Bristol Winter Magazine 2015 by Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

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

MOTOR SPEEDWAY & DRAGWAY

SECTION SUBHEAD Section Title

Story Title

Contents

FEATURES

12 3

MEET COLOSSUS

BATTLE FRIDAY

Jerry’s Letter Get Ready For 2016

18 7

Employee Spotlight DeDe Hash

NIGHT RACE REVIEW

Chow Down... Cootie Brown’s

SPEEDWAY IN LIGHTS

iBelong Profile Brigette & Jackie Finley

Instagram Photos #ItsBristolBaby & #BristolBlackout

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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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

The past few months at Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) have been packed with dynamic events and big announcements. In August, our stands were full as we hosted rock legend Steven Tyler for our pre-race concert, and Joey Logano outmaneuvered Kevin Harvick by a sliver of a second to take the win at the Night Race. We also cheered on another champion, Jeff Gordon, as he made his last appearance here as a full-time Sprint Cup Series driver. We look forward to seeing Jeff in his new role as a Fox Sports commentator, and welcoming him back in 2016 as we christen his new namesake terrace in the grandstands. Holiday time here means Speedway in Lights, and we’re hard at work preparing a five-mile long experience with millions of bulbs to light up the season. We also celebrate our Night of Smiles in early November, when the Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities distributes the year’s financial gifts to dozens of local, child-based charitable agencies. 2016 will be a huge year for Bristol Motor Speedway. Just recently, we announced the coming of Colossus, a major facility enhancement that will transform the Last Great Colosseum into everyone’s favorite sports cave. Colossus is the world’s largest, outdoor, center-hung digital display, with screens 4.5 times larger than our existing display and a state-of-the-art sound system that brings new meaning to the name Thunder Valley. With 540,000 watts of power, 380 stadium speakers and 38 subwoofers, Colossus is a giant with big, booming voice. The build for the 700-ton structure is underway, and it’ll be ready to welcome guests for Spring Race Week and the Food City 500. And of course, we’re hard at work making plans for the Battle at Bristol, college football’s biggest-ever game. Soon as the checkered flag falls on the August Night Race, we’ll begin transforming the track into a first-rate football stadium, and welcome fans of the University of Tennessee and Virginia Tech for a history-making showdown with record-breaking attendance. In this issue of the magazine we recap all the great action of August Race Week, give you a preview of how Colossus will transform the look, sound and feel of the stadium, and profile some of our favorite people and places. As always, our guests are the reason we do what we do. To everyone in our big Bristol family—thank you for an incredible 2015, and we look forward to sharing an amazing new year with you! Here’s to you,

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

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Cootie Brown’s Johnson City & Bristol, TN Now that I have been retired from the speedway for a little over four months, I’m starting to settle into a new routine… one that does not include crunching numbers. I’m also getting to do some things I never was able to do while working at Bristol, and that is, actually sit in the stands and watch a full 500 lap NASCAR racing event from start to finish. Sure, over the past 20 years, I’ve enjoyed 50 laps here and 70 laps there, but never a full race. Bristol employees are too busy trying to make sure everyone has a great experience, so there is not much time for being a spectator. So this year, I attended my first NASCAR race at Bristol, THE NIGHT RACE! I discovered first-hand what all the excitement around Bristol is about. TV does not do it justice… you have to be there to feel it, hear it and smell it. Another good thing about this particular retirement is that, as I said in the last issue, they are letting me hang around to review area restaurants and entertain 6 lucky fans during the week of THE NIGHT RACE (see below for details). In other words, I still get to have all the fun of my old job without the financial reporting headaches and deadlines that came with it. It doesn’t get much better than that. So for this issue, I am taking a step back in time to revisit one of the first restaurants I ever reviewed, only in this case, at a different location. Let’s chow down at Cootie Brown’s! The words “Real Food Since 1999” are emblazoned over the front of Cootie Brown’s menu, and it was in 1999 when Judy and I

first ate at the original Cooties in Johnson City. The newest Cooties is located in Bristol right next to the Chamber of Commerce offices on Volunteer Parkway near the State Street intersection. Like the original, driving up to the Bristol Cootie Brown’s is much like entering a cartoon; sort of like that “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” movie from over two decades ago. Remember? Of course, you don’t. You’re either too young or have too much pride to admit it. Anyway, Cootie’s is located in a bright multi-colored patchwork (orange, lime green, blue, red, purple, etc.) building. Trust me, when driving from the track to Bristol on Volunteer Parkway, you will have a zero chance of missing Cooties. Judy and I went on a Saturday night in late September, and, although both locations are extremely popular, we had no trouble getting in. The Bristol location seems to be larger and have more parking. Cooties offers an eclectic variety of dishes including Tamales, Pizzas (>20 styles, plus a make your own), Burgers (>10), Specialty Sandwiches (>20) and Entrée Salads (>10). If you’re in the mood for a normal dinner you can order from a choice of fish, chicken and steak offerings. Judy enjoyed a ChickenTaco-Rito dinner for $10.95 and I ordered the Blackened Tilapia Sandwich with homemade chips for $8.95. What, you don’t believe that I limited myself to a fish sandwich? Okay, okay I had half of Judy’s chicken filled tortilla thingy too. Alright, are you happy now?

By: Fred King Cootie’s has all the beverages a good race fan usually enjoys whether that be soft drinks, tea or beer; all fairly priced. For dessert try the Key Lime pie for $5.50. Whether you go before or after the big April or August race, Cooties is a fun place and the food is really, really good. If you want to try the Johnson City location, from the track take Hwy 11 E toward Johnson City to North Roan. Turn left on Roan and Cooties will be a little ways down on the right. Want to have dinner with me and Judy on Thursday of the 2016 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 next year’s 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 2016 THE 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 early August, 2016 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 2016 NIGHT RACE.

