Bristol Spring Magazine 2016 by Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

SPRING 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1

MOTOR SPEEDWAY & DRAGWAY

YOUR BEST GRILLIN’

CALLS FOR OURS

Your favorite flavor of BUSH’S® Grillin’ Beans®

Simple Ingredients

Tremendously Delicious Marinated Steak

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Contents

FEATURES

14 3

APRIL PREVIEW

BATTLE UPDATE

Jerry’s Letter Get Ready For Spring

18 7

Employee Spotlight Evelyn Hicks

COLOSSUS PROGRESS

30 10

Chow Down... Best of the Tri-Cities

ETSU FOOTBALL

iBelong Profile Donna & Lou Urschel

It’s Bristol Baby Bruton & Bristol, 20 Years Later

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

Contents

IRWIN Tools Night Race

Call Toll Free

O. Bruton Smith Marcus G. Smith Jerry Caldwell Julie Bennett Logan McCabe Marty Denton Scott Hatcher Dede Hash Evelyn Hicks Greg Harvey Ben Trout Tanyua Kerns Billy Kerns Drew Bedard Landon Owen

COMMUNICATIONS VP/Communications | Becky Cox Director/Communications | Dana Landry

BRISTOL MAGAZINE Magazine Editor | Drew Bedard Copy Editor | Chris Lawyer Graphics/Design | Patrick Savage

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About Bristol Motor Speedway

Nestled in the mountains of northeast Tennessee near the Virginia state line, Bristol Motor Speedway is a 0.533-mile concrete oval race track with 28-degree corner banking, 650-feet straightaways and a 40-foot wide racing surface. Renowned as “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile,” the short track features two races each year from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series, one Monster Truck event and one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and NASCAR K&N Pro Series-East race. With a crowd capacity in excess of 150,000, the facility is expected to set a new NCAA college football attendance record on Sept. 10, 2016 when the racetrack transforms into a football stadium and plays host to border rivals, the University of Tennessee and Virginia Tech. The speedway property is also home to Bristol Dragway. The historic drag strip celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, headlines with the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals and operates more than 70 event days each season. In 2014, the Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, awarded a record-breaking $749,000 to regional children’s charities bringing their seventeen-year total to nearly $9 million in grants. In existence since 1961, Bristol Motor Speedway was purchased in 1996 by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. a publicly traded company that is a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. For more information, visit the company’s website at bristolmotorspeedway.com.

Reserve Early! 800.356.1676 or 865.453.4400

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Winter 2015

Do you have article ideas or comments for upcoming issues? Send your suggestions to: Drew Bedard dbedard@bristolmotorspeedway.com

WHO’S READY FOR SOME RACING

Letter From Jerry

IRWIN Tools Night Race

2016 is going to be a massive year at Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway. Who’s ready to be a part of it? Welcome to the electrifying 2016 season at Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway. It’s going to be our biggest year yet with racing, college football and so much more. NASCAR returns April 15-17 for the Food City 500 weekend and August 17-20 for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race week, two of the most iconic weekends on the NASCAR circuit. Food City has been an incredible partner of Bristol Motor Speedway and the Food City 500 is the second longest tenured event sponsor in NASCAR. The Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race is one of the most iconic events on the NASCAR circuit as fans descend upon east Tennessee to watch their heroes do battle under the lights of the Last Great Colosseum. The stars of the world’s fastest motorsport will descend upon Thunder Valley again this year at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in June on Father’s Day Weekend, June 17-19. With every ticket being a pit pass, pit access is unparalleled at Bristol Dragway. This season, we enter the world of college football with the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol on Sept. 10, featuring a colossal clash between two legendary powerhouses, the Tennessee Volunteers and the Virginia Tech Hokies. In the making for years, the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol will set the record as the world’s largest college football game. Perhaps the biggest addition fans will notice in April is the addition of Colossus TV, the world’s largest outdoor, center-hung, 4-sided display. Featuring screens that are 4.5 times larger than the old screens and having the highest viewing quality of any permanent outdoor display in the world, Colossus TV is sure to have a gigantic impact on your experience inside the World’s Fastest Half-Mile. Colossus will also make a world of difference in sound quality. The display will feature a state-of-the-art, 540,000-watt audio system powering 380 3-way loudspeakers and 48 stadium subwoofers. By contrast, the old system hosted 2,400 watts of power, with only 10 2-way loudspeakers and eight subwoofers. This edition of the magazine has some great features including a look at the making of Colossus, a feature on the excitement of the upcoming April race weekend and an update on the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol; plus an introduction to our VP of Ticketing Operations Evelyn Hicks and a whole lot more. We could not be more excited about this year. This is truly the year to experience all the amazing hospitality and action that Bristol has to offer. We couldn’t do what we do without you, the fans. Whether you’re a NASCAR fan, an NHRA fan, a college football fan or just a good ole sports fan, we think you will love what you see in 2016. We’re proud that you have chosen Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway as your sports entertainment home. As always, please call us if there is anything we can do to help improve your experience. See you soon!

Jerry Caldwell

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

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THE BEST OF THE TRI-CITIES By: Fred King

Well, it’s like this. Sometimes the creative juices just aren’t working. You wrack your brain for ideas on how to write an article about restaurants in the area that will be both informative and entertaining and there’s nothing going on in the old noggin. Nada! To make matters worse you’re editor has given you a deadline for submitting that very same non-article that is like … tomorrow. What to do, what to do? I’VE GOT IT!! I’ll do what all those other famous artistes’ do when they dry up, you know like those famous songwriters like Simon and Garfunkle. I’ll crank out a “best of”, no brainer type deal and that will be that. Man, I’m a genius.

