As the area prepares for the onslaught of race fans and RV's, the folks at Food City are gearing up for the annual Food City Family Race Night. The event will take place on Thursday, August 20, 2009 on State Street in downtown Bristol, VA/TN.
Food City has hosted the highly popular events, which have contributed over $500,000 in proceeds to area non-profits for over twenty years. Family Race Night paves the way for a weekend of action-packed Nationwide and Sprint Cup racing at one of NASCAR's most popular venues.
Fans can expect a fun-filled evening jam-packed with driver autograph sessions, show cars, simulators, souvenir trailers, entertainment and a smorgasbord of free food samples. The action will get underway at 1:00 p.m. and continue until 9:00 p.m. $5.00 advance tickets are available at area Food City locations. Tickets will be $6.00 on the day of the event. Children twelve and under are admitted free of charge. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Paramount Center for the Arts.
"Food City is committed to giving back to the community. Our NASCAR sponsorship enables us to host our annual Food City Family Race Night events, which provide an inexpensive evening of excitement for the entire family," says Tom Hembree, senior vice president of marketing for Food City.
A number of drivers will be on hand from all four series, including the Camping World Truck Series and Whelen Modified Series, which will explode into action on Wednesday, August 19th at Bristol Motor Speedway, with the running of the O'Reilly 200 and UNOH Perfect Storm 150.
Food City has already received confirmation from several big name drivers and attractions, with more expected in. Among those already confirmed are Kevin Harvick (400 autograph wristbands to be given out at Harvick's line beginning at 1:00 p.m.), Jason Keller, Todd Bodine, Eric McClure, Clint Bowyer, Kenny Wallace, Steve Wallace, Brendan Gaughan, Casey Mears and Morgan Shepherd.
Miss Food City, Lindsey Blevins, NASCAR Artist Sam Bass, Legend Series drivers Chris McKinney and Chad Finchum, Vintage driver Brian Voiles, NASCAR Whelen Zeke Shell, ARCA driver Jake Crum, local drivers Burton Martin, Josh Hale, Caleb Holman, Nate Monteith, Jeff Woodard, Derrike Woodard, John Earnhardt and Matthew Eades. The Food City Big Cart will be on hand as well.
Live entertainment on three stages is schedule to begin at 1:00 p.m. Local celebrity group J4 will take the stage at 6:00 p.m. J4 exploded into the national music spotlight this year as the winners of the CBS Singing Family Face Off. Back by popular demand, Firehouse presented by ARM Entertainment and LeClerc Foods will perform live in concert at 7:00 p.m. on Piedmont Street. Free food sampling will be available from 4 until 9:00 p.m., while supplies last. Join Food City as they honor Kevin Harvick during on-state ceremonies at 5:30 p.m. on the Pepsi Stage. This year's media sponsors are Bristol Herald Courier and WJHL TV Channel 11.
Shuttle services will be available from 11:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. Pick-up and drop off locations include: the Bruton Smith Building (front entrance) at Bristol Motor Speedway; Tower 9/Speedway Blvd. at BMS; Hwy. 11E & Whitetop Road; Hwy 394 and Whitetop Road; Hwy. 394 & Copperhead Road and the Bristol Mall - Exit 1 off I-81.
A second Food City Family Race Night is also planned for Wednesday, August 19th at the Expo Center in Knoxville, TN from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. So mark your calendar and make plans to attend Food City Family Race Night.
For a complete listing of Food City Family Race Night attractions, please visit the website at www.foodcity.com, where updates will continue to be posted as they become available. Please note that driver autographs are limited to time available and schedules are subject to change.