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

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COOTIE BROWNS

Restaurant Review

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iBerlong Profile

THE FINLEY FAMILY

iBelong Profile Brigitte and Jackie Finley from Old Hickory, Tennessee

For this issue of Bristol Magazine we’re staying within the state of Tennessee for our iBelong Season Ticket Holder Spotlight.

mail from Bristol for five, yes five tickets to the Bristol night race in August. We could not believe it! I could now brag that I had tickets to the Bristol Night Race! Me, Jackie, my sister, brother-in-law and their Brigitte and Jackie Finley hail from Old Hickory, Tenn., and have been son all went to Bristol. Still to this day the tickets are in my name. loyal Bristol Motor Speedway fans since 1996. Eighteen years later and married, Jackie still tells people he has to be good all year long to get to go to Bristol with me. We hit the duo up with some questions, and here’s their Bristol story. BMS: Tell us about the first time you came to Bristol or BMS: So how long have you been coming to Bristol? How when you saw this place for the first time. long have you been season ticket holders? The Finleys: When you see it for the first time it’s breathtaking. Just The Finleys: I honestly don’t remember when we became “official” the size, it’s a giant bowl and the way the track is banked, you have season ticket holders with tickets to both races. I came to my first a hard time walking on it because it’s so steep. Wow, and when you Bristol race in August 1996. Jackie came with me in 1997, and we hear the cars start up it just sends chills down your spine. Still after have been coming every year since. all these years when we drive up for the first time each spring and August I get butterflies in my stomach. I had heard that The Night Race was the greatest thing ever. I got lucky and I acquired tickets for me, my sister and brother-in-law via BMS: What are some of your most cherished Bristol a promotion at my company. I was fairly new to NASCAR then and I memories? followed Terry Labonte. This was back in the day when there was a waiting list for tickets so I figured this was just a “bucket list” kind of The Finleys: Dang, we have had so many wonderful moments at experience that I would never get to do again. What an unbelievable Bristol. place! That racing was incredible. Needless to say after my first taste of Bristol I was hooked. Naturally the first would be spending our honeymoon at Bristol in 1999. We literally planned our wedding on a Friday so we could leave The following year (1997) I heard that if you sent in a postcard with for Bristol on Saturday morning. We had friends coming down from your name, address and phone number, you could get Bristol tickets Indiana to go to the race with us but we didn’t tell them our plan about in a lottery. My sister and I saw this as a chance in a million to get getting married. They drove down on Thursday night, we got up on tickets to Bristol. The drawing date came and went. I never got an Friday to show them our new home that was under construction and e-mail, phone call, nothing. I was bummed to say the least that we instead took them first to a wedding chapel so they could stand up didn’t win. Still hopeful, maybe they’d do it again the next year and for us to get married. I’d give it another try. The second would be the night after we got married when Dale In the meantime, around the first of July I met a really nice guy. Our Earnhardt wrecked Terry on the last lap and Dale won the race. It was first date was to the Nashville Speedway at the fairgrounds. Lucky me a very, very long and tense drive back to where we were staying. I finding someone who was a NASCAR fan too, what are the chances? wasn’t talking and Jackie knew he better not be gloating about Dale’s Jackie had been following it since he was a young boy. He was a Dale win. That was the closest I had ever came to seeing Terry win in Earnhardt Sr. fan. I really liked Jackie, so I didn’t hold it against him person. Yes, I’m still bitter, 16 years later. at the time. Third would be when we did the Richard Petty Racing Experience. I About two weeks after we started dating I received an invoice in the was given the experience as a bonus (I have an awesome boss), and

Winter 2015

iBleong Profile

THE FINLEY FAMILY I could drive at my choice of tracks. There was no question. It had prior to an XFINITY race. He got me an autograph from Carl, too. to be Bristol. Jackie and I both did it. The coolest thing we have ever I won passes one year on the Bristol Live broadcast to be on the track for the concert and driver introductions. What an awesome done. The speed and the feel of that car on the track is a rush. experience to be standing beside the ramp when the drivers entered. BMS: When you tell others about Bristol, how do you describe this place? We have friends that came with us in August for 13 years but as their kids got older and more involved in everything, our race weekends The Finleys: We let others know that Bristol is coolest track anywhere. were replaced by parenthood. We have celebrated weddings, We have seen quite a few tracks from superspeedways like Talladega anniversaries, birthdays and so many things over the years around and Indy, to Darlington and Charlotte. Nothing compares to Bristol. our trips to Bristol. We wouldn’t take anything for all these memories It’s just something you have to experience for yourself to understand. we have shared at Bristol. It’s just us now for the August race but we I always describe it as a giant concrete soup bowl. We always tell entertain ourselves hanging out at the track, attending the iBelong them about the rubbing and bumping and the wrecks. And we always events and tailgating. tell them about what wonderful people you meet there, and how the staff makes you feel like you are at home. They really treat you like And just when we think we couldn’t love Bristol any more they’re family. It’s a happy place. having the football game here. Jackie and I are huge University of Tennessee fans. Mainly Jackie but I decided if I was going to see him September through November I’d have to become a fan too, so BMS: Any other Bristol notes to share? I have. We are looking forward to the upcoming Battle at Bristol next Jackie and I have gotten to experience so much at Bristol. It is a big September. It’s going to be something to see. Hard to believe they are going to play football on the infield of the speedway where the part of our life. We plan our year around the two events. haulers will be parked just weeks before. We have gotten Hot Passes from one of the vendors I work with, and Bristol is a big part of our lives, not sure what we’ll do when we get spent the day in the pits and met Marcus Ambrose. too old to go, hoping that doesn’t happen for many many years. Jackie and our friend Tim got to meet Brad Keselowski in the pits

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

BATTLE FRIDAY

Battle At Bristol

One For The History Books

Battle Friday, One For The History Books By: Landon Owen Twenty-seven hours. What do you do over a 27 hour period? Eat a few meals, watch some TV shows, go to work – maybe more than once, get some sleep and spend time with family? That’d be a pretty good, full day and some change. Steve Quiggle of Kingsport, Tenn. recently spent a 27 hour stretch a little differently… like waiting in line to be the first person able to purchase tickets on Battle Friday, the one-day sale that BMS held for locals at the speedway on Friday, Oct 2. Steve said he’ll bring his wife, his daughter and son-in-law to the game and that he never thought it would actually happen.