Now a quick run down of the best restaurants by cuisine or type. They want me to write fast, but they want it short and sweet. Drives me crazy.

So here goes. The best places to eat (or “dine”, for you snooty race fans) while visiting the tri-cities area during race week. Let’s start with the basic food groups ... the building blocks of the human body.

Best Italian – Alta Cucina – Johnson City Don’t let the looks of the place fool you, it’s more expensive then it appears.

Best Wings – Quaker Steak and Lube – Bristol (VA) Have wings here and then go across the street to Macado’s (see below) for a Reuben (brag to your friends that you ate in two states within the same hour). Best Hamburger – The Cottage - Johnson City. Just might be the best anywhere for that matter. Rustic, beer and burger bar. Best Pizza – Main Street Pizza – Johnson City. Right downtown, an institution. Best BBQ (sliced) – Ridgewood – Bluff City. Incomparable. Written up in “Southern Living” and “People” magazines. Best BBQ (pulled) - Firehouse & Red Pig - Johnson City Dowhat I do, eat at both in one night.

Best S. West/Mexican – El Charolais – Johnson City Love the margaritas and cheese dip and …. Aw Heck, I love all of it. Best Asian – Café 111 - Johnson City. Don’t let the looks of the place fool you, it’s less expensive than it appears.

Best Americana - Cheddars – Kingsport & Johnson City My type of place…reasonable price, great food, and, most importantly, lots of it. Best Deli – Macado’s – Bristol and Kingsport The most extensive sandwich menu I have ever seen. Best Overall – Gourmet and Co. – Johnson City The official restaurant of the “Heck Yeah, I Want to Chow Down with My Hero, Fred” contest. I think I’ve run out of “word count”. Blasted Editor!!! Well race fans; this is my “best of” places to eat in the tri-cities area. Like most cases like this, there will always be disagreements. If you’ve found better let me know, I’m always up for an adventure, especially when it includes food. See you in April for the Food City 500. PSSST! Want to have dinner with Judy and me on Thursday night of August race week? Want us to pick you up in a limo? Want to win over $250 worth of Bristol gear? Want infield access on Saturday afternoon of the big race? If you do, then read on……

“HECK YEAH! I WANT TO CHOW DOWN WITH FRED!”

3 LUCKY COUPLES WIN

• • • •

DINNER AT ONE OF THE FINEST TRI-CITIES AREA RESTAURANTS PRIVATE LIMO SERVICE BRISTOL PRIZE PACK VALUED AT OVER $250 COLD PIT PASSES FOR THE BASS PRO SHOPS NRA NIGHT RACE

TO ENTER: EMAIL KINGF@BRISTOLMOTORSPEEDWAY.COM AND TELL ME WHY YOU SHOULD WIN. Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

“HECK YEAH!”

Restaurants

Best of the Tri-Cities

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

iBelong Profile

DONNA & LOU URSCHEL

iBelong Profile Donna and Lou Urschel from Chapin, South Carolina

This issue’s iBelong Profile features two of Bristol’s finest fans and ambassadors, Donna and Lou Urschel, residents of Chapin, SC. Originally from Marietta, Ohio, this dynamic duo has been attending since 1998. Over the years not only have they developed a passion for Bristol racing, they truly love the area and the venue.

Like a lot of Bristol iBelong members I suppose, for us it’s meeting lifelong friends. Once we obtained our season tickets we needed a place to stay every year. We started out in a local hotel because in our business lives we both traveled so it seemed natural to stay in a hotel.

How long have you been coming to Bristol, and how long have you been season ticket holders?

However, staying in a hotel did not add anything unique to the racing experience. So in 2001 we moved to a bed and breakfast. This was interesting as it was my first experience with a bed and breakfast. Donna had prior bed and breakfast experience and was pretty sure she would never get me into one. The bed and breakfast experience was amazing as our hosts were wonderful the breakfast was amazing and we were among other racing couples so we could share our love of racing.

Well, our first visit was in 1998 as guest of Bristol Compressors. We sat in the old suites in Turn 1. The experience hooked us. We then purchased any available seats in 1999 and 2000. We obtained our own season tickets in the lottery for the new Pearson Terrace seating that opened in 2001.

In 2010 we purchased two additional season tickets. This allowed us The following year, 2001, we were having trouble locating a bed to bring two family or friends. It is always fun to bring a new person and breakfast that was not booked. Many calls later we were at a to experience Bristol. To date we maintain our four season tickets. dead end. Then one Saturday evening our home phone rang and it was a lady in Abingdon Virginia who after a 15 minute discussion Tell us about the first time you came to Bristol/What did said, “I am going to give you my personal home for race weekend”. We were shocked. Who were these people and why would they you feel when you saw this place for the first time? do this? To make a long story short, that was 15 years ago and Wow, walking in for the first time we were amazed by the size since then we stay with these dear personal Abingdon, Virginia of the seating stands. The excitement and positive energy is friends every race. It turns out that one of the Bed and Breakfast owners we had spoken to referred us to the mysterious caller. I immediately felt as you walk onto the property. Golf carts stand at the ready to transport you, at no charge, to wherever you think it is the culture of the entire Tri-Cities region where people open their homes to perfect strangers. From there on a relationship want to go. There is no litter or debris, the place is spotless. forms that is amazing. We would encourage anyone wanting to We were amazed at the movement of the race cars exiting the experience the giving local culture to check the link on BMS Web turns. Time and time again, if not for the amazing driver capability and try renting a room or house from a local property owner. a car would have hit the wall… sideways again and again, yet completely in control. It’s something you could never see on TV. Racing is close family and if you are an avid fan you will make Plus, pit road is so close and with pits on the front and back side many friends depending on the track culture. The Bristol culture is unlike any other venue. We truly feel we are with 150,000 of our of the track almost all seats have a good view of the pit action. friends. My personal Bristol motto is, “A stranger but once.” What is your most cherished Bristol memory/moment?

