway 394 traffic signal (from here, you are now following the same route you came in on, in the opposite direction) and go into the City of Kingsport. At the interchange with State Route 93, take the exit onto northbound State Route 93 (the first ramp). Continue north on State Route 93 as it turns into the two-lane Virginia State Route 224 as you cross the state line. When you intersect US 58, stay going straight onto westbound US 58. When the roadway turns to four lanes, get in the right lane, and turn right at the traffic signal to follow westbound US 58, northbound US 421, and northbound US 23. Follow this four-lane roadway along the Gate City bypass, past the entrance to Natural Tunnel State Park, and into the town of Duffield. At the first traffic signal past the entrance to Natural Tunnel State Park, turn left to follow westbound US 58 and northbound US 421. Go over two mountains to the community of Dot; here, US 421 turns right and US 58 continues straight; stay on westbound US 58 through the town of Jonesville. Stay on westbound US 58 as you approach Cumberland Gap; a right exit will take you into the Cumberland Gap tunnel (northbound US 25E) and the town of Middlesboro. Take US 25E through the tunnel and through Middlesboro to Interstate 75 at Kentucky Exit 29.

NORTON, VIRGINIA

TO BMS:

From Norton, go south on US 23 towards Gate City, Virginia. Go past the entrance to Natural Tunnel State Park and take the bypass at Gate City. Go through the traffic signal on the Gate City bypass into Weber City, Virginia. Go under the railroad bridge and get in the left lane. At the next traffic signal, take a left turn to follow eastbound US 58, southbound US 421 and Virginia State Route 224 (going straight will keep you on US 23). Immediately get in the right lane as you cross a concrete four-lane bridge. At the far end of the bridge, a left turn will take you along eastbound US 58 and southbound US 421, while a straight through will take you along Virginia State Route 224. Even though the sign says a left turn along US 58 will take you to Bristol, stay straight on to State Route 224 (east of here, US 58 is very winding and is the long way to BMS). In a few miles, you will cross the Tennessee state line and Virginia State Route 224 will become Tennessee State Route 93. Continue on State Route 93 and get in the right lane when it becomes a four-lane roadway. At the interchange with US 11W, get off and take northbound US 11W at the bottom of the ramp (a left turn) towards Bristol. Stay in the right lane on northbound US 11W. In a few miles, you will come to the intersection with Highway 394 (a new traffic signal was installed here a few months ago). Take a right turn onto eastbound Highway 394. Go under Interstate 81, go through the community of Blountville, and under the US 11E bridges. Get in the right lane. Go through the traffic signal at Tennessee Highway 390, staying in the right lane. To go to Speedway Parking, take a right turn at the next intersection (White Top Road); Speedway Parking is the first driveway on the left. To go to Whitetop Creek Park, continue straight on Highway 394 past the Dragway Entrance and take the next right onto Sportsway Drive at the Copperhead Entrance. Go south on Sportsway Drive about 2,000 feet and Whitetop Creek Park is at the end of the road.

TO NORTON:

From Speedway Parking, exit the parking lot and turn right onto White Top Road. At the intersection with Highway 394, turn right onto eastbound Highway 394. Go past the Copperhead Entrance and over the bridge at the Vance Tank Road interchange. From Whitetop Creek Park, go back north on Sportsway Drive and turn right onto eastbound Highway 394 and go over the bridge at the Vance Tank Road interchange. The next interchange is at Tennessee State Route 358 (Weaver Pike); once you go over that bridge, get in the left lane. At the traffic signal with US 421, turn left to get to Interstate 81 (a right turn will get you there as well, but adds about 25 miles to the trip) by getting onto northbound US 421. Follow the signs to Interstate 81 along the following routes (there are TO 81 signs along the way):

Continue north on US 421 (the street name will change to Virginia Avenue)
Follow northbound US 421 as it turns left to Maple Street
Follow northbound US 421 as it turns right to Pennsylvania Avenue
Go through the traffic signal at Ash Street
At the traffic signal at Anderson Street, the road curves so that a through movement goes onto the Anderson Street bridge over the railroad (still US 421) and a right turn goes onto northbound Pennsylvania Avenue. Go onto the Anderson Street bridge and immediately get in the right lane
At the end of the bridge, turn right onto northbound Martin Luther King, Jr Boulevard and get in the left lane
Go through the Shelby Street and State Street traffic signals; you are now in Virginia
One block beyond State Street, US 421 turns left onto Cumberland Street. At this point, do not follow US 421 anymore and continue straight on northbound Martin Luther King, Jr Boulevard towards Interstate 81
Go through the West Mary Street traffic signal and get in the right lane
At the next traffic signal (Moore Street/Oakview Avenue), turn right; in one block, you will intersect Lee Highway (US 11/19). Continue straight on northbound US 11/19 (Lee Highway)
Go through the East Valley Drive/West Valley Drive traffic signal
You are now approaching the Virginia Exit 5 interchange with Interstate 81. When the roadway turns into a five-lane section, get in the left lane. Go under the Interstate 81 bridges and turn left onto southbound Interstate 81.

