Food City officials recently announced that Russ Hockin, Senior Vice President, Cross Channel Operations and Business Development for Kellogg North America has been named Honorary Starter of the August 21, 2009 Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
"Many food suppliers have worked with Food City for years to help make our racing program successful, but none more so than Kellogg's. I am proud to call Russ my business associate and most importantly, long-time friend. We are thrilled to have him serve as the Honorary Starter of this year's Food City 250," said Steven C. Smith, Food City President and Chief Executive Officer.
Hockin joined the Kellogg Company in 1973 as a sales rep in Brooklyn, NY. He has held a number of field assignments in Metro New York, Syracuse and Atlanta. In 1984, he was named Director of Sales in Detroit, and in 1987, he was named Director of Sales in Atlanta. He was promoted to Southern Zone Vice President in 1991, and in 1994, he was named Vice President, Industry Relations.
Hockin is currently responsible for Category Management, Remarketing and Returns Management, Sales Operations, Industry Relations, Customer Specific Marketing, Modeling & Analytics, and E-Business for Kellogg North America.
Hockin served as Co-Chair of GMA's Industry's Development Team. He also served on Western Michigan's Food Marketing Board, St. Joseph Food Marketing Board and was past President of the industries "Asparagus Club." He served as a board member of the California Grocers Association.
"It is truly an honor to be named the Honorary Starter for the Food City 250. Food City is one of NASCAR'S premier sponsors and Bristol Motor Speedway is truly a destination track for all NASCAR fans. To be associated with both of these fine companies is again - a real honor," says Hockin.
Food City is Bristol Motor Speedway's longest running sponsor and the second longest in NASCAR motor sports. For more than 20 years, Food City has also hosted Family Race Night, one of the premier pre-race events on the circuit. Since its inception, Food City Family Race Night has contributed over $500,000 to numerous non-profit organizations.
The Food City 250 gets under way at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2009, followed by the Sharpie 500 at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2009. Qualifying for both events begins at 4:10 p.m. on Friday.
Tickets are still available for the Food City 250 (starting at $45) and may be purchased at www.bristoltix.com or by calling the BMS ticket office at (423) 989-6900.
Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc. (Food City's parent company) operates 105 retail food outlets throughout the tri-state regions of Southeast Kentucky, Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. For more information, visit their website at www.foodcity.com.