Spring 2016

iBelong Profile

DONNA & LOU URSCHEL When you tell others about Bristol, how do you describe this place?

For us, it’s the track’s mission to Exceed Expectations. It is clear that this track has no desire to meet expectations. Meeting expectations falls far short of the culture instilled by Jeff It starts with the beauty of the Tri-Cities area and the open friendly Byrd, long time track senior executive. The track leadership is nature of everyone you meet. As you drive to the track, the immense accessible and constantly asking, “What can we do to improve size of this half-mile track will shock you. It truly is a colosseum. the fan experience.” This is the Bristol culture and it shows. Standing high as you approach from the Volunteer Parkway the banners, the flags and acres of campers is like nothing you have My work life required me to pass by the track occasionally ever seen. As you enter the venue you find entertainment abounds. while traveling between Ohio and North Carolina. If I had From musical acts to test rides in vehicles to a Ferris wheel and kids someone in the car with me that had not seen the Bristol zone the fun starts well before you even enter the grandstand gates. track I would stop and we would walk the track. 100% of my guest said, “On my I had no idea, this is amazing.” Then there is the view of the track. There is not a bad seat in the colosseum. Donna and I prefer setting in one of the turns as the We also have a love for short tracks. We grew up around angle view minimizes the head turning as the action on the track is dirt short tracks and we prefer short track close racing very fast. excitement over the sometimes ho hum of 1.5 mile tracks. Finally the racing is amazingly close and there is no way TV can capture all of the action. However, you will want to rent a race scanner to help keep up with all that is going on. On our own scanner we listen to our favorite drivers, Jeff Gordon for Donna and anyone but Gordon for me. Just kidding. We are NASCAR fans and have great respect for all of the drivers. In the end you will find us cheering for an underdog that really needs a win.

We can also trust in Bristol being clean. The Bristol facility is spotless and yes that includes restrooms.

The race radio scanner also picks up the TV and Radio broadcasts as well as the track public address system. So don’t overlook renting one as the headset as they reduce car noise and give you access to all voices in the track action. You can choose who you wish listening to.

Bristol also is innovative. As successful as the venue has historically been, they continuously strive to improve the guest experience. I can only imagine what the experience is going to like when they unveil Colossus TV this April.

What separates Bristol from the rest of the pack among motorsports venues?

Wow, and is Bristol ever fan-friendly. We are not as young as we use to be so getting to and from your car at some tracks can be a long walk. With the free trams, busses and golf carts walking is minimized at Bristol.

Yes, we have attended NASCAR races at Bristol, Charlotte, Daytona, and Atlanta and it’s safe to say that Bristol is our favorite track and we plan to be season ticket holders for years to come.

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

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WE’RE ALMOST THERE... By: Landon Owen

here has been two years of build-up and anticipation for the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol from Vols and Hokies fans, as well as from the region and sports fans all over the globe. I can’t even begin to calculate how many meetings, planning sessions, architectural drawings or restless nights all of us BMS folks have had since the announcement way back in October of 2013, but here we sit – about 200 days away from history being made at the Last Great Colosseum. The ticket department at BMS has been busy since our last issue. Here’s what we’ve been up to:

Parking & camping deposits that were placed by non-priority customers are being filled now.

issue to go before we get there, we’ll save the details for the next one. Also with the passing of National Signing Day, we now have a pretty good idea of what the rosters will look like heading into the game.

If you didn’t order parking or camping and have needs for one or the other, we’ll be holding a public onsale for the rest of it later this spring.

Tennessee Coach Butch Jones brought in another highly-ranked recruiting class (by most services a top 15 group nationally). Combined with a strong finish to 2015 and a big bowl win, expectations are rising in Knoxville for Team 120. Josh Dobbs returns to lead a dynamic offense loaded with skill and speed. A preseason top-25 ranking is a lock; the biggest question is how high?

Seating locations, along with parking and camping assignments, were sent via email on February 1. If you don’t have an email on file with us, please call us and we can add it to your account and let you know where your seats are today. So what’s left to do?

Priority customers that ordered in advance (placed deposits with BMS) were seated first. The demand for the best seats in the house was intense! We started with the account with the most priority points and worked down the list, assigning seats using customer preferences based on the available inventory. The priority group also got first crack at getting parking and camping. As a result, all $100 premium parking, as well as parking in All-American Campground are full. In addition, RV campsites in Earhart East Campground and tent camping in All-American are no longer available. Other RV and tent sites still remain in Earhart West. Premium campsites remaining in Medallion are limited. We assigned thousands of seats to customers that camped out for tickets during Battle Friday. The lucky few that were awarded tickets via the Battle Lottery were also seated.

Depending on date of press, we’ve either just announced or will soon be launching the official secondary ticket marketplace for the Battle at Bristol. What does that mean? If you need to buy or sell Battle tickets, this is the place you want to do that.

