Mike Organ | The Tennessean

Michael Schwab - USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee, The Tennessean

The chance of Nashville getting another NASCAR race appears much better today than it did in the late 1980s.

After NASCAR left the Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville in 1984, the local media hounded the sanctioning body the next few years about what needed to happen for it to return. By the end of the 1980s, it didn't look good.

After speaking to NASCAR public relations director Chip Williams, Tennessean columnist Larry Woody proclaimed the chance of Nashville getting another NASCAR race was "zero."

Dale Ernsberger / The Tennessean, Copyright 2006;Yes Tennessean

"Let me put it this way, so that folks in Nashville can understand it," Williams said at the time. "Nashville will get a Winston Cup race when Vanderbilt plays in the Sugar Bowl."

At the time, Vanderbilt would have had to win the SEC in order to play in the Sugar Bowl.

While Williams' comments angered some Vanderbilt football fans, race fans finally started to accept that NASCAR never would return to Music City.

Revving up for a return

The push to bring NASCAR back to Nashville was taken to another level Tuesday when Bristol Speedway Motorsports Inc. pitched a public-private partnership to renovate the historic Fairgrounds track.

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Bristol Motor Speedway executive vice president Jerry Caldwell presented plans to the Metro Board of Fair Commissioners for a $60 million project that would be funded through revenue bonds and revenue generated by use of the speedway property. The presentation included a proposed 30,000-seat grandstand with premium seating, an expanded concourse, pedestrian tunnels and sound barriers.

Nashville's last Cup race

This summer marks the 35th anniversary of NASCAR's last top level race in Nashville. The Pepsi 420 at Nashville Fairgrounds was won by Geoff Bodine on July 14, 1984.

Franklin's Darrell Waltrip was second, and Dale Earnhardt Sr. was third.

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Nashville Then: Highlights from 50 years ago for auto racing in 1969

In 1995, NASCAR returned to Nashville on a lower level with a Busch Series race and later a Craftsman Truck Series race. Those races eventually moved to the new Nashville Superspeedway in 2001.

NASCAR is interested in Nashville

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Nashville Fairgrounds could get $15 million in upgrades

NASCAR already has shown interest in having a presence in Nashville by recently awarding the city the annual Monster Energy Cup Awards banquet and show in December.

A two-year deal with an option for a third is in place for the banquet, which previously was in Las Vegas, to be at Music City Center.

The Cup series champion and other award winners are crowned during a red carpet affair at the banquet.

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.