MCA Nashville recording artist and rising country music sensation Ashton Shepherd has been tapped to sing the national anthem prior to the start of the Food City 500 Sunday, March 22.

Shepherd also will perform a mini-concert for track attendees prior to singing the national anthem Sunday.

The 22-year-old Shepherd's debut album Sounds So Good was released in 2008 and produced her hit singles "Takin' Off This Pain" and the title-track "Sounds So Good."  Shepherd was recognized on multiple "Best Of 2008" lists for her debut album including Entertainment Weekly, Blender, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and more.

She also completed her first major tour in the fall of '08 opening up for Sugarland in over 20 cities across the country.  Most recently, she was recently nominated for the Academy of Country Music's "Top New Female Vocalist" award.

The Food City 500 gets under way at 2 p.m. Sunday.  Qualifying for the event takes place March 20 at 3:40 p.m.  The Scotts Turf Builder 300 is March 21 at 2:30 p.m., with qualifying getting underway that morning at 9:40 a.m. 

Tickets still are available for the Scotts Turf Builder 300 (Starting at $45) and the Food City 500 (starting at $93). Tickets for Ford Fan Friday, March 20, are just $5 and fans with specially marked Pepsi cans will be admitted free.

Tickets may be purchased at www.bristoltix.com or by calling the BMS ticket office at (423) 989-6900.