So that’s where we’ve been recently. Where do we go from here? •

BMS customers who placed deposits for their tickets (priority customers) have until December 1 to complete their online order form and pay their shipping fee. This will lock in your preferences that will be used – in association with your BMS Priority Point total – to assign seating, parking and camping for The Battle.

•

Those same customers have until December 10 to renew their 2016 NASCAR/NHRA tickets in order for those purchases to count towards their priority points. Full payment is not due until June 30, 2016, but if you want those dollars and tickets to count towards your total, you can use our interest-free payment plans.

•

We will be assigning seats for the next couple of months after that. Battle ticket payments and seating notifications will occur near the end of January for priority customers.

•

Battle Friday and Lottery allocations and notifications will follow the priority assignments.

•

Any parking or camping spaces not yet sold will be made available to the general public sometime in Spring 2016.

•

Tickets will be shipped in mid-July. If you have a PO Box listed as your primary address, please contact us with a physical address as we are not able to ship to PO Boxes.

•

September 10, 2016 – KICKOFF!!!!!

After nearly 20 years of rumors and dreams (and 27 hours of standing in line), his wait and 150,000 of his newest friends is almost over. Battle Friday also marked the launch of the Battle Lottery for tickets to the big game. The traffic to the site was so heavy that it crashed the site before it even came online! Hundreds of people camped out overnight under the backstretch grandstands for tickets. Hundreds more showed up around sunrise and more kept pouring in until finally the line had to be capped around 11:30 am. The last two people in line, actually had the shortest wait of anyone that day, around six hours – Brian Fulbright and Casey Wilson of Etowah, TN – came through and purchased their tickets around 5:30 pm.

At one point, the line stretched along the concourse from gate five in Turn 2 all the way around past the new Jeff Gordon Terrace and over into the Darrell Waltrip Grandstand around gate 13 outside of Turn 4. That is dedication!

I speak for everyone here at BMS when I say it has been a privilege and an honor to be part of something that means so much to our Throw in the fact that Virginia Tech released the rest of their allotment customers, Vol fans, Hokie fans and to the residents of our region. to the public the same morning and it was gone by that evening, We’ve all been working behind the scenes for over two years to means that an already tough to get ticket just got a lot tougher. make sure this event lives up to the Bristol standard and exceeds expectations. Tennessee had taken enough deposits in the first few weeks following the game’s announcement to satisfy their entire allotment… and that So whether you put your deposit down the first day we announced was still nearly three years to kickoff! the big game or waited in line 27 hours like my new friend Steve, the waiting is almost over. Are you ready?!?

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

THREE GREAT REASONS: Get Bristol Season Tickets Today By Drew Bedard Wow, what a season. And what a year to come.

Coupons and discounts

NASCAR season is just around the corner and we wanted to update you on the many reasons to buy or renew your season tickets.

Automatic entry into promotions like the Trip to Vegas for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Banquet

Reason Number 1: The Incentives

26%* off on race tickets (*on average)

Man did we raise the bar this year. We added more hot passes, First chance at other event tickets like the Battle at Bristol we added driver’s meeting passes and brought back some of the favorites you guys have grown to love. And many more… The hot passes have been so “hot” that due to incredible demand, As one famous TV advertisement said “membership comes with the allotment of Cup Hot Pit Passes are already gone. Wow! privileges” and our iBelong program is no exception. A limited quantity of Hot Pit Passes for April Pole Day and the UNOH 200 & Whelen Modified Doubleheader in August remain, so grab those while they are hot.

We work hard to make it stand out amongst all other season ticket programs because one of our core beliefs is to treat customers better. You guys spend your hard earned dollars with us so you deserve our effort in return and we promise to give that to you, year In addition, inventory for the August Cup Drivers Meeting has in and year out. been exhausted. Number 3: The Family Having said that, you still have the opportunity to choose one of the following: Being a part of the Bristol Family is something special. We interviewed some of our most loyal and long standing Season Hot Pit Pass (April Pole Day or August Trucks/Modified Ticket Holders this year and the overwhelming theme was family. Doubleheader) Bob Vick, longtime ticket holder had this to say: Cold Pit Pass (April or August Sprint Cup Raceday) “It has become more of a homecoming for us. We don’t live up Attend The Drivers Meeting (April Cup, April or August XFINITY, here close anymore, we live down in Morristown, Tennessee, but August Truck) for the last 15 years, we’ve had basically the same group of people we’ve camped around and the same group of people that come Truck/Modified Doubleheader Ticket and this is coming home.” Parking Pass (One pass per 4 season tickets)

Home is where the heart is and for many, if not most of our family, their home away from home is here, at Bristol.

Additional Discount on Season tickets (5% before 11/19) We can’t wait to welcome everyone back in 2016 for what will be our biggest year ever. Get ready to welcome a new group of family members as Hokies and Volunteers alike will invade Bristol for our Not only do you get to choose from a great incentive, but you get very first college football game, the largest attended football game these additional perks: in history. Number 2: The Perks

Entry into the exclusive iBelong Member Program which includes: Exclusive event weekend events just for members

If you choose season tickets or any tickets at all, we say thank you and we look forward to serving you. Our goal is to exceed your expectations. See you in 2016!

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

SEASON TICKETS

Speedway

Three Great Reasons

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

THE NIGHT RACE

Speedway

Summer Night

Short-Track Racing Under The Lights On A Summer Night. By Kevin Kelly IF YOU FOLLOW RACING, THOSE WORDS LIKELY STOKE MEMORIES AND EVOKE EXCITEMENT, WHICH HELPS EXPLAIN WHY THE AUGUST NIGHT RACES AT BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY ARE SOME OF THE MOST HIGHLY ANTICIPATED RACES HELD EACH NASCAR SEASON. BUT A REPUTATION CANNOT BE MAINTAINED ON SENTIMENTALITY ALONE. IT MUST BE UPHELD, AND THE LAST GREAT COLOSSEUM DELIVERED AGAIN THIS PAST AUGUST.

