When Bristol Motor Speedway needed a paint to stand the test of time, weather and excited race fans, it turned to a paint formulated with Eastman Tetrashield™ protective resin systems. “The Last Great Colosseum” purchased a highly durable Tetrashield-based protective paint from US Coatings for its aluminum bleachers in red, white and blue. Completing the application in 2020, race fans around the world will be able to see the results for themselves this season –– whether they visit in person or enjoy the action on television.
“It has a nice, vibrant look, and race fans will put it to the test with heavy foot traffic, big coolers and spilled beverages,” said Adam Rust, Vice President for events and operations at Bristol.
The iconic venue gets plenty of use, hosting major NASCAR races, concerts, football games and other events. Annual highlights include the Food City Dirt Race in March and “America’s Night Race” in September. First held in 1978, Bristol was one of the first venues to illuminate NASCAR’s marquee touring series under bright stadium lights. The speedway is located 20 miles from Kingsport, Tennessee, home to Eastman’s global headquarters.
“We’re proud that we’re able to use a paint with a locally sourced Eastman product and technology,” Rust added. “We’re also happy to recommend it to other tracks.”
Specialty materials company Eastman launched Tetrashield in 2016. Known for its superior weathering, scratch protection and chemical resistance, Tetrashield is used in a variety of markets, from automotive to metal packaging to industrial protection.
The speedway purchased VSC 1200, an advanced polyurethane industrial maintenance paint from US Coatings, an Eastman customer. US Coatings is a brand of Seal for Life Industries, the leading global provider of protective coating and sealing solutions for infrastructure markets.
“This Tetrashield-based coating is designed for longevity,” said Mike Reed, President of US Coatings. “It provides long-term ultraviolet light protection and abrasion resistance for people getting up and down. It’s formulated to apply in one coat and directly to metal, which makes it less labor intensive to apply.”
Easy application was a key consideration “We wanted the process to be as simple as putting on another coat of paint,” Rust said.
“Races at Bristol Motor Speedway are legendary, featuring some of the toughest icons in racing history. So it’s fitting that the bleachers at BMS are just as tough,” said Aaron Thornton, Segment Market Manager for coatings and inks at Eastman. “These coatings need to look good for 10 to 15 years, so a product made with Tetrashield was the obvious choice when Bristol Motor Speedway needed tough paint that is easy to apply.”
For more information on Tetrashield or Bristol Motor Speedway, visit eastman.com/Tetrashield and BristolMotorSpeedway.com.
