Thousands of people camp around the Bristol Motor Speedway and many living in Bristol take advantage by converting their property into backyard campgrounds. They need a permit to rent the space and many provide showers and electric plug-ins.
Robert Phillipie has owned the one-acre Race Fans Parking and Camping backyard campground, where he and his family live during the year. He and campers said they prefer the smaller environment.
Many campers return time after time, giving the backyard campground an extended family feel.
“In a bigger campground you hardly ever see the people that run it and with this, you interact with people every day and make really good friends with them,” Phillippie said.