NASCAR stars Joey Logano and Kyle Busch returned to victory lane while a pair of Ryans (Blaney and Preece) hoisted trophies after winning at the high-banked, half-mile for the first time in their young careers.

second to be able to put the throttle back down.” Fans saw Harvick make up ground on Logano entering corners and Logano pull away exiting them. That accordion-like action played out repeatedly over the final 50 laps as they raced each other and negotiated lapped traffic.

Logano held off a hard-charging Kevin Harvick to repeat as the winner of the Sprint Cup Series’ IRWIN Tools Night Race on Aug. “It’s so interesting how we ran such different lines and were the 22. same speed on the racetrack,” Logano said. “That’s what makes Bristol so much fun. You can drive around this place four or five ways and have a lot of speed no matter how you drive it. “It was a very exciting last 20, 30 different It’s what fits your style and what fits the setup of your car. We both laps, for sure, and neat to be able to found what works for us.”

get a checkered flag again here at Bristol.” - Joey Logano The No. 22 Team Penske Ford driven by Logano crossed the finish line 0.220 of a second ahead of Harvick, who overcame a pair of pit road penalties to finish second for the 10th time this season. Polesitter Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson and Clint Bowyer also finished in the top five.

Logano passed teammate Brad Keselowski on the final restart and led the last 64 laps. Overall, the 25-year-old led 176 laps. “Flawless” was the word his crew chief Todd Gordon used to describe his driver’s performance.

“There are only a handful of guys that want to have the ball in their hands with three seconds left on the shot clock, and Joey is that guy,” Gordon said. “When it comes down to the time to make “He was just one step ahead of me in traffic,” Harvick said. “I it happen he elevates and doesn’t make mistakes. I think Kevin couldn’t get my car to rotate across the center of the corner like I challenged us pretty formidably. Joey never folded, never made a needed to, and every time I tried to force it, it would snap the back mistake. He did what he had to do and executed. It’s a Joey Logano out. He was able to go in really high and before the center of the performance. I don’t know that I’d call it his best performance. He’s corner drive down the corner. I was just having to wait just a split had a bunch of really good ones.”

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

THE NIGHT RACE

Speedway

Summer Night

“I go to different tracks, Bristol certainly being one of the highlights, and you see a driver’s name on a grandstand and you only hope that one day that you’ve maybe done something significant enough to earn that. You just did that for me here today. It means the world to me.” - Jeff Gordon

An engine problem ended JGR teammate Matt Kenseth’s chances for a win and a Bristol sweep this season. The four-time Bristol winner was running inside the top 10 when his No. 20 JGR Toyota slowed along the frontstretch on Lap 111. Kenseth drove the car onto pit road with smoke trailing from it before taking it to the garage. He finished 42nd in his second DNF this season.

Busch added to his Bristol legacy the night before in the Food City 300 by scoring another XFINITY Series victory. It was a case “Did I expect it? No,” he said. “But I thought of being in the right place at the right time. it was probable.” Series points leader Chris Buescher was In his final Bristol race as a full-time driver, leading but running low on fuel when the race Jeff Gordon elated fans when his No. 24 went two laps past its scheduled distance. Chevrolet adorned with a throwback rainbow As his car tried to pick up fuel on Bristol’s paint scheme climbed as high as second high banks, Busch screamed past and into place. A vibration assured there would be no the lead. storybook ending. It forced Gordon to make an unscheduled pit stop with less than 100 The race went two laps beyond its 300-lap laps remaining, dropping him two laps down. scheduled distance because of a late caution. He finished 20th. Busch took the lead in the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota on the green-white-checkered Gordon will be remembered as one of the flag finish and beat Kyle Larson to the finish best ever to wheel a stock car around Bristol, line by 0.426 of a second. and track officials made sure of that when they announced before qualifying that a “Tonight was one of those nights. You’re special section of seating would be named never really sure how it’s going to play out or in Gordon’s honor. The Jeff Gordon Terrace - how it’s going to work out, but you stay in the a section of backstretch seats with premium game until the end and somehow, sometimes views - debuts in 2016. it’s your night,” Busch said.

“Things like this happen every once in a while,” Kenseth said. “It’s a short night. Felt like we were really competitive. We were one or two adjustments away from where we needed to be.” Asked after the race if he thought JGR would come away with a victory, Hamlin noted how

“I go to different tracks, Bristol certainly being one of the highlights, and you see a driver’s name on a grandstand and you only hope that one day that you’ve maybe done something significant enough to earn that,” Gordon said. “You just did that for me here today. It means the world to me.”

Early on, the race had the look of another dominating night for Joe Gibbs Racing. JGR drivers Busch and Hamlin led 224 of the first 250 laps. Teammate Carl Edwards led another 74 later in the race but gave up the lead on Lap 353 of 500 when he had to make an unscheduled pit stop to change a flat tire. Edwards finished seventh while Busch, who started second alongside Hamlin, finished eighth after incurring a pit road speeding penalty on his final stop. He led the most laps (192).

Winter 2015

the track changes in practice and from day to night.

Pole sitter Hamlin led 106 laps and finished third while Ty Dillon finished fourth. Daniel Suarez finished fifth and collected the $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus. Buescher, the XFINITY Series points leader, also led 106 laps but wound up 11th. The

