For the 12th consecutive year, NASCAR's transporters will take part in the Blue Lizard Transporter Parade, Making Wishes And Miracles Happen For Children In The East Tennessee Region, prior to the sold-out Sharpie 500 and Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway Thursday, Aug. 21.
The parade has become one of the most popular events of August race week with dozens of big rigs making their way through the city to Bristol Motor Speedway as thousands of fans line the 10-mile route to take part in the unique event. This year the parade again will feature a special passenger on board each transporter as a child from Make-A-Wish or the Children's Miracle Network will participate.
Slated for a 9 p.m. start, following the completion of downtown Bristol's Food City Family Race Night, the brilliantly colored transporters will make their way from Bristol Mall down Volunteer Parkway to "The World's Fastest Half-Mile." The 2008 edition of the Blue Lizard NASCAR Transporter Parade will boast more than 50 of the multi-million dollar machines that haul the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race cars from track to track throughout the season.
The transporter leading the way will be the one belonging to the leader of the NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings heading into the Sharpie 500. Adding to the fanfare of the parade, fireworks will explode high overhead from four points along the route.
The transporter drivers also will be available prior to the start of the parade to sign autographs at the Bristol Mall. Spectators also can watch the drivers take part in the Pilot Truck Challenge.
The Transporter Parade precedes two of NASCAR's most exciting night races, the Food City 250 Nationwide Series race Friday, Aug. 22 and the Sharpie 500 Saturday, Aug. 23.