Justin Fuente takes over for Frank Beamer in Blacksburg and brought a very intriguing class himself. VT brings back a lot of talent at the skill positions and Bud Foster returns to lead the Lunch Pail Defense. The Hokies won their bowl game as well, extending the longest active streak for appearances in bowls in the NCAA in the process.

Sure, there are lots of sites out there where you can do the same things, but our site will be the only one where BMS will guarantee the transaction.

The biggest question mark for Tech will be at quarterback. However, given Fuente’s reputation as “The QB Whisperer”(he’s mentored current Cincinnati Bengals signal caller Andy Dalton and Memphis QB Paxton Lynch, who is expected to be taken high in the upcoming NFL Draft), the element of surprise and lack of game film for the Vols to study may give Tech an advantage.

With the demand for tickets for the game still trending upward, ticket prices could skyrocket on the secondary market. Buying or selling via this site is your best option to avoid fraudulent purchases. Of course, the conversion of the Colosseum from the checkered flag of the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race to the kickoff of the football game will be an undertaking for the ages. Since we’ve got one more

The bottom line is this: we’re almost there. Are you ready?

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

PILOT FLYING J BATTLE AT BRISTOL

Football

We’re Almost There

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

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Spring 2016

COLOSSUS TV

Speedway

Coming In April 2016

COMING IN APRIL 2016: COLOSSUS TV

early January, Bristol Motor Speedway began the process of building Colossus TV, the world’s largest outdoor, center-hung, 4-sided screen.

support towers, cabling, screen frame and video screens.

Rentenbach Constructors of Knoxville, Tenn. had two cranes from Barnhart Crane & Rigging onsite to facilitate the work on the support towers.

The display will hang from a halo-shaped truss and will feature an additional circular LED display beneath the screens which measures nearly six feet in height. Between the screens and the LED ring, that’s more than 8,500 square feet of high-resolution, active viewing area.

As part of the construction project, the existing pylon that supported the old screens and scoring monitors located in The first phase of the project was the construction and installation the infield was removed to make way for Colossus TV. of the four massive towers that will support Colossus TV. Construction cranes were on property to assemble and raise the Once the installation of the cables is complete, the engineers sections of the four towers into place. The largest of the mobile and construction crews will install four high-resolution, cranes, a seven-axle Liebherr LTM 1400-7.1, made its first visit to custom-built Panasonic video screens that are approximately East Tennessee for this monumental project. With its telescopic 30 feet tall by 63 feet wide. At the same time a new 540,000 boom, the crane has a hoisting height of 242 to 280 feet. watts thunderous sound system will be installed.

Each 10’x10’ section that makes up a tower is approximately 40-45 feet tall and weighs 50-60,000 lbs. per section. The four support towers located outside The Last Great Colosseum rise to a height of 190-220 feet. A three foot thick concrete footing supports each tower. The first week of February, engineers and construction crews began the installation of the cables to support the display, including the video screens that make up Colossus TV. The 117 ton of suspension cables are 30% larger than the vertical cables supporting the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. The main cable suspending the screens is long enough to circle the World’s Fastest Half-Mile twice. From each support tower to the infield of Bristol Motor Speedway, roughly 650 feet of cable (four inches in diameter) is used. Additionally, 300 feet of cable goes from each tower to a support anchor that is also located outside the stadium. Overall Colossus TV weighs 700 tons. This includes the

The new sound system located inside the stadium features 380-3 way loudspeakers and 48 stadium subwoofers. Colossus TV provides a listening experience of no more than 90 feet from speakers to a guests’ ears. The quality of the system’s speakers means that there will be less than three decibels of difference among any seat in the grandstand. All of Colossus’ electrical power is certified Green for energy efficiency.

Colossus TV will be completed for the Food City 500 race weekend, April 15-17. Colossus will make the Bristol experience more immersive than ever before. We are excited to introduce you to Colossus TV in April!

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

Speedway

Awesome April

FOOD CITY 500

Seven Reasons to Attend the AWESOME April Race Weekend Need a reason to attend Bristol’s awesome April Food City 500 race weekend? Well, we’ve got seven BIG ones for your consideration:

Guests attending the Food City 500 are in for a treat as they “Listen to the Music” during The Doobie Brothers Pre-Race concert on Sunday, April 17 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The four-time GRAMMY award-winning band will bring their powerhouse rock n’ roll to one of NASCAR’s biggest races. With iconic hits such as “China Grove,” “Long Train Runnin,’” “Listen to the Music” and “Black Water,” The Doobie Brothers will get the race day party started.

Colossus: Earn bragging rights by being one of the first to see the world’s largest outdoor, permanent, center hung, four screen video display at Bristol Motor Speedway. The marvels of the engineering alone will amaze guests. Legs towering over the Speedway’s grandstands can be seen from miles away and cables fastened into massive anchors are just a few of the wonders of this enormous project. The gigantic screens and powerful new sound system that rivals the noise of a jet engine comes to life for the first time during the Food City 500 race weekend. BE THERE!

Spring 2016

Led by original members Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons, and longtime-member John McFee, the band continues to break genre barriers; most-recently releasing Southbound, an album of fan favorites re-recorded with some of country music’s biggest stars including: Blake Shelton, Zac Brown Band, Brad Paisley, and Toby Keith.