THE NIGHT RACE

Speedway

Summer Night

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

THE NIGHT RACE

Speedway

Summer Night

Roush Fenway Racing driver took the lead on Lap 195 by staying out and defending NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Matt while the lead cars made pit stops under caution, and he remained in Crafton for the lead on a green-white-checkered flag finish. the lead until the final restart. “I’ve had a chance to drive this truck four times this year and we’ve “We were faster than a lot of guys we were racing around all day and come really, really close every single time,” Blaney said after the race. once we got track position we showed we could run away from these “To finally get into victory lane in my last start of the year in this truck, guys,” Buescher said. “We had the speed, but it wasn’t meant to be. it really means a lot. And at a place like this, I remember growing up I’m glad we took the chance. I wouldn’t change it if we could do it watching my dad (Dave Blaney) race, it’s really special. To do it in that over again, but unfortunately it knocked us right out of a top 10 and fashion, coming from a lap down and being able to drive through the field like that says a lot about our race team and a lot about what we out of win.” can do as an organization.” Busch, who led a total of 89 laps, complimented the effort by The overtime finish - and Blaney’s come-from-behind victory in the Buescher and his team. No. 29 Ford - followed a more than 45-minute stoppage with 34 laps “He ran a great race. I mean, he was fast and did a really good job,” remaining due to rain and was the result of a caution five laps from said Busch, who owns 17 career victories at Bristol across NASCAR’s the scheduled finish. top three divisions. “I’m still shocked how fast he was on those old tires. I could see sometimes when I’d get close enough to him that Crafton was flawless on the restart coming out of the weather delay I could pressure him through the corner he could make mistakes. I and chose the outside lane on the decisive restart in his bid to win was just hoping that one of those was going to be big enough and for the first time in 13 career Truck Series starts at Bristol. Blaney I was going to have a run on him and I could get by him. It never lined up inside Crafton and shot to the lead while Crafton faded to seventh. transpired until that restart when he ran out (of fuel).” Like Busch, Ryan Blaney competed in the Sprint Cup, XFINITY and Up until that point, it appeared it might finally be Crafton’s night at Camping World Truck series races at Bristol. Bristol. Blaney kicked off his tripleheader race weekend on a winning note in the Truck Series’ UNOH 200 on Aug. 19 after passing two-time

Winter 2015

THE NIGHT RACE

Speedway

Summer Night

The driver of the No. 88 ThorSport Racing Toyota trailed Cole Custer Busch finished second. John Hunter Nemechek, Daniel Hemric and with 40 laps remaining but inherited the lead before the rain shower Brandon Jones completed the top five. Rain also factored into the NASCAR Whelen Modified and Whelen soaked the track and stopped the race. Southern Modified Tours combination race that same day. Custer slammed into Spencer Gallagher in Turn 4 and the impact inflicted considerable damage to the right front of Custer’s No. 00 JR The Bush’s Beans 150 was stopped in the early going due to rain Motorsports Chevrolet. The 17-year-old led the most laps (111) but and restarted after the Camping World Truck Series race. The threat finished 16th. of inclement weather eventually prompted NASCAR officials to stop the event after 103 of the scheduled 150 laps. A penalty cost Blaney the lead and sent him a lap down early in the Ryan Preece was out front when it was called and celebrated the race. victory indoors. He passed polesitter Busch on the opening lap of the race and led the first 37 circuits but spent the majority of the race trying to make “Nothing beats this place,” the Berlin, Conn. native said. “When you up for a penalty incurred on a restart 38 laps into the race. NASCAR win big races like this, especially at Bristol, the Last Great Colosseum, ruled that Blaney jumped the restart and imposed a drive-through it’s just phenomenal. Now I can say I won at Bristol, baby.” penalty that dropped Blaney a lap down into 21st place. Preece started second and led 47 laps, including the final 29. “The 00 (Custer) laid back a lot. He was about a car length behind Polesitter Woody Pitkat led 56 but finished second. Donny Lia, Ryan me,” Blaney said. “To me, he didn’t maintain caution car speed at all. Newman and Bobby Santos rounded out the top five. As soon as the caution car pulled off, he stopped and I maintained speed. He was going to try to get a run just like everyone tries to do “We got to the halfway break, put on tires and made adjustments and which is what you have to do on the bottom if you want to have a the car was much better after that,” Preece said. “We really started shot at it and I wasn’t going to give him that run. I wasn’t going to let going up top and making the high line work. I really started to find him start creeping forward. So I went.” something with the right front up there. I think that kind of helped us and made for a really good race car here.”

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

Speedway

WINTER WONDERLAND

The Pinnacle Speedway in Lights Returns to Bristol Motor Speedway On Friday, November 13, the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fastest Half-Mile track will once again transform into a winter wonderland, as Bristol Motor Speedway hosts one of the most electrifying events of the holiday season, The Pinnacle Speedway in Lights Powered by TVA. Now entering its 19th year, the seasonal event has grown to be the largest holiday lights show in the South and has become a traditional favorite for thousands of families in the region and beyond.

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

According to Claudia Byrd, executive director of the Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, it takes nearly 2 million lights, plus hundreds of volunteers and dedicated employees to bring the annual show to life.

Visitors begin their Speedway in Lights journey at the Bristol Dragway entrance, just off Highway 394. The roughly fivemile route features 200 individual exhibits decorating the storied banks of the half-mile track, the straightaways of the legendary Thunder Valley dragstrip, and hundreds of acres of BMS property.

colors from this ever-changing display are reflected in the Darrell Waltrip Grandstand, which includes more than three acres of aluminum seating.

A favorite viewing station for the Subway® Symphony of Lights is Christmas Village, located in the infield. Offering something for “This is such a wonderful project,” said all ages, this family-friendly area features Byrd. “It brings together so many people from across the region. Some construct This year’s light displays will feature many food options, hot chocolate, and fire pits the displays and set up the show while fan favorites, including: Dueling Dragsters; for roasting marshmallows. Christmas others dress up as characters, help direct The Twelve Days of Christmas; Dinosaur Village also provides guests an opportunity traffic or sell tickets and bring food. It’s Village; and Ripley’s Penguin Playhouse to visit Santa Claus and enjoy a variety of carnival rides. so rewarding—this is a central source of and Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. support for Speedway Children’s Charities, and it’s become a tradition for many Visitors will also be treated to the Subway® For those seeking more holiday-themed families, including ours. We love seeing our Symphony of Lights, a dazzling exhibit transportation through the exhibits, Santa’s guests’ eyes light up as they drive through that boasts more than 300,000 LED Speedway Sleigh returns for its sixth the lights.” lights synchronized to music. The radiant season. This decorated, open-air tram

This year’s light displays will feature many fan favorites, including: Dueling Dragsters; The Twelve Days of Christmas; Dinosaur Village; and Ripley’s Penguin Playhouse and Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.

