Bristol Magazine | Summer 2015 | Volume 8, Issue 2 by Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

SUMMER 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ VOLUME 8, ISSUE 2

MOTOR SPEEDWAY & DRAGWAY

IRWIN Tools Night Race Get Ready For The Night Race

Thunder In The Valley 2015 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Review

My Bristol Favorites Captain of Fun-tainment, Jose Castillo Lets You In On His Secret Spots

SECTION SUBHEAD Section Title

Story Title

Contents

FEATURES

18 3

IRWIN TOOLS NIGHT RACE PREVIEW

NHRA RECAP STORY

Jerry’s Letter Ready for August

26 7

Employee Spotlight Speedway World Staff

BRISTOL HIGHLIGHTS

Chow Down... Portico

PHOTOS

iBelong Profile Randy Bird

Sponsor Spotlight Yee-Haw Brewing Co.

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

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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.

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Summer 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

We have so much to be grateful for at Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway. Fresh changes and long-time traditions are taking place here, and every day we see something to celebrate! One big change in 2015 has been the later date for the spring race weekend. The switch from March to April brought warmer temperatures for our guests, and a time for us to enjoy what we love so much, a weekend of racing and being together as a family. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of Bristol Dragway, and it was great to see our hometown hero and two-time Funny Car Champion, Matt Hagan of Christiansburg, Va., take home his first Wally from the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in June. The weekend brought a lot of tough competition, with Erica Enders defending her Bristol Dragway Pro Stock win, and young Aussie Richie Crampton winning the Top Fuel Wally and having a great time after his Rookie of the Year campaign. We’re looking forward to a lot of great events this August. If you’ve got tickets to the IRWIN Tools Night Race on August 22, know that you’re going to share a one-of-a kind experience with fans from all 50 states and more than 20 foreign countries. That is one big Bristol family! There’ll be so much to see, including Food City Race Night in downtown Bristol on Thursday, August 20. Speedway Children’s Charities will be hosting a live memorabilia auction, as well as the Flex Seal Charity Cornhole Classic, and nobody, but nobody should miss Jeff Gordon’s final racing appearance in the Last Great Colosseum. In this issue of the magazine we recap all the great action at the Dragway, welcome our new sponsor the Yee-Haw Brewing Company, and clue you in on some of Jose Castillo’s regional favorites. You can also check in with Fred King on his restaurant pick, and read about one of our Hawaii iBelong season ticket holders as we salute our military fans. We get up each morning proud to have the best fans in the industry. Whether you’re from next door or the next continent over, the energy you bring is amazing, and we’re proud to go to work for you. See you in August!

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

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Restaurant Review

Portico

Portico Johnson City, TN

ell, a lot of exciting things have happened since the last issue of Bristol Magazine. First of all, we had our first Spring NASCAR event on the new April date and it was a huge success. Sure, it might have been a little wet on Sunday, but the temperature for the weekend was right where we expected it to be…. high 60’s to mid 70’s. Next year, we’ll get rid of the rain, and it will be perfect. Also, since the last issue, we’ve reached the half way point in the NASCAR season, and things are heating up as we get closer to the big race in August and the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Hmmm, let’s see, what else has happened? Oh yeah, I retired after almost 20 years with the speedway, and am embarking on a new career as a professional golfer. I started taking lessons shortly after my last day, and I figure after a couple more weeks I should be ready. How hard can it be? Right?

is operated by the same group that owns The Label also located in Johnson City and Stir Fry located in Kingsport. Both of these restaurants have been extremely successful in the area and Portico appears destined to follow this tradition.

great dinner spot for your group on any night leading up to the weekend. But, if you’re here just for the weekend, Portico is open for lunch, and would be the perfect place to begin your day before heading to the track.

Portico offers a truly unique dining experience from the ambiance of inside and outside (a covered porch) dining areas to a full range menu which offers the usual fish, pork, beef and poultry entrees, but also boasts a wide variety of pasta dishes and Neapolitan style pizzas. But what makes Portico really stand out among other restaurants in the area is its tapas, “small plate”, menu that includes Fried Manchego, Papas Bravas, Beef Empanadas, Shrimp al Ajillo, and eleven other offerings.

