Since 1983, Bristol Motor Speedway’s signature NASCAR Cup Series trophy has matched the scale of winning at The Last Great Colosseum: big, bold and instantly recognizable.

  • Before the tradition: Bristol presented several different trophy styles during the track’s early years. Then-owner Warner Hodgdon wanted a permanent prize that would stand apart and remind every winner exactly where it was earned.

  • Media says: “Hodgdon wanted the winner to take home a memorable trophy – something that would dominate a trophy case and be something they would keep forever to remind them of the accomplishment of winning Bristol," said David McGee, notable auto racing historian and journalist. "The track GM contacted Eddie Allison at Eddie's Trophies with Hodgdon's directive. Allison had seen the massive four-foot-tall wood and brass trophy and knew it was a perfect fit. Race fans everywhere recognize the massive Bristol trophy. It was in the movie Talladega Nights for goodness sake."

  • Built in Bristol: The speedway worked with local shop Eddie’s Trophies on the design. The result was a towering, four-foot wood-and-brass trophy made to command attention in any collection. The trophy weighs more than 50 pounds.

  • More Media Talk: “Besides being large, the Bristol Cup trophy is heavy,” McGee says. “I can think of several drivers who, in a moment of jubilation, grabbed the trophy and began lifting it over their heads only to realize it weighs 50 pounds and at four-feet-tall is rather unwieldy – not an easy feat after wheeling a stock car around Bristol for three hours. That's why in most of the trophy presentation photos, the trophy is sitting safely on the ground because nobody wants to drop it.”

  • A fitting first winner: The new trophy debuted at the August 1983 Night Race. Darrell Waltrip took it home after the race was shortened by rain, adding another chapter to his remarkable Bristol run.

  • A record-book connection: Waltrip won a track-record 12 Cup races at Bristol. Five of those victories came after the signature trophy was introduced.

  • Why it matters: At a 0.533-mile track famous for larger-than-life moments, a small trophy simply would not do. Bristol’s trophy is more than hardware; it is a lasting symbol of conquering one of NASCAR’s most demanding and historic stages.

At Bristol, even the trophy carries Colosseum-sized pride.

To witness more thrilling finishes and dramatic outcomes and drivers celebrating in Victory Lane with Bristol's iconic Cup Series trophy at The World's Fastest Half-Mile, starting with the tradition-rich Food City 500 April  9-11, purchase your tickets now at Bristol Motor Speedway or call the BMS Ticket Sales Center at (866) 415-4158.