Speedway

WINTER WONDERLAND For guests with tight schedules, BMS is offering a new fast-pass option, on higher traffic nights, that allows cars to move to the head of the line. Passes to Jingle Bell Lane are $40 per car and $55 per van, and will be sold through the BMS Ticket office. Access to the lane will be available November 27-28, and December 5, 12, 18-23 Towed by a Chevy truck, the sleigh can accommodate up to 30 and 26. passengers per trip. Santa’s Speedway Sleigh departs from the boarding station located at the O. Bruton Smith (OBS) building every No trip to Speedway in Lights would be complete without stopping Wednesday and Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 each and by the Ice Rink, presented by HVAC Inc. Building Solutions. One of may be purchased at the OBS ticket office. Groups can reserve the the Speedway’s most popular non-motorsports-related events, the entire sleigh but are asked to call in advance. Parking is located in Ice Rink is the only rink within a 90-minute driving radius of BMS. front of the OBS office building and is accessed by entering at the Located just inside the north entrance of Bristol Motor Speedway, off North Entrance and taking the immediate right up the hill. Volunteer Parkway (Hwy. 11E), it is just $5 for skaters to take to the ice. There is an additional $2 charge for skate rental. The rink closes The cost to attend beginning November 13 through January 2, is each Monday for maintenance. $12 for cars Sunday through Thursday, and $15 for cars Friday and Saturday. Activity vans are $20 each and buses are $85. The A portion of the proceeds from Speedway in Lights benefits the event is open daily from 6 p.m.-10 p.m., including Thanksgiving and Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities. Since its inception in 1996, the Bristol Chapter has raised more than $9 million for area Christmas Day. child-based charities. In 2014, the chapter distributed $749,000, the highest ever, to a record-breaking 88 regional children’s agencies. gives riders a guided trek in which they can have their picture taken for a commemorative keepsake, courtesy of Walgreens, enjoy hot chocolate and hot cider, and receive a free bag of marshmallows to roast over the fire pits during a 30-minute stop in Christmas Village.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PINNACLE SPEEDWAY IN LIGHTS POWERED BY TVA OR THE BRISTOL CHAPTER OF SPEEDWAY CHILDREN’S CHARITIES, VISIT BRISTOL.SPEEDWAYCHARITIES.ORG. 30

Winter 2015

Speedway

THE BEST IS YET TO COME

THE BEST YET TO COME IN 2016 The 2015 Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway was abuzz with legions of fans and families who flocked to the speedway on a sun-drenched late-summer evening. Music legend Steven Tyler, university marching bands, sky jumpers and F-18 flyovers fired up the infield. The crowd rocketed to their feet in the final laps as Joey Logano defended his Night Race crown, and the speedway looked and sounded like NASCAR days gone by.

The Speedway isn’t the only venue on property to benefit from new upgrades. NHRA fans will have double vision when they visit Bristol Dragway in the coming year. Colossus’ massive screens are built to detach from the mainframe, allowing for Speedway officials to move two screens from the half-mile track to the Dragway for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals race weekend June 17 – 19, 2016. It’s a viewing experience that’s twice as nice.

With a strong 2015 event season almost in the books, why do promoters at Bristol Motor Speedway think the best is yet to come? Here are a few reasons why they believe the short track will shine in the new year.

One of the rarest sights of the year will be the transformation of the storied short track into a collegiate football field. Once the checkered flag falls on the August Night Race, BMS teams will kick into overdrive to turn the World’s Fastest Half-Mile into a championship caliber football field, complete with locker rooms, infield premium seating and much more for the September 10, 2016 Battle at Bristol.

Big. Bold. Brillant. That’s what speedway officials are boasting guests will see, hear and experience at the April 2016 Food City 500 when they meet Colossus - a new state of the art digital display that brings a home theatre experience to the BMS grandstands. Named Colossus for its size and power, the new structure will be the WORLD’S LARGEST, outdoor, center-hung video display. It features four video screens, suspended from a circular steel structure in a cube-like shape with an additional circular video screen ribbon beneath it. Each screen is 4.5 times larger than what fans have experienced at BMS, with viewing quality that exceeds the large-scale outdoor installations in New York’s Times Square. Colossus also will transform the sound of the stadium via a 540,000-watt audio system that features 380 3-way loudspeakers and 48 subwoofers, bringing a new, clean, crisp sound to Bristol’s fan-favorite NASCAR driver introductions.

With 150,000 guests expected to attend the University of Tennessee and Virginia Tech showdown, this border battle is projected to be the WORLD’S LARGEST collegiate football game in the history of the NCAA. And for an event of this magnitude, organizers have selected a world-class manufacturer to produce a memorable Battle at Bristol trophy. Details will be revealed soon. These are just a few of the 2016 highlights to look forward to, and there’s plenty more in the making. Colossus is a game changer for the legendary track. From enhancing the fan’s experiences to revolutionizing the Colosseum’s infield, 2016 will be the dawning of a new era that sports fans won’t want to miss.

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

Don’t let a minor illness or injury keep you from enjoying the race. Visit Wellmont Urgent Care and get treated

You’ve waited all year to visit the World’s Fastest Half Mile. But you can’t have a good time if you don’t feel your best. Quick, compassionate care – close to the track. Weekdays 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Weekends 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Bristol, Tennessee 1220 Volunteer Parkway • 423-274-6610

Out and about? Please visit one of our other convenient locations

Abingdon, Virginia 24530 Falcon Place Blvd. Suite 100 276-619-0075 Johnson City, Tennessee 378 Marketplace Blvd. Suite 5 423-282-0751 Kingsport, Tennessee 111 W. Stone Drive Suite 110 423-224-3701 Lebanon, Virginia 344 Overlook Drive 276-883-5900 wellmont.org

