The Bristol Motor Speedway first opened in Bristol, Tennessee, in 1961 under the name Bristol International Speedway. It changed its name to Bristol International Raceway in the spring of 1978, not long after it was sold to businessmen Lanny Hester and Gary Baker. On May 28, 1996, the track's name was officially changed to Bristol Motor Speedway. Despite being a short track, Bristol Motor Speedway remains a popular NASCAR track due to its unique features. Bristol Motor Speedway has steep banking and an entire concrete surface. It has two pit roads and stadium seating. It is one of the loudest NASCAR tracks. The speedway is very fast for a small track because of the steep banking. Bristol races often have the highest number of yellow-flag caution laps in the NASCAR season. The short length of the track makes contact more likely. Bristol Motor Speedway is the third largest sports venue in the United States and seventh largest in the world, fitting up to 162,000 attendees.