As I have said, the menu is extensive and offers a variety of choices that should So you are asking yourself, if he’s retired, please anyone in your group. My favorite why is he still writing these goofy restaurant dish is the Balsamic Mushroom Meatball reviews for the track magazine? Well, that’s pasta dish also known in menu lingo the good news for both you and me. For me, as “tagliatelle (wide) pasta tossed in because I get to do something I love to do, balsamic mushroom cream with a pair of i.e., eat and write about it. For you, because handmade meatballs topped with shaved you still have a chance to win a night on the parmesan cheese”. Yum, very good. town during the August race week that also includes cold passes for the afternoon of the The prices will fit into any fan’s food budget. Saturday night race (See below). So let’s get The aforementioned pasta dish is a mere to it…my first restaurant review as a retiree. $15, and the most expensive item on the menu, steak, is only $23. Portico offers all This issue’s eatery is Portico, a new entry into your favorite beverages, including cocktails, the Tri-Cities dining scene. The restaurant, wine and beer. So, for August, if you’re in located on Bristol Hwy. in Johnson City town for the whole week, Portico would be a

So, you’re thinking, when is he going to tell me how to win garage passes for the big race in August? Well, that would be now……. Want to have dinner with me and Judy on Thursday of August race week? Then you should enter my “Heck Yeah, I want to Chow Down With My Hero, Fred” contest. I’ll take three lucky couples (three winners and each of their guests) out on the town the Thursday night of the big August race week. I’ll pick you up in my private limo and we’ll head off to eat at one of the finest restaurants in the tri-city area. You and your guest will each receive a very special gift bag full of a bunch of neat Bristol gear (over $250 worth). Finally, to top it off, I’ll give everyone an infield “cold pass” good for admission to the pits on Saturday afternoon of the IRWIN Tools Night Race. You’ll meet new friends, have a great night on the town, and get a chance to experience the Last Great Colosseum like you never have before. What else would you expect … It’s Bristol Baby! I’ll select winners sometime in mid to late July and notify you in plenty of time to make plans. So E-mail me at kingf@bristolmotorspeedway. com and tell me why you want to chow down with me, in style, on Thursday night of the IRWIN Tools Night Race week.

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 IRWIN TOOLS NIGHT RACE

TO ENTER: EMAIL KINGF@BRISTOLMOTORSPEEDWAY.COM AND TELL ME WHY YOU SHOULD WIN.

CONTEST

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

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

PORTICO

By: Fred King

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Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

iBelong

Randy Bird

Hawaii resident loves trips to BMS By: Jeff Birchfield Where does someone living in paradise go on vacation? Bristol Motor Speedway, of course. For Randy Bird, a retired Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy living in Kapolei, Hawaii, there are no trips he looks forward to more than his two visits every year to Bristol Motor Speedway. It’s literally like the tagline, “It’s not just a race. It’s Bristol, baby.” Bird loves the action with the Food City 500, IRWIN Tools Night Race, qualifying and the support races. But his Bristol experience is as much about community and an extended family. “The people we camp with near the track, we have people from Tennessee, New York, Michigan and my brother comes in from North Carolina. We all meet there twice a year,” Bird said. “We’re up to 25 people now and with the friendships, it’s more like a big family.”

“Used to, they had the lottery there,” he said. “You actually had to be picked in the lottery to get tickets. We only had two at the time, but now I’ve got 18 tickets.” Being from Syracuse, home of the former DIRT Nationals, it’s no wonder that Bird is such a fan of the short tracks. There was one dirt track two miles from where he grew up and another track close by in Oswego, N.Y., where the Super Modifieds raced and his uncle served as an ambulance driver. As a youngster, Bird would hop a ride in the ambulance to get inside the track. That short-track action on a much larger scale is why he loves the racing so much at Bristol Motor Speedway. However, this year’s trip is a little bittersweet for Bird. “Unfortunately, my favorite driver is Jeff Gordon and he’s retiring,” Bird said. “He’s someone I’ve followed since he raced on dirt.”