/Wellmont

@WellmontHealth

Photo Credit: Earl Neikirk, Bristol Herald Courier

BMS begins the build on the world’s largest outdoor, center-hung video display This is one colossal build, and it’s going ranging in height from 190-220 feet and to create a brighter, bolder Bristol, weighing in at approximately 437 tons. These baby. will be positioned outside the bowl, and the display will be suspended over the infield by November marks the start of construction miles of cabling, the largest of which exceeds for Colossus, the world’s largest outdoor, the diameter of the vertical cables supporting permanent, center-hung digital display. the Golden Gate Bridge. Named for the ancient giant that stood watch over a global crossroads, Colossus will plunge Rentenbach is overseeing the building of the fans into the color, roar and rumble of events giant. “It’s a real thrill for Rentenbach to be through four high-resolution screens and a back at BMS to help install this exciting piece thunderous sound system, making the Bristol of technology,” said Don Freeman, chairman, experience more immersive than ever before. Rentenbach Constructors, a Christman Company. “Construction of the Speedway Announced in October, the project generated continues to be a special point of pride for national attention and excitement for the way everyone at our company, and the chance it revolutionizes the look, sound, and feel of to do more than be on the sidelines cheering the World’s Fastest Half-Mile. at the upcoming Battle at Bristol will make this once-in-a-lifetime game day even more “Combine all the energy and excitement of special.” Bristol with the ultimate home theater system, and you’ve got Colossus,” said Jerry Caldwell, Panasonic is creating the high-resolution executive vice president and general manager screens, each of which measures 30 feet tall of Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS). “The size, by 63 feet wide. All together, the system hosts resolution, and sound of this display will draw nearly 54 million LEDs and 18 million pixels. our guests into every bit of action on the track At 6mm pitch, the pixels are grouped tighter and in the infield.” than the large-scale outdoor displays in Times Square. The result: a glimmering visual The scale and quality of the project draws experience capable of offering 281 trillion on the expertise of multiple partners like different color combinations, and one that’s Panasonic, a company known for creating 23 times brighter and 25 percent sharper than large displays in numerous iconic sports the typical home HD TV. venues across the U.S., including other Speedway Motorsports, Inc., (SMI) tracks “Panasonic is honored to be chosen by like Charlotte and Texas Motor Speedways; Bristol Motor Speedway as their technology GoVision; and Rentenbach Constructors of partner for a project that so dramatically Knoxville, Tenn. transforms the fan experience,” said Douglas Moss, senior vice president, marketing and As the build progresses, the track’s existing sales, Panasonic Enterprise Solutions. “We pylon and screen frame will be removed, worked closely with Bristol to recommend clearing the infield for next year’s NASCAR a unique, high-end technology solution that events and the Battle at Bristol, college we believe is a true game-changer. Colossus football’s biggest-ever game. Colossus will lives up to its name in every respect, creating then rise via four massive support towers a completely immersive fan experience with

its sheer size, unparalleled resolution and imaging crispness. Panasonic has a proud relationship with Speedway Motorsports, Inc., delivering customized technology solutions to SMI-owned and operated member race tracks, a legacy that continues to grow and now includes Bristol as the latest high-profile success story.” The display will hang from a halo-shaped truss and features 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. Colossus also boasts a state-of-theart, 540,000-watt audio system powering 380 3-way loudspeakers and 48 stadium subwoofers, enough to make any rock star squirm with envy. By contrast, the current system hosts 2,400 watts of power, with only 10 2-way loudspeakers and 8 subwoofers. The display will be ready to dazzle guests at the Spring 2016 NASCAR race. Throughout the year, BMS will demonstrate one of Colossus’ additional design elements: the ability to transfer screens around the facility for events like the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in June and the track’s annual holiday celebration, Speedway in Lights. “Colossus will transform the way we see, hear and experience events at Bristol, and provide additional opportunities for events here,” said Caldwell. “We’re fortunate to have entrepreneurs and owners like Bruton and Marcus Smith who care about providing fans with the best possible entertainment experience.”

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

MEET COLOSSUS

Speedway

The World’s Largest Oudoor Cinter-Hung Video Display

Employee Profile

DEDE HASH

Employee Profile: Dede Hash, V.P. of Safety & Asset Management By: David Compton Legendary events happened in 1986. “Top Gun” was the highest grossing film. Mike Tyson claimed his first ever boxing title. “The Oprah Winfrey Show” made its debut, and DeDe Hash joined the staff of Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS). Hash will soon celebrate her 30-year anniversary with BMS, and the woman known throughout the region and industry as Queen De sat down with us to share some favorite memories and moments.

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

Employee Profile

DEDE HASH What is your job description?

that can be very rewarding. To be successful takes a lot of time and attention, so work becomes a central focus.

I am vice president of safety and asset management for Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway. During race weekends, I am in charge of all of the security and safety crews inside and outside the track. I am also the liaison with local, state and federal agencies.

Everything that happens here is a team effort, and I’m very proud to be part of the BMS team. I’m proud that I’ve played a part in the growth and success of this great venue.

How did you come to work at Bristol Motor Speedway?

What is your favorite part about event weekends?

I had just moved home from South Carolina, and a friend of mine offered me a temporary position here in the Ticket Office. They ended up offering me a job, and after some time, I worked my way up and I have been here ever since. I am glad that I came here when the opportunity became available.

At the start of each race, I go down by the pit gate and look up at all our guests in the grandstands. It’s amazing to see such a large crowd together, and I get chills thinking okay, with a team effort, we just brought more than a hundred thousand guests on property, parked them, welcomed them through the gates, and directed them to their seats. There’s a lot of moving parts when it comes to helping manage a facility like BMS and it’s amazing to think of how much we accomplish as a team.

How many years have you been with BMS? 30 years in March of 2016.

Do you have a favorite memory from working here? What is it like working at Bristol Motor Speedway? BMS is a family, and that’s the thing I enjoy the most. We make a lot of big things happen here. It’s a fast-paced environment

Winter 2015

Many of my fondest memories involve (former General Manager) Jeff Byrd. Jeff was the ultimate professional but he had a very fun and playful element to his personality. He was a person who could

Employee Profile

DEDE HASH add humor and grace to any situation, and he brought such life to Halloween parties, snowball fights, any of our employee functions.

What is your favorite thing to do when you are not at work? I enjoy being outdoors and spending time with my grandkids.

What did you want to be/do when you were growing up? What is your favorite food? When I was growing up, I watched my mother work in a management position at Eastman in Kingsport. I admired her work ethic, and I really wanted to follow in her footsteps and be influential in my career. Who is your biggest role model? My mother, Marian. Mom’s a very independent woman, and always juggled her home life and career. She has three children and worked a full-time job. She even went to school to better her career and still had plenty of time for us at home. Family? My sister and best friend Donna, my daughter, Katie, my grandson, Bryson, and my granddaughter, Brookelyn. I also have a dog named Brady.

