Dale Jarrett's 668th Sprint Cup start will be one he'll never forget.

The former NASCAR Sprint Car champion was honored prior to the start of Sunday's Food City 500, the final points race of his career. Jarrett, a former winner in both the Cup and Nationwide Series at the World's Fastest Half-Mile, took to the stage during pre-race ceremonies to receive several gifts from Bristol Motor Speedway to commemorate his last start at BMS.

Among the gifts was a replica "Tennessee Volunteer" rifle similar to the ones used by early settlers of this area in the Revolutionary War "Battle of King's Mountain." The black powder long rifle replica was mounted on a nearly 200-year-old piece of oak removed from a log structure on the Earhart farm near Bristol Motor Speedway.

Jarrett, an avid golfer, also was given 668 Titleist Pro V1 golf balls to commemorate each of his career Cup starts. The Titleist Pro V1 has been played by more than 1,000 champions across the worldwide professional tours since its introduction in 2000. Jarrett also received an exclusive, custom-made Scotty Cameron by Titleist putter. Designed and handcrafted by Master Putter Designer Scott Cameron, the new Studio Select Newport model is engraved with Jarrett's initials on one side and "BMS 3.16.08" on the other. Cameron putters have been the most played and winningest putters on the PGA tour for the past 10 years.

As has become tradition at Bristol Motor Speedway with retiring drivers, Jarrett also was presented with a Bristol Club diamond ring.

Just after receiving the gifts Jarrett was saluted with one of the Speedway's spectacular card stunts as approximately 33,000 fans in the grandstands on the backstretch held up cards that spelled out "Thanks Dale" in the UPS colors of brown and gold.

Jarrett's father Ned provided the day's most poignant moment when he waved the green flag on the Food City 500 for his son's last points race.