3 Dash 4 Cash Heat Racing: You won’t want to miss Saturday’s showcase of wreckers or checkers, because a big ole fat bonus is on the line! A new race format for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Dash 4 Cash is here for 2016 as Bristol Motor Speedway gears up for the first of the four shootoutstyle events. The Dash 4 Cash format will include two Heats (50 laps each) and a Main event (200 laps). Qualifying will set the 40-car field with odd-numbered qualifiers competing in the first Heat and evennumbered qualifiers contending in the second. Finishing order from the two Heats will then set the final starting spots for the Main event. The top two XFINITY Series (full-time) regulars from each Heat will then battle for the $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus.

Bush’s Beans Pole Day: Jay Bush, the great-grandson of Bush Brothers & Company founder A.J. Bush, will present the Bush’s Beans Pole Day award at Bristol Motor Speedway, April 15, 2016. Pole Day for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will kick-off the Food City 500 race weekend. Jay Bush is well known for his role with his best friend Duke, the fun loving talking golden retriever, in the popular Bush’s Baked Beans television commercials. Bush’s Grillin’ Beans are available at the Bush’s Trackside Cafes and concession stands throughout the grandstands during the Food City 500 weekend.

5 PittLite 125 K&N East Series: Following Saturday’s dynamic Heat Racing in the XFINITY Series, stick around to learn a little bit about the future stars of NASCAR at the PittLite 125. Last year Roush Fenway Racing development driver Kyle Benjamin held off William Byron and won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The victory was Benjamin’s first in a NASCAR-sanctioned race. “It’s really cool to get your first NASCAR win at Bristol Motor Speedway,” the Easley, S.C. native said. “It’s one of the tracks you really dream about winning at as a kid. To pull it off is awesome.” Byron finished .910 of a second behind Benjamin, who was the series’ third different winner in three races last season. Benjamin had raced at Bristol once before Saturday, and won that race as well. “In a Bandolero around the bottom, not up on the high banks,” he said

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

FOOD CITY 500

Speedway

Awesome April

6 NEW Jeff Gordon Terrace Opening: In a spectacular career that’s spanned more than two decades, Jeff Gordon has collected some big, big trophies for his shelf. The one that Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) awarded him last fall, though, is probably the most sizable one of all - naming a portion of the Last Great Colosseum the Jeff Gordon Terrace. “Bristol Motor Speedway plays so many roles in the industry and in our guests’ lives,” said Jerry Caldwell, general manager for BMS. “It’s a battlefield. It’s home, two or three times a year, to thousands of guests, some of whom have been coming here for generations. And it’s a monument to the legends of NASCAR. We can’t think of a better way to recognize him than to place him among our ranks of champions who have dedicated their lives to racing excellence.” A four-time Sprint Cup Series Champion, Gordon first ran at Bristol in April 1993, finishing 24th. His first Bristol win came in April 1995, when he captured his first of four consecutive spring race wins. He has logged 22,000 laps on the World’s Fastest Half-Mile, and led for 2,713 of those. Overall, Gordon’s Bristol record includes 46 starts, five victories, 17 top fives, 25 top 10s and five poles. He has been named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers and will be at the April races to christen the new Jeff Gordon Terrace.

7 NEW Sprint Cup Rookie Class: The 2016 Sprint Cup rookie class is the best crop of drivers to graduate to NASCAR’s top tour in a decade. And it couldn’t come at a better time, following a paradigm shift in the driver ranks. The sport is in need of a few fresh faces with staying power as the veterans expedite their exit strategies. With so many coveted seats up for grabs, teams are becoming smarter at grooming potential candidates. Yes, many recruits have come and gone in the last 10 years. But this group of freshman is as stout as the 2006 class, which featured rookie-of-the-year winner Denny Hamlin and runner-ups Martin Truex Jr. and Clint Bowyer. Here’s a look at the 2016 rookie contenders:

Spring 2016

Ryan Blaney — The third-generation racer describes his four years with Team Penske as “a dream come true.” And why not? Although the 22-year-old has competed part-time in Sprint Cup for the past two years, Blaney has won four races in both the XFINITY and the trucks over the last four seasons. His wins in the NXS contributed to Team Penske owner titles in the last three years. In trucks, Blaney nearly won the 2014 championship driving for his Penske teammate, Brad Keselowski, but finished second

Chris Buescher — When Front Row Motorsports needed a replacement driver at Auto Club Speedway last year, the team enlisted the services of Chris Buescher to pilot the No. 34 Ford. Although Buescher had never sat in an FRM Ford prior to that assignment, the Roush Fenway Racing driver wheeled the car to a 20th-place finish in his Cup debut. Buescher competed in four of the next five races for the team — and again at Watkins Glen in August — before concentrating solely on the task of winning his first XFINITY title. For the last seven seasons the Roush development driver has honed his skills in stock cars.

Jeffrey Earnhardt — Earnhardt has the bloodlines; now he needs the performance to match his famous name. The grandson of the late Dale Earnhardt and the nephew of NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver, Dale Jr., enjoyed a successful run in NASCAR’s K&N Pro Series but has lacked the equipment to gain traction in the sport’s top three tours. Earnhardt, 26, hopes the support from team owner Archie St. Hilaire and sponsor Can-Am will offer the jump-start he needs to compete at NASCAR’s highest level.