They obviously like watching the stars of NASCAR zip around the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile” in 15-second laps. And afterwards, they often partake in the traditional campground activities like cornhole and hanging around the campfire.

Gordon, who has since gone on to become a four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, will be looking for a sixth Bristol win—his first since his memorable bumpand-run on the last lap against Rusty Wallace in 2002.

They also use the opportunity to visit some of the Tri-Cities area’s golf courses, and a friend in Bristol will swing by to take the group out to nearby South Holston Lake on his boat.

No matter how his favorite driver does, Bird, who now works on the military base where he used to serve as a civil service employee, is sure to have a good time.

No stranger to being on the water, the Syracuse, New York native served on a number of ships, including the USS O’Brien, during his active duty stint. He traveled to far-flung places over the globe, and was stationed stateside in San Diego from 1983-88 before being sent to international assignments in Spain, Iceland, Japan and Korea. Still, there is something about the all-American roar of an eight-cylinder engine in a souped-up stock car that makes Bird wild about NASCAR and its most popular track. He still remembers the first time he was able to get Bristol tickets in 2007.

‘Every race at Bristol, there is no place in the world like it. Bristol is just awesome.’ “One year where they selected people from every state and all the countries attending the race to participate in the opening ceremonies, my brother and I did that and it was cool,” said Bird. “Every race at Bristol, there is no place in the world like it. Bristol is just awesome.”

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

PREVIEW

Speedway

Hot Summer Nights

BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Hot Summer Nights

NASCAR Fan Favorite Weekend Returns By: David Compton

Summer 2015

PREVIEW

Speedway

Hot Summer Nights

Few experiences are as big as those at Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS), where race week events spill out of the Last Great Colosseum, take over hundreds of acres, and overflow from Tennessee into Virginia. Voted a Top 5 Motorsports Race in all of the world by the USA Today Reader’s Choice Awards—the only NASCAR event that made the list—the IRWIN Tools Night Race at BMS draws guests from all 50 states and more than 20 foreign countries. The days leading up to the big event are packed with opportunities to meet drivers, sample great food, hear homegrown music, and take in the rush and rumble of racing at the World’s Fastest Half Mile. The action begins Wednesday, August 19 with a doubleheader—the NASCAR Whelen Modified Bush’s Beans 150, followed by the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series UNOH 200. In 2014, the Bush’s Beans 150 brought wild unpredictability with nine lead changes, 13 cautions, and the sight of rookie Tommy Barrett Jr. leading 53 laps to out-muscle vets Justin Bonsignore and Bobby Santos. Excitement continues with the UNOH 200, an event that regularly mixes seasoned veterans with up-and-coming drivers. Last year, Brad

Keselowski battled Kyle Busch early on and took his own equipment, the BKR truck, to Victory Lane. Thursday, August 20 brings food, fireworks, a 5K under the lights, and more. Starting at 1 p.m., Food City Race Night takes over State Street in downtown Bristol, TN./ Va. Regularly drawing crowds of 60,000, it’s one of the most popular fan events in NASCAR, serving up several city blocks of driver interactions, food vendors, and live music. Watch for the brass plaques marked Tennessee/ Virginia in the center of the street--take a selfie with a foot in each state! Festivities run until 9 p.m. For more information, check out www.foodcity.com/racing/. Once you’re done on State Street, stroll down to Volunteer Parkway and set up your chair to watch the the biggest, longest-running parade of team haulers in NASCAR. The Transporter Parade leaves the Pinnacle at 9 p.m. and takes a nine-mile route to the Speedway, arriving at approximately 10 p.m. Fireworks will be shot from four different locations along the route, with a party celebrating the trucks’ arrival. Fans who’d rather run than sit can take part in the second annual Speedway Children’s Charities Night Race 5K. Racers will follow a winding route that includes a sprint down Thunder Valley’s legendary drag strip, a spin around the Speedway’s challenging high banks, and a finish line party celebrating the arrival of NASCAR’s finest haulers as they pull in to the track. Proceeds benefit the Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities. For more information, visit www.bristol.speedwaycharities. org. Register early—in 2014, spots sold out quickly!

