UPDATE: The voting is complete and the 1990 Garth Brooks classic, "Friends In Low Places" will be the song fans will sing in an attempt to establish a new Guinness World Record for the largest group karaoke ever.
The song, which won 1990 Academy of Country Music Single of the Year honors, edged out "Rocky Top" -- the traditional Tennessee anthem first made popular by the Osborne Borthers in 1967. Today, the song is widely recognized as the "unofficial" fight song for the University of Tennessee.
Following in the voting were Hank William's Jr.'s "Family Tradition", and "You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC. Bruce Springsteen's "Born In The USA" rounded out the top-five.
Over the years, Bristol Motor Speedway has involved its rabid fans in a number of fantastic card stunts, as well as the Guinness Book of World Records.
These fan feats have played a major role in the unparalleled excitement and unique atmosphere offered by the overall BMS experience. And on Aug. 22, prior to the start of the Sharpie 500, BMS again will ask its fans to take part in what will be the World's Largest Group Karaoke attempt. With nearly 160,000 fans in attendance, this will shatter the old mark of 80,000 set in Europe earlier this year.
Not only will fans be able to be part of the record, they get to vote for the song they will be signing to set the record.
A list of songs is available fans to choose from. Voting runs through Thursday, Aug. 12. The winning song will be announced Friday, Aug. 14, 2009.
Fans voting for the World's Largest Group Karaoke song also will be entered in a contest to be one of 20 fans to stand on Bristol's start/finish line and lead all Sharpie 500 fans in the record-setting song.
The Sharpie 500 Sprint Cup event is the last of four electrifying night races that will take place at the World's Fastest Half-Mile in August. Race week kicks off with a doubleheader Wednesday, Aug. 19 as the Whelen Modified Series takes to the track for the first time in the UNOH Perfect Storm 150, followed by the O'Reilly 200 Camping World Truck Series. Next up is the Food City 250 Nationwide race Friday, which will again feature a host of Sprint Cup stars.
