Neighbors Debate Racing Proposal at Contentious Hearing Nearby residents question noise, traffic as mayorâs representative promotes deal with Bristol Tweet Rendering via Populous Metro officials are continuing to consider teaming up with the owners of Bristol Motor Speedway with the goal of potentially bringing a NASCAR Cup Series race back to the Fairgrounds Speedway. But neighbors who attended a public hearing Tuesday expressed concerns about racingâs noise, traffic and other effects on the neighborhood south of downtown. The public hearing before the Board of Fair Commissioners did not result in any decisions by the body that oversees the fairgrounds. But Mayor John Cooper is pushing an agreement with Speedway Motorsports Inc. â the Bristol owners â that could result in SMI paying $1 million to the city annually in rent while seeking to lure a top-tier race back to the track, which last hosted one in the 1980s. The agreement could initially last 10 years, with five-year extensions to extend the agreement as long as 30 years.