Chase Elliott — If Chase Elliott is feeling the pressure of following his father Bill’s footsteps and replacing Jeff Gordon in the venerable No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet or simply racing full-time in the Cup series, it’s not showing. Elliott found speed in his Daytona debut — by winning the pole for the Great American Race. But Elliott has been in training for this opportunity since before he was old enough to apply for a driver’s license. The Dawnsonville, Ga., native cut his teeth in the K&N Pro Series. After his first season, Elliott integrated ARCA into his development program. In 2013, he won his first ARCA race in his seventh career start. That same season, Elliott found Victory Lane in the Camping World Truck Series in his sixth of a nine-race run. 2014 marked a turning point in Elliott’s career when he joined the XFINITY Series. After winning in his sixth start, Elliott took the points lead then won again — the following week at Darlington. His third NXS victory of the season at Chicagoland vaulted Elliott to the top of the standings — and inevitably to the championship.

Brian Scott — At 28, Scott is the elder statesmen of the freshman class. He’s also with his third team in six seasons. But Richard Petty Motorsports has offered Scott a fresh start with a new manufacturer, a new crew chief in Chris Heroy and a renewed number — 44. Since his truck debut in 2007, Scott has gradually climbed NASCAR’s ladder. He completed two full seasons in trucks, winning at Dover at 2009, and then added a limited schedule of NXS races. In 2010, Scott moved full-time to the XFINITY Series. He settled in the following season at Joe Gibbs Racing for two years and drove for Richard Childress Racing in 2014 and 2015.

1 Bass Pro Drive, Bristol, TN 37621 (423) 990-5200 Monday–Saturday: 9AM–9PM Sunday: 10AM–7PM BASSPRO.COM 28

Spring 2016

BP160531

NIGHT OF THE

B AT B A S S AT BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY

8.20.16 The BatBass signal in the sky is your cue to enter for a chance to win an exclusive Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race experience! Two lucky racing fans will win a once-in-a-lifetime premium package valued at $8,000, including hotel, airfare, hot passes and suite tickets for four to the fiercest and most popular race in NASCAR. As one of Car and Driver’s “10 Events To See Before You Die,” don’t miss this opportunity to watch your favorite teams battle on the High Banks under the night lights of the World’s Fastest Half-Mile. To enter, purchase your raffle tickets for $10 at:

WinWithNRA.com

SECTION SUBHEAD

Section Title

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Dakota Hamilton: ETSU Athletic Media Relations | Sports Photojournalist

Spring 2016

Football

ETSU/WCU FOOTBALL

BMS Hosts ETSU vs Western Carolina Week After Pilot Flying J Battle At Bristol Bristol Motor Speedway is ready for ETSU’s return to Southern Conference (SoCon) football as the host site of the Buccaneers season opener against Western Carolina, a game that is sure to be a community-wide gathering. ETSU, which is playing a full SoCon schedule this upcoming season, will host the Catamounts on Saturday, Sept. 17 at the Last Great Colosseum. The game will take place one weekend after the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol featuring the University of Tennessee and Virginia Tech. The football games are just a few of the events that make Bristol a true multi-sport complex. “It’s exciting for us to support ETSU’s return to football and offer these athletes an experience they’ll never forget,” said Jerry Caldwell, executive vice president and general manager of BMS. Having the Bucs at Bristol is our way of joining hands with the local community in ETSU PRIDE while generating visibility for their new football program. “Backing this game also falls in line with one of our key initiatives called; It’s MY Bristol, Baby! The campaign encourages local residents and businesses to feel a sense of ownership - a part of the family - of this legendary Speedway. Naturally, hosting a home game for ETSU, an extended family member, just makes sense for us and will be memorable for regional football enthusiasts for years to come.” ETSU football head coach Carl Torbush and the Buccaneers know the significance of playing at Bristol Motor Speedway and are excited to be part of this historic event. “We are very excited about this opportunity to play at Bristol Motor Speedway,” said Torbush. “We are very appreciative of Jerry Caldwell and everyone at BMS in making this happen. They are great supporters and friends of our program. It has taken a lot of hard work from those at BMS, ETSU, Western Carolina and the Southern Conference in putting all this together and we are thrilled to be making this announcement. Scott Carter and our administrative staff have also put in a lot of hard work in helping making this possible. Not only will this will be a historic event for the schools, but also our fans, the conference and FCS Football. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for our players, coaches, staff, university and fans.”

Western Carolina head coach Mark Speir grew up in NASCAR country, so he’s looking forward to renewing the rivalry with ETSU in such a storied venue such as Bristol Motor Speedway. “We are first of all very excited about the renewal of the Southern Conference football rivalry between Western Carolina and ETSU,” said Speir. “We’re looking forward to being the first SoCon team to welcome Buccaneer football back to the SoCon – and to be able to do so in such a storied American sports venue like Bristol Motor Speedway is an awesome opportunity for both of our programs. Bristol is an iconic emblem in one of America’s most popular sports, NASCAR. It’s especially cool for me, a guy from Kannapolis, N.C., who grew up in the heart of NASCAR country and has been a fan all my life, to have our team compete on that stage in what will be transformed into college football’s largest stadium. This is a great opportunity for our program and our fans.” ETSU Season Ticket Holders will receive a general admission ticket to the game at BMS with their season ticket package. Reserved seating upgrades and parking will be available when purchasing ETSU season tickets. If you are an ETSU season ticket holder and have questions, please call the ETSU Ticket Office at 423-439-4828. An allotment of ETSU student tickets will be available through the university at a later date. Other guests planning to attend may place a deposit through the BMS Ticket Office at 866-415-4158 or 423-BRISTOL. Early bird ticket prices are $25 for General Admission, $40 for Reserved seating and $55 for Battlefield seats on the track near the sidelines. Groups of 50 or more may call BMS about special pricing. Youth tickets for children 18 and under and students from other schools with official I.D. may purchase tickets through BMS for $15. The Buccaneers are coming off their first season since 2003, playing as a FCS Independent in 2015. Meanwhile, Western Carolina went 7-4 overall, 5-2 in SoCon play last year. ETSU and Western Carolina have played 45 times with the first game of the series being contested in 1932.