ROANOKE / BLACKSBURG, VIRGINIA

TO BMS:

From the Roanoke/Blacksburg areas in Virginia, go south on Interstate 81 to Abingdon. At Virginia Exit 17, get off the interstate; at the bottom of the ramp, turn left onto southbound Virginia State Route 75 towards South Holston Dam (you will not go to the dam, but you will pass close by on your way to BMS).

Going south on State Route 75, you will cross into Tennessee and the road name will change automatically to Tennessee State Route 44. At the intersection with US 421 on the east side of Holston Mountain, turn right onto northbound US 421 towards Bristol.
At the first intersection with Tennessee State Route 435, go straight.
At the next intersection with Tennessee State Route 44, go straight.
After passing the State Route 44 intersection, you will go up a hill with a green sign at the top that reads TO BMS LEFT LANE; get in the left lane.
At the traffic signal about a mile beyond, turn left onto Highway 394.
Go past the Weaver Pike (State Route 358) interchange. Go past the Vance Tank Road interchange.
Just past the Vance Tank Road interchange, get in the left lane. To go to Whitetop Creek Park, turn left at the next intersection, which is the Copperhead Entrance, onto southbound Sportsway Drive. Go south on Sportsway Drive about 2,000 feet and Whitetop Creek Park is at the end of the road. To go to Speedway Parking, go past the Copperhead Entrance, past the Dragway Entrance, and turn left onto White Top Road. Speedway Parking is the first driveway to the left.

TO ROANOKE / BLACKSBURG

Diagram D12 shows the route back to Roanoke and Blacksburg, which is the reverse of the route that you took coming to BMS. From Speedway Parking, exit the parking lot and turn right onto White Top Road. At the intersection with Highway 394, turn right onto eastbound Highway 394. Go past the Copperhead Entrance and over the bridge at the Vance Tank Road interchange. From Whitetop Creek Park, go back north on Sportsway Drive and turn right onto eastbound Highway 394 and go over the bridge at the Vance Tank Road interchange. The next interchange is at Tennessee State Route 358 (Weaver Pike); once you go over that bridge, get in the right lane. At the traffic signal with US 421, turn right onto southbound US 421 (a left turn will also get you to Interstate 81, but you will also have to go past the heavier-traveled Exit 7 area; a right turn avoids the Exit 7 area). On southbound US 421, go past the first Tennessee State Route 44 intersection (that leads to Bluff City) and go to the point where the four-lane roadway reduces to two lanes. Just past that point, Tennessee State Route 44 intersects again, with a left turn towards Abingdon, Virginia; take that left turn. Tennessee State Route 44 will automatically turn into Virginia State Route 75 upon crossing the state line. Get onto northbound Interstate 81 at Virginia Exit 17.

WYTHEVILLE, VIRGINIA

TO BMS:

From the Wytheville area in Virginia, go south on Interstate 81 to Abingdon. At Virginia Exit 17, get off the interstate; at the bottom of the ramp, turn left onto southbound Virginia State Route 75 towards South Holston Dam (you will not go to the dam, but you will pass close by on your way to BMS).

Going south on State Route 75, you will cross into Tennessee and the road name will change automatically to Tennessee State Route 44. At the intersection with US 421 on the east side of Holston Mountain, turn right onto northbound US 421 towards Bristol.
At the first intersection with Tennessee State Route 435, go straight.
At the next intersection with Tennessee State Route 44, go straight.
After passing the State Route 44 intersection, you will go up a hill with a green sign at the top that reads TO BMS LEFT LANE; get in the left lane.
At the traffic signal about a mile beyond, turn left onto Highway 394.
Go past the Weaver Pike (State Route 358) interchange. Go past the Vance Tank Road interchange.
Just past the Vance Tank Road interchange, get in the left lane. To go to Whitetop Creek Park, turn left at the next intersection, which is the Copperhead Entrance, onto southbound Sportsway Drive. Go south on Sportsway Drive about 2,000 feet and Whitetop Creek Park is at the end of the road. To go to Speedway Parking, go past the Copperhead Entrance, past the Dragway Entrance, and turn left onto White Top Road. Speedway Parking is the first driveway to the left.

TO WYTHEVILLE:

Diagram D12 shows the route back to Wytheville, which is the reverse of the route that you took coming to BMS. From Speedway Parking, exit the parking lot and turn right onto White Top Road. At the intersection with Highway 394, turn right onto eastbound Highway 394. Go past the Copperhead Entrance and over the bridge at the Vance Tank Road interchange. From Whitetop Creek Park, go back north on Sportsway Drive and turn right onto eastbound Highway 394 and go over the bridge at the Vance Tank Road interchange. The next interchange is at Tennessee State Route 358 (Weaver Pike); once you go over that bridge, get in the right lane. At the traffic signal with US 421, turn right onto southbound US 421 (a left turn will also get you to Interstate 81, but you will also have to go past the heavier-traveled Exit 7 area; a right turn avoids the Exit 7 area). On southbound US 421, go past the first Tennessee State Route 44 intersection (that leads to Bluff City) and go to the point where the four-lane roadway reduces to two lanes. Just past that point, Tennessee State Route 44 intersects again, with a left turn towards Abingdon, Virginia; take that left turn. Tennessee State Route 44 will automatically turn into Virginia State Route 75 upon crossing the state line. Get onto northbound Interstate 81 at Virginia Exit 17.