Today company officials announced that their Spring Food City Race Night will be held at Bristol Motor Speedway. The event, which was previously held on Thursday, will move to Friday, March 20, 2009.
"The partnership is a natural given our long standing relationship with Bristol Motor Speedway," said Steven C. Smith, Food City President and CEO. "We're always looking for ways to improve Race Night and we are confident the move will provide us with an opportunity to gain additional driver participation. Combined with the vendors and attractions onsite at Bristol Motor Speedway, it should make for a spectacular event."
BMS president Jeff Byrd feels the move to the World's Fastest Half Mile can only benefit Race Night.
"We're looking forward to hosting the Race Night here at the track," said Byrd. "Food City has done such an outstanding job with this event for the last 20 years or so and we feel moving it to BMS will only add to the experience for the fans."
Food City has hosted the popular fan-based event, which has contributed more than $500,000 in proceeds to area non-profits for over 20 years. It paves the way for a weekend of action-packed Nationwide and Sprint Cup racing at one of NASCAR's most popular venues. As always, fans can expect a fun-filled evening jam-packed with driver autograph and interactive sessions, show cars, simulators, souvenir trailers, entertainment and a smorgasbord of free food samples.
"Food City is committed to giving back to the communities we serve. Our NASCAR sponsorship enables us to host our annual Food City Race Night events, which provide fans with an opportunity to meet some of their favorite drivers," says Tom Hembree, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Food City.
A second Food City Family Race Night event is also planned for Knoxville, TN. The event will move to Thursday, March 19, 2009 at the Knoxville Expo Center.
Food City is Bristol Motor Speedway's longest running sponsor and the second longest in NASCAR motorsports. In 2007, the company signed a contract extension with the speedway to take their sponsorship through 2010. The Food City 500 gets under way at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, 2009. Qualifying for the event takes place on Friday, March 20th at 3:40 p.m. The Scotts Turf Builder 300 is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 21st, with qualifying getting underway at 9:40 a.m. Tickets are still available for the Scotts Turf Builder 300 (starting at $45) and may be purchased at www.bristoltix.com or by calling the BMS ticket office at (423) 989-6900.