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

PREVIEW

Speedway

Hot Summer Nights

Racing action heats back up on Friday, August 21 when NASCAR’s two top Series hit the track for a day of practice and qualifying. Practice sessions for Sprint Cup take place midday, followed by XFINITY Series qualifying for the Food City 300, and Sprint Cup Series qualifying, sponsored by Bass Pro Shops. That evening, see rising stars like Chase Elliott and Ty Dillon mix it up with vets like Elliot Sadler and Kyle Busch in the Food City 300! Saturday, August 22 showcases the stars of NASCAR, from Dale Jr., Jimmie Johnson to Kevin Harvick— and in his final racing appearance at Bristol—Jeff Gordon. It’s a performance fans have anticipated for weeks, following the announcement that Axalta is bringing back Gordon’s iconic rainbow warrior paint scheme for the IRWIN Tools Night Race. It’s a heartfelt return for Penske driver Joey Logano as well. In 2014, he notched his first Sprint Cup victory at Bristol by holding off teammate Brad Keselowski, a win he said was the biggest of his career, and one that helped

Summer 2015

him finish 4 th in the Sprint Cup Series final standings. This past spring, Logano again mastered the halfmile, leading every single lap and taking the checkered flag in the XFINITY Series Drive to Stop Diabetes. Fans will be watching to see whether his luck here continues—there’s never a guarantee at Bristol, baby! Tickets to the IRWIN Tools Night Race are available. Singleday tickets start at just $74, with weekend packages as low as $99. Additionally, IRWIN Tools Night Race ticket holders are eligible to reserve tickets to the Battle at Bristol, college football’s biggest-ever game. Scheduled for September 10, 2016, the Battle pits border rivals the University of Tennessee and Virginia Tech against each other in the Speedway stadium. The quantity of tickets each account holder can reserve is based on the customer’s Priority Points, and the only way to guarantee Battle at Bristol tickets is to become a BMS season ticket holder. For information on reserving a seat at Bristol, visit BristolTix.com or call (855) 773-5324

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

2014 NASCAR REVIEW

Speedway

2014 NASCAR Review

Spring 2015

Dragway

2015 NHRA RECAP

Thunder in the Valley Rumbles Again By: Jeff Birchfield Photos: Harold Hinson Photo

The 50th anniversary party for Bristol Dragway ended with a blast. The NHRA Drag Racing Series Thunder Valley Nationals, held June 19-21, generated near-capacity crowds, recordsetting runs and plenty of Fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day memories.

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

Dragway

2015 NHRA RECAP With a national ESPN audience watching live on Sunday afternoon for the first time from Bristol, the event concluded with a pair of first-time winners along with another charge from a motorsports trailblazer.

Richie Crampton, a native of Australia, could appreciate the raw emotions of Hagan after his victory in Top Fuel.

For Funny Car driver and cattle farmer Matt Hagan, the victory had extra meaning since he lives less than two hours from Bristol in Christiansburg, Virginia.

The former pit crew member for the Morgan Lucas Racing team and 2014 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award winner won the famed U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis last season, but had never tasted victory at Thunder Valley before his Father’s Day triumph over three-time world champ Larry Dixon.

In a final round matchup between Don Schumacher Racing teammates, Hagan posted a time of 4.164-seconds at 303.23 mph in the familiar Rocky Boots Dodge Charger en route to his 18th career victory. Ron Capps was close behind with a run of 4.186 at 307.02 mph.

“It’s huge to win at this historic race track. Bristol was one of my favorite tracks to come to as a crew member and now it’s the same as a driver,” Crampton said. “We’ve struggled here in the past, and last year I didn’t have a lot of success. To win at another iconic race track like this, it’s huge.”

