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Battle at Bristol trophy boasts familiar design, unique process

Trophy designer Jodi Nilsen envisioned the trophy resembling the NFL's Lombardi Trophy, given to the Super Bowl champion.

Fans have seen the Battle at Bristol trophy in all its glory for several weeks. The 150,000-some fans who will attend Saturday's football game - the largest ever - may not know the story behind its design, and its role in the future.

Trophy designer Jodi Nilsen envisioned the trophy resembling the NFL's Lombardi Trophy, given to the Super Bowl champion. The polished football on top jets out from the racetrack, raising its height to more than two feet tall.

"The way they designed it, I thought, was perfect," Nilsen said. "I actually had a [Super Bowl] poster as a kid. I was 11, I think, and I had the Super Bowl trophy. So that just tells you something."

The gargantuan Battle at Bristol trophy checks in at 88 pounds and a touch less than two feet wide - a two person carry job. It also sinks more than 17 inches deep to the racetrack.

"I liked the angle of the football, the way it was coming out," Nilsen said. "It looks incredible."

The master piece took more than 300 hours to make, 20 alone to polish the football on top. It's made of bronze, aluminum and hardwood from the heart of Tennessee.

The trophy boasts a heavy and durable build, while appearing sleek and delicate at the same time.

"I was just glad it was sturdy, too, because a bunch of football players will be rough-handling that," Nilsen said. "It's like putting a puppy in a sawmill. You need something that's going to last the test of time."

Bar Graph: How the Battle at Bristol trophy compares to others

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