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

EMPLOYEE PROFILE

Speedway

Evelyn Hicks

Employee Profile: Evelyn Hicks, V.P. of Ticketing Systems By: David Compton For over 27 years, Evelyn Hicks has helped fans from all over the world get tickets to the numerous events that are held here at Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway. A local to the Tri-Cities, Evelyn has seen growth not only at the track, but also growth in the community. Evelyn, one of the key employees in BMS ticketing operations, and I sat down to learn more about her time here at BMS, as well as what she likes to do away from the Last Great Colosseum.

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

EMPLOYEE PROFILE

Speedway

Evelyn Hicks

What do you do here at Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway? I am the Vice President of Ticketing Systems. My main role is to set up all ticketed events and price codes. I also perform a lot of the backend work on the ticketing systems so that our sellers are able to sell tickets to our events.

Family: This year my husband and I will celebrate our 40th anniversary. We have two wonderful daughters, Rebecca and Leah of whom we are very proud. We also have two great sons-in-law, Heath and Chase. We currently have three adorable grandchildren with a fourth on the way. Their names are Wyatt, Caroline, Bryn and Cam. Not many people get to work with a sibling, what is it like to be able to work with your sister Shelia at BMS?

How long have you worked at BMS?

I have always lived in the Bristol/Blountville area.

I love working with my sister. Sheila and I are very, very close and there is only 14 months between us in age so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s almost like having a twin sister. I admire her because she does such a great job here and with raising four children. If it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t for her, I would not be at BMS. She worked for Larry Carrier and when he needed someone else, she informed me about the job and I have been here ever since.

What college or university did you attend?

What is your favorite memory from working at BMS?

My husband and I married sort of young and I did not go to college right out of high school. I always wanted a college degree, so in 2001, I decided to get it. I continued to work full time so I went to school at night and I graduated from Virginia Intermont College in 2005

There are really a lot of great memories from working here, but one of my favorite memories is when we were adding some of the grandstands here. Most of the time we would be under a time crunch while we were building new grandstand sections, because you had to be able to get everything completed and cleaned up

I have worked here for almost 28 years. Where did you grow up?

Spring 2015 Winter 2016

EMPLOYEE PROFILE

Speedway

Evelyn Hicks

before that next race. Former track president Jeff Byrd threw a picnic for us one time during the construction and he brought Dale Earnhardt with him. It was really exciting because we all got to interact with Dale and it was a time to relax amid the chaotic times. But the best part was Jeff then brought Dale into the ticket office to answer a few phone calls. One of the first calls he answered was a man calling about camping and an issue he was having. It was funny because at that time I was in charge of camping and Dale came back and told me a man was on the phone, having an issue with camping. What is crazy about this story is that I had just gotten done typing a letter to that man, resolving the issue. I printed off the copy of the letter and Dale signed it for him. I still have a photocopy of that letter in my office. Another great memory is when our former PR person brought Tony Stewart into the ticket office to sell tickets. That was a lot of fun and Tony was great. He enjoyed interacting with the customers and I helped him sell a few tickets. As you know Bruton Smith was just inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, what has it been like working for Bruton?

It’s been quite an honor and a privilege working for him. Bruton has done so much for this community with Speedway Children’s Charities and it’s just amazing to see what that alone has done for not only the Tri-Cities but the surrounding areas. He has done so much and he has changed the landscape here for the better. What is your favorite food? I would definitely have to say peanut butter. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I enjoy playing with my grandchildren and really like knitting and reading. I also like to ride bicycles with my husband. Bristol Motor Speedway started the tradition of letting drivers pick the intro songs during driver introductions, what song would you pick for your walk out song? “Jesus Take The Wheel” by Carrie Underwood and anyone riding with me would say the same!

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

IT’S BRISTOL BABY

Speedway

Bruton & Bristol

Bruton and Bristol, 20 Years Later By: Ben Trout On January 22, 1996, Bruton Smith sent a charge through the Tri-Cities region of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, as well as the entire NASCAR world. It was on that day Smith and his Speedway Motorsports Inc., formally announced the purchase of Bristol International Raceway.

A lot has happened around this joint in 20 years. The first race under the SMI umbrella was the 1996 Food City 500 (pictured), a race that saw Jeff Gordon win his second consecutive spring event. Just two months later, the track’s name was officially changed to Bristol Motor Speedway.

Questions immediately began to circulate. “Will he take away one of the races for his newly-constructed Texas Motor Speedway?” Or, as many asked, “Is he going to shut down the track and share the dates with Texas and Las Vegas?”

Since then? New grandstands, more restrooms, more campsites, more concession stands, elevator towers and the list goes on.

Nope, no-sir-ee, notta… Any and all questions soon were answered. This man had a vision.

The cool thing? Mr. Smith placed Bristol fans at the forefront. It wasn’t until the necessary fan amenities were in place that he added a new office building for staff and new infield buildings to accommodate the media and race weekend industry needs.

Smith purchased the track from Larry Carrier at the price of $26 million. At the time of the sale, the facility seated approximately 71,000.

