Associated Press

Associated Press

BRISTOL, TENN.

With a two-handed toss of his helmet, Tony Stewart brought back everything that had been missing at Bristol Motor Speedway.

It was the rock ‘em, sock ‘em style of racing that made the Tennessee bullring the toughest ticket in NASCAR, and fans fill the place for 55 consecutive races hoping to see bumping and banging on the track and the off-track drama it created.

Progressive banking added in 2007 diluted the action, and fans turned their backs on Bristol in droves. Yet another disappointing crowd in March was the final straw for track owner Bruton Smith, who ordered changes to the track surface in the hopes the action would pick up and the fans would return.

He got exactly what he wanted Saturday night, even if his idea didn’t go exactly according to plan.

Tempers flared again at Bristol — the boiling point coming when Stewart heaved his helmet at Matt Kenseth’s car after the two wrecked racing for the lead — and the action on track picked up enough to satisfy most fans.

Five-time Bristol winner Jeff Gordon, who watched some of Bristol’s greatest races from the spotter stand before he began his Cup career, thought Saturday night looked a lot like old Bristol.

“Even though it was really tough to pass, it just reminded me of old school Bristol,” Gordon said. “I think it was a success and I certainly had a lot of fun. I say they grind the whole place. Sounds awesome. I hope they do that next time.”

Believing the progressive banking had created too many lanes for drivers to use, Smith ordered the top groove to be ground down at Bristol. His desired effect was a tighter track that forced drivers to run around the bottom and use their bumpers to move cars out of their way.

They had to use their bumpers, but it was at the top of the track where the action occurred. The new top groove picked up rubber as the race progressed, and the grip in the high line was too attractive for drivers to ignore.