“This is as big a win as the Indy race for me. I’ve been wanting to win here at Bristol that bad,” said Hagan, the defending and two-time Funny Car world champion. “I’ve got so many fans and so many family members who come to this race.

Crampton blasted down Thunder Valley dragstrip in his Lucas Oil dragster in a time of 3.884 at 321.04 mph. The victory was Crampton’s third straight final round conquest over Dixon.

“My mom and dad came out, and my wife and kids are here on Father’s Day and it makes it so, so special. It’s nice to get four win lights and hold up the Wally at the end of the day.”

Spring 2015

“To have a winning record over a former world champion is pretty exciting for me,” Crampton said. “I can’t believe we keep racing each other in final rounds. The law of averages says he is going to get me back real soon.”

Dragway

2015 NHRA RECAP With her 16th career victory, Enders moves just two wins behind One of the loudest cheers of the day came in the Pro Stock final when Erica Enders earned her second straight Thunder Valley victory. Shirley Muldowney on the career victory list for women. In 2014, Enders became the first woman to win a championship in the hyper-competitive Pro Stock class. Enders is also just one of three women to win a pro title in the Series. With her performance at Bristol, Enders proved that she’s a contender for a championship repeat with her Elite Motorsports team led by the father and son crew chief combo of Rick and Rickie Jones. “I’m not shy to say that Bristol is one of my favorite places to race. It’s always been good to me,” Enders said. Enders, who was once the subject of a Disney movie, executed a run of 6.685 at 206.95 in her Chevy Camaro. Chris McGaha followed at 6.689 at 207.46 in his second career final. “I guess every driver has their track that no matter what you do wrong, it always ends up right, even if it’s not always pretty. That was what last year here was for. Today we earned it,” Enders said.

Just before the start of eliminations, Bristol Dragway co-founder Carl Moore from Bristol, Tennessee, was inducted into the Legends of Thunder Valley along with former driver and current car owner Connie Kalitta. Moore was a co-founder of both Bristol Dragway and Bristol Motor Speedway, along with Bristol native Larry Carrier. With its ear-popping sounds and eye-pleasing location between two ridges, Thunder Valley has long been one of the signature events in drag racing for fans and competitors. Bristol Dragway, which is now owned by Bruton Smith, opened in 1965. “I never thought the dragway would grow this big, but it’s something that the entire region can be proud of,” said Moore, just before the induction ceremony. “I just wish people like Larry, Shirl [Greer] and Jeff [Byrd] could be here to enjoy it with me.”

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

Summer 2015

2015 NHRA RECAP Dragway

Dragway

2015 NHRA RECAP Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

Don’t let a minor illness or injury keep you from enjoying the race.

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Area Attractions

MY BRISTOL FAVORITES

Clockwise: Birthplace of Country Music (Malcolm Wilson photography) , The Bristol Sign (Believe in Bristol), Black Bird Bakery (Camellia Digital Agency ), Palâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Drive Thru (Creative Energy); Creeper Trail (Jason Barnette)

Summer 2015

Area Attractions By: Jose Castillo

the at-track emcee and entertainment captain at Bristol Motor Speedway, I have the humbling task of interacting with fans and drivers up on the big screens, entertaining the best race fans in the world during events. While many folks have seen me and know that I love Bristol, they may not realize this is also where I call home. I’ve lived here for 25 years, and worked at the Last Great Colosseum for nearly a decade. So when I was asked to share some of my favorite things to do in the area, it was tough to narrow it down! Here, though, are a few cool things you can do close to the track. Let’s fire up the engines and drop the green flag on Jose’s Bristol Favorites!

Things to Do Now it’s time to work off those calories with a walk down historic State Street in downtown Bristol. Bronze plaques along the center stripe mark where the state line splits the road, and during Food City Race Night you can have your picture made with one foot in Virginia, the other in Tennessee. Look a few blocks East and you’ll be greeted by the iconic Bristol sign, proudly proclaiming this dual city “A Good Place To Live.” Snap a selfie with the sign and plaques and let your friends on Facebook know it’s also a wonderful place to visit.

