A variety of dignitaries and VIPs will participate in pre-race ceremonies for the Food City 500, headlined by the Mayor of Knox County, Glenn Jacobs, who previously competed in WWE Wrestling as KANE, will serve as the race’s Grand Marshal and give the famous command for drivers to start their engines.
Former Tennessee Volunteer Quarterback Joshua Dobbs, who played for several teams in the National Football League (NFL), will serve as the race’s Honorary Starter. The MVP of the historic 2016 Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol where Tennessee defeated Virginia Tech 45-24 will wave the green flag from high up in the flagman stand at the start of NASCAR Cup Series race at 3 p.m. ET.
The race’s National Anthem will be performed by Noah Peters, the Singing Barber and American Idol contestant.
The Invocation will be provided by Mike Rife, minister at Vansant Church of Christ in Virginia.
The Presentation of Colors will be performed by the East Tennessee State University ROTC Color Guard and a titan C-17 aircraft from the 97th Air Mobility Wing from Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Fireworks will be launched at the end of the anthem.
Some of the most memorable moments in NASCAR history have taken place during the tradition-rich Food City 500 on the super-challenging .533-mile high-banked concrete oval. NASCAR’s best drivers will go doorhandle to doorhandle and only the strongest will survive 500 laps of mayhem and chaos on the iconic short track.
Before the race begins there is so much to do today, including vising the BMS Fan Zone (Entrance 1, North Lot) where the amazing Red Panda will make scheduled appearances, the popular Trackside Live show with Kenny Wallace, John Roberts and Jose Castillo will take command of the Food City Fan Zone Stage presented by Coca-Cola Zero Sugar at noon. At 1 p.m. the action moves inside the stadium when rising country star Graham Barham performs the pre-race concert on the pre-race stage. Bristol’s legendary driver introductions will lead right into the 3 p.m. green flag.
Fans can purchase tickets to the Food City 500 weekend of races or any events at Bristol Motor Speedway, please visit the track’s website or call the BMS Ticket Sales Center at (866) 415-4158. For ultimate value, kids 12 and under are free with a paid adult for Friday and Saturday’s races and only $10 for Sunday’s Food City 500.