Another cool thing? Mr. Smith has often been asked, “Bruton, why don’t you build another Bristol somewhere?” His answer is simple. “I could build another half-mile track in Anywhere, USA. But I could never build another Bristol. It’s more than just a track. It’s the region, the hospitality offered, the tradition… It’s truly just one-of-a-kind.”

Mission accomplished.

The newly elected NASCAR Hall of Fame member keeps on revolutionizing Bristol, as this April we’ll unveil “Colossus,” the world’s largest center-hung,four-sided video board, as well as a new 540,000-watt 428-speaker sound system… Not to mention hosting the Battle at Bristol football game this September, featuring the University of Tennessee pitted against Virginia Tech, in what is expected to be the largest attended football game in history.

That’s been twenty years ago. To some, twenty years may seem like a very long time. To others, it’s simply just the flip of the page.

In looking back at SMI’s 20-year Bristol history, one can only imagine what the future holds.

Current Bristol GM Jerry Caldwell often shares the story that when Smith was courting the late BMS President and General Manager Jeff Byrd to leave the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company to lead Bristol, he told Byrd, “One day we’ll have more than 150,000 seats and the place will be completely bowled in.”

Spring 2016

ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BRISTOL BABY

Speedway

Bruton & Bristol

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

Speedway

2016 ADVANCE HANDICAP PERMIT APPLICATION

PARKING FOR SPECIAL NEEDS GUESTS ADVANCE APPLICATION FOR ADA PARKING LOTS ENABLES SPECIAL NEEDS GUESTS TO PARK CARS CLOSER TO THEIR SEATS If you, or any member of your party, require handicap parking when attending one of the NASCAR events at Bristol Motor Speedway, we ask that you complete an advance application for a BMS-issued permit. A BMS-issued permit helps guests obtain the closest available handicap parking to their seats. Anyone planning to use a state-issued placard should send copies of the placard and the supporting documentation in advance, along with this application form, so the BMS Events Department can issue advance permits for the appropriate parking lots. The documentation required (registration card, receipt, state-recognized disabilities ID card, driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license, or original approved application forms) is the

same reviewed by law enforcement officials at the entrances to handicap lots.

of Tennessee law as fraudulently using a state-issued placard.

Individuals with temporary disabilities should submit medical documentation with an application to receive the BMS-issued permit.

Guests who do not apply in advance and only have state-issued placards should enter at the Dragway Entrance (Hwy. 394). Law enforcement officials will check documentation to ensure that the person to whom the permit is issued is in the vehicle. If additional parking is available at the time of arrival, guests will be directed to those parking areas.

Space is limited in the various parking areas and will be assigned, when possible, based on seating location as well as first to apply, first served. After applications are received, notification will be sent to the applicant confirming or denying the request. BMSissued permits will be mailed approximately one month prior to the race. Law enforcement officials will be at the South and Dragway Entrance checkpoints to ensure that the name on the BMS-issued permit matches a photo ID of the occupant of the vehicle using the permit. Transferring a BMS-issued permit to another person should be considered the same violation

Please note that these permit procedures do not apply to reserved seat wheelchair guests. Reserved wheelchair seating and parking guests should contact Beverly Buster at 423-989-6902. For all other handicap parking questions, contact Steve Jackson at 423-989-6935 or sjackson@bristolmotorspeedway.com. If you applied for parking in 2015, you must apply again for 2016 parking.

2016 Advance Special Needs Parking Permit Application Deadline for application: Two Months Before Each Race or Once Annually (User must have state-issued disabilities placard to apply for this permit)

Full Name___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (As it appears on documentation and photo ID)

Address:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

RLY A E L State Issued Plate/Placard Permit Number_______________________________________________________________________________ TC N I R EP S Email Address _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ A E PL City, State, ZIP_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Daytime Phone_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

SEAT LOCATIONS (please fill out seat information per event)

XFINITY Series 300_________________________________________________________________ Acct #____________________________ (April - Saturday XFINITY)

Grandstand

Section

Row

Seat

Sprint Cup 500_____________________________________________________________________ Acct #____________________________ (April - Sunday Sprint Cup)

Grandstand

Section

Row

Seat

CWTC 200/ Whelen Modifieds 150____________________________________________________ Acct #____________________________ (August - Wednesday Truck/Modified)

Grandstand

Section

Row

Seat

XFINITY 300_______________________________________________________________________ Acct #____________________________ (August - Friday XFINITY)

Grandstand

Section

Row

Seat

Sprint Cup 500 ____________________________________________________________________ Acct #____________________________ (August - Saturday Sprint Cup)

Grandstand

Section

Row

Seat

Note: Seat Location and Ticket Account Number are required. Ticket holder and parking permit user may or may not be the same person. Parking will be assigned by seat location. Send this COMPLETED form, PLUS a photo copy of the state-issued permit, PLUS a copy of supporting documentation (registration card, receipt, handicap ID card, driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license, or original approved application forms) to obtain or use the permit TO: ATTN: Steve Jackson, BMS Events Dept., PO Box 3966, Bristol, TN, 37625; or fax to 423-764-0002. Retain a copy of completed application for your records.

Signature of permit user ____________________________________________________________________________ Downloadable applications are available at www.bristolmotorspeedway.com

Spring 2016

SECTION SUBHEAD

Section Title

Story Title

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

THE LOW PRICES DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T STOP WHEN THE CHECKERED FLAG DROPS. Gear up for grilling season with great prices, all summer long at your neighborhood Food City.

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