UncleBucksFishBowl/Bristol/) Appetizers, sandwiches, flatbreads, and 12 lanes of underwater bowling! Check out the secret pool table room between the bowling alleys.

Lunch, Dinner, and Beyond All this music has made me hungry, so let’s stop in at one of the many fantastic restaurants along State Street and grab a delicious appetizer. 620 State is an upscale restaurant and music venue with AmericanAsian cuisine and an extensive local beer menu. Perfect for snacks and beverages, with fresh sushi and amazing burgers and steaks—and you have to try the lamb Right around the corner is the Birthplace lollipops. These small, bone-in lamb chops of Country Music Museum (www. are glazed with a red wine sauce and will Breakfast birthplaceofcountrymusic.org.) Beginning disappear faster than your kids’ Halloween Breakfast is the most important meal of with the original 1927 recording sessions candy. Pair with a local craft beer from the day, at least that’s what my mother here in Bristol, country music has been an Holston River Brewing Company (www. always tells me, and I’m not going to argue influence on musicians and genres around hrbrewing.com) , Bristol Brewery (www. with her. Right across the state line in the world. This brand-new, Smithsonianbristolbrew.com,) Damascus Brewery (www. Bristol, Virginia is a breakfast stop that will affiliated museum is filled with 24,000 square thedamascusbrewery.com) or Yee-Haw make everyone happy, momma included. feet of interactive exhibits, galleries, and Brewing (www.yeehawbrewing.com.) Since 2008, the Blackbird Bakery (www. musical programs. Immerse yourself in blackbirdbakerybristol.com) has been serving the music’s origins and explore how it has Honorable Mentions: up homemade doughnuts, pastries, desserts, grown as it spread around the world. Be Pal’s (www.palsweb.com) Get a and excellent coffee. With rows of lighted sure to check out the web site for updates Sauceburger with cheese, Frenchie Fries, glass cases packed with tasty delights, it on exhibits, especially the live bands and a Peachy Tea, and thank me later. can be hard to choose just one thing. But musicians who frequently play on site. if you only get one treat, you gotta have Ridgewood Barbecue, so famous the blueberry glazed doughnut. With flecks Honorable Mentions: they don’t have a Web site, and blue of real blueberries and bright blue-purple The Virginia Creeper Trail (www. cheese dressing so good they serve it icing that Homer Simpson would drool over, vacreepertrail.com) Thirty-four miles of in a bowl with a side of crackers. this doughnut is epic. Grab a coffee, enjoy repurposed railroad bed wind through your doughnut in the upstairs “nest” of the mountains, offering gorgeous views Cootie Brown’s (www.cootiebrowns. the old historic corner building, and don’t for walkers and bicyclists. Rent a bike com) Have the tamales with Valentina hot forget extras to bring back to the track. in Abingdon for a short excursion, sauce. Then cool off with the key lime pie. or grab a shuttle in Damascus for a Honorable Mentions: ride up to White Top. The 17-mile The checkered flag flies! All these spots The Manna Bagel Company ride is all downhill from there. are winners, and if you go, feel free to (www.mannabagel.com) Three share your experience with us on Twitter words: Home. Made. Bagels! Pointer Brand (www.pointerbrand.com) or Instagram. We’d love to hear about your The L.C. King Manufacturing Company favorites and see some action shots of Burger Bar has made hand-sewn jeans, overalls, and you enjoying the best place in the world. (www.theoriginalburgerbar.com) Have coats for 100 years. You’ll see their clothes Hope to see you all in August, stay spicy! a great Saturday morning breakfast on farms as well as fashion runways! at this 50’s-era diner where Hank Visit the factory store and stock up--the Tag your posts and pics with Williams, Sr. ate his last meal. Hickory Stripe Barn Coat is my favorite. #BristolFavorites and you can follow us @thinkjose and @BMSupdates Uncle Buck’s Fish Bowl & Grill at Bass Pro on Twitter and Instagram. Shops (www.restaurants.basspro.com/

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

MY BRISTOL FAVORITES

My Bristol Favorites...

Left-to-Right: Rita Miller, Greg Cole and Caroline Goforth

Employee Profile

SPEEDWAY WORLD

Employee Spotlight: By: David Compton Been to Bristol? Got the t-shirt to prove it? If so, it’s because of the efforts of a dedicated team that’s worked together for more than 15 years. Speedway World, located inside the Bruton Smith Building at Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS), is the track’s centrally located, year-round merchandiser. During events, the store operates as many as 46 additional locations throughout the property. We talked with Greg Cole, Rita Miller and Caroline Goforth to learn more about what it’s like to cater to hundreds of thousands of race fans. For each of you, what is your job description? Greg: I am the merchandise manager for Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway. I am over the warehouse and Speedway World operations. I work with the track relations team and then oversee the groups that come in each race and event weekend to sell our merchandise. I have a role in the design and ordering of new products, and pretty much all the odds and ends in between. Caroline: I am the manager of Speedway World inside the main office building. I make sure we’re fully stocked on every item in the store. I create orders when we are running low on certain items, and take suggestions from customers. Rita: I am the warehouse manager for Bristol Motor Speedway. I take care of receiving for the merchandise that comes in for all events, as well as the Speedway World store. I do all the splits and make sure that all 46 stands that we have on property are stocked and supplied. How long have you worked with BMS? Greg: Rita has been here the longest. She started in 1997. Caroline has worked here since 1998, and I started in 2000. What’s it like to work at Bristol Motor Speedway? Rita: I love it. I love race time. No matter if it’s your first time to the track or you have been multiple times, every time those cars start up you get excited. I’m at the warehouse and even though I can’t see the cars, you can hear them all over the BMS property and it just takes your breath away. Caroline: I love it. Every race it’s always fun seeing people from past events come into the store, and they remember you. I have a great group of people who work in the store and that makes working race time enjoyable. Greg: I have worked a lot of races and I’m not being biased because I work at Bristol, but Bristol is the best. To me the race is like a challenge. All the planning and prep that goes into race week is your challenge and when race week comes you see your results and I love that.

Greg and Rita, for you, working together is all in the family. It’s not often you share office space with your mother/son-in-law. What’s it like? Greg: I always say I’m being watched 24/7. However, we have a pretty unique relationship and I think we work a lot harder and have higher expectations because we work together. Rita: We do have a good relationship. I feel mostly that the mother and son-in-law aspect of things doesn’t actually come into play until the end of the day, maybe. I’ve always said he has to be a good man to put up with a Miller 24/7. Family? Rita: I’ve been married for 42 years to my husband Joe. I have a daughter, Joni, and three grand dogs. My husband Joe was actually over security here at BMS for 18 years. Caroline: I’m married to my husband Sam. We have two children, Anthony and Angie, and four grandchildren. Greg: I’m married to my wife, Joni. We’ve been married for 14 years this year and we have three dogs. What do you like to do in your free time? Greg: I coach our BMS softball teams during the weeknights. I enjoy working out and I really like working around the house and doing yard work. Caroline: I really enjoy spending time with family. We go camping and I enjoy reading and working with my church. Rita: I like to read, and I play a lot of games on my iPad. Favorite Food? Rita: A good juicy hamburger. Greg: Pizza. Caroline: Pasta and fresh vegetables from the garden. Bristol started the tradition of allowing NASCAR drivers to pick what song they are introduced to. What song would you pick? Greg: Boom by P.O.D. Rita: Bad to the Bone by George Thorogood and The Destroyers. Caroline: Amazing Grace.

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

Employee Profile

Operations

SCOTT HATCHER

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SCOTT HATCHER

Employee Profile

Operations

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

SECTION SUBHEAD Section Title

Story Title

Spring 2015

t's your friends from Yee-Haw Brewing Company! We wanted to take a moment to say hello, and tell you how excited we are to be here. Scratching your head and wondering who Yee-Haw Brewing Company is? That's fair. Let's back up and do a proper introduction.

Festival medals to his name. Yep, it's safe to say this guy knows how to brew. He also knows what stellar beer is supposed to taste like. He will be the first to tell you that he decided to become a brewer after he enjoyed a beer that reminded him of "warm chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven".

Yee-Haw Brewing Company is a new East Tennessee craft brewery located in the heart of Johnson City, Tenn. We are dedicated to creating the finest ales and lagers that celebrate and foster great moments shared with great company.

Greenwood has all the tools he needs at his fingertips to make great beer, too. We believe our brewery is something to behold. Our stainless steel tanks are so clean it's like looking in a mirror. Not to mention we have 1.5 miles of stainless steel tubing â&#x20AC;&#x201D; enough to circle the Bristol track three times. And while the process of brewing the beer is a manual one, Brandon gets plenty of help with computerized systems. We have a state-ofthe-art lab, which helps us to ensure that the beer you drink today will taste the same as the beer you'll drink three months from now. Although we hope you'll be kicking back, relaxing and enjoying our fine Southern beer more often than that!

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face it, when it comes to great moments shared with great company there's no better place to do that than right here in the South. There are so many things to love - fine craftsmanship, food, music, community and hospitality. The list goes on and on. Southern traditions can be seen and felt everywhere. These traditions are an integral part of how people proudly identify themselves, and traditions that Yee-Haw Brewing Company embraces and celebrates. No one believes in these traditions more than founding partner Joe Baker. He is a proud native to East Tennessee, and sees immense potential for the growth of the region's presence in the craft beer industry. He envisions creating a beer brand that is representative of all the things we love about our community right here in East Tennessee. It's time the South is also known as a place where great beer is made. We want to establish a new Southern tradition by creating beer that you'll be proud to call your own. It's also where we call home. Yee-Haw Brewing Company has brought together a talented and dedicated team from near and far, with deep experience and great passion. We craft fine Southern beer that is meant to be shared, savored and enjoyed with friends time and time again. And trust me when I say we know what fine beer is. Our Brewmaster Brandon Greenwood is the veteran - and many would say mad scientist - of the group. He brings more than 20 years experience in the craft brewing world to the table, and multiple Great American Beer

YEE HAW BREWING CO.

Sponsor Profile

Visit Johnson City - Drink Yee Haw

Speaking of enjoying our beer, Yee-Haw's lineup features four flagship beers that are available year round - Pilsner, Pale Ale, Dunkel dark lager, and Eighty Shilling Scottish Ale. Each of these beers are reflective of their specific style and hold true to their individual brewing traditions. In other words, they are done the right way. Each is bold and flavorful, but easy to drink. We will also be offering seasonal beers. These beers will add variety and shake things up a bit, but still stay true to the fundamentals of brewing, just as Yee-Haw itself stays true to its Southern roots. Keep an eye out for Yee-Haw beers at your local restaurant or favorite bar in town. And don't forget to look for us at the Speedway this August at the IRWIN Tools Night Race! We'll be there with smiles on our faces, ready to pour a beer for you and enjoy one of our favorite nights of the year. We're also just a short drive from Bristol Motor Speedway. Why not plan a trip and come visit us at the Yee-Haw Brewery? We'd like to take this opportunity to extend an open invitation to you. Warm hospitality. New friends to meet. Conversations and experiences to share. Fine Southern beer to enjoy. We'll save you a seat! Yee-Haw!

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

2015 ADVANCE HANDICAP PERMIT APPLICATION

Speedway

2015 Advance Hanicap 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, driver’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 2014, you must apply again for 2015 parking.

2015 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

Food City 500______________________________________________________________________ Acct #____________________________ (April - Sunday Sprint Cup)

Grandstand

Section

Row

Seat

UNOH 200/ Bush’s Beans 150_______________________________________________________ Acct #____________________________ (August - Wednesday Truck/Modified)

Grandstand

Section

Row

Seat

Food City 300______________________________________________________________________ Acct #____________________________ (August - Friday XFINITY)

Grandstand

Section

Row

Seat

IRWIN Tools Night Race_____________________________________________________________ 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, driver’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 2015

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