I like all seafood. I also have constant pizza cravings. Where did you go to school? I attended high school at Dobyns-Bennett, and then I went to Northeast State Community College to get my associate degree. I received my bachelor’s degree from King University, and I hope to go back to school to get my master’s degree. As you know, Bristol started the tradition of asking drivers to pick what songs they are introduced to. What song would you pick? I would have to go with “Get the Party Started” by Pink.

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

It’s Bristol Baby

By: Ben Trout It’s hard to believe we’re about to bid adieu to 2015. My grandmother Most thought there was no way he could come back again. Once always told me, “You think time goes by fast now? You just wait. was tough, twice was impressive, but a third time from the back? Not The older you get the faster the days will pass you by.” She wasn’t likely. kidding. Like Wallace, Earnhardt was one of the drivers who always had a I received a great reminder of that not too long ago in the form of a handle on Bristol. Both he and Wallace were always a threat to win phone call from one of our long-time Bristol Motor Speedway ticket anytime their cars hit the high banks. holders. Once we wrapped up the business portion of the call, he wanted to reminisce. In the closing laps, Earnhardt had made up enough ground that he could see the rear of Labonte’s No. 5 Kellogg’s Chevrolet. Running He talked about how he use to sit on the grassy hill near Turn 4, just about a full straightaway behind, Earnhardt caught a lucky break meeting Richard Petty, Bobby Allison and other drivers. when Labonte encountered lapped traffic. Then he posed a question that, for me, instantly verified my As Labonte had to slow to navigate the traffic, Earnhardt kept on grandmother’s wisdom regarding time. charging and closed the gap with a vengeance. He asked, “can you believe it’s been 20 years since ole’ Earnhardt Coming off Turn 4, Earnhardt reached the rear of Labonte’s car, but nailed Terry Labonte on the last lap of the 1995 night race; and Texas that’s as far as “The Intimidator” would get on this night. He bumped Terry slammed the wall, crunched up his car, but still won?” the rear of the No. 5 sending Labonte into a spin. In my mind, I’m thinking, heck no, I can’t believe it. That was a true Bristol classic. Start-to-finish, that race was filled with plenty of drama – mostly surrounding the late Dale Earnhardt. Earnhardt’s “Intimidator” status had been well established prior to the August 26, 1995 Goody’s 500, but it grew by leaps and bounds that night under the Bristol lights.

Like a pinball, Labonte bounced off another car, slammed the wall and skidded across the finish line – all ahead of Dale Earnhardt.

The “fun” started early in the race, as on lap 32 when Earnhardt tapped Rusty Wallace, sending the familiar Penske Racing No. 2 into Somehow, Labonte was able to get his car into Bristol’s Victory Lane. a spin. After spending some time in the pits, Wallace limped home to With a smashed front end, the engine spewing steam and fluids a 21st-place finish. from the car all over the winner’s circle floor, Texas Terry and team celebrated a thrilling (and legendary) Bristol win. For the aggressive move, NASCAR showed Earnhardt’s No. 3 the black flag and he was sent to the rear of the field. Was it over? No. Remember the incident between Earnhardt and Rusty Wallace on Lap 32? So from the back, Earnhardt mounted a charge. But more trouble came his way when he got together with Morgan Shepherd after While Earnhardt was being interviewed during post-race, Wallace making his way back toward the front. hunted him down, shared some choice words, and then threw a water bottle at the seven-time champ. The scuffle was quickly broken up, After some time in the pits being serviced by the Richard Childress but was an appropriate finish to a wild night. Racing crew, Earnhardt found himself near the rear of the field again. Was that a problem? Apparently not. Again, it’s hard to believe that was 20 years ago. You were right Grandma, time sure does fly. Again, like he was riding on rails, Earnhardt made it back toward the front. Then during a yellow-flag pit stop later in the race, problems in Speaking of time, 2016 will be here very soon. We wish you a blessed the pits resulted in Earnhardt near the back of the pack… again. year and we hope to see you here at “The Last Great Colosseum.”

Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

A BRISTOL CLASSIC

20th Anniversary of a Bristol Classic

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Winter 2015

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Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway

GREAT DEALS AT YOUR LOCAL HERTZ LOCATION

Did you know there’s a neighborhood Hertz location, conveniently located near you? Hertz has made it easier for you to take advantage of everything we have to offer. Whether you need a car for a day or a month or more, rent from your local Hertz location. You’ll enjoy great rates, benefits and pickup & delivery service. New locations now open in Kingsport, TN and Johnson City, TN. Visit us at the Tri City Airport or call 423-325-6200 For worldwide reservations, visit hertz.com or call us at 800-654-3131.

FANS SPEAK

Its’s Bristol Baby

What Did You Enjoy Most About The August Night Races?

FANS SPEAK:

What did you enjoy most about the August night races? “Pre-race ceremonies are unparalleled.” - Christina, Indianapolis, IN

“Spending time with my family at The Last Great Colosseum.” - Christopher, Fairdale, WV

“Bristol continues to be the BEST NASCAR venue. Prerace, Race and post-race fireworks show is second to none.” – Greg, Toccoa, GA

“Bristol race week is an awesome event, truly enjoyable for everyone in our group. This event will make all attendees a true fan of NASCAR. It is a must see event.” – Rory, Lebanon, VA

“Just seeing this track is so awesome. It takes my breath every time I walk into the colosseum.” – Chandra, Ridgeway, OH “Hard to put one thing as the best cause overall it was amazing! This is my 4th NASCAR track and none of the other tracks hold a candle to the experience at Bristol!”

- Quentin, Festus, MO

“Enjoyed the races. What an experience!!! To see the cars on a short track and feel the vibrations as they went by and smell the fuel!! WOW. It was awesome.” - Elaine, Moreland, GA “Its Bristol Baby!”

- Mike, Piney Flats, TN

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)

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

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

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Row

Seat

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

Grandstand

Section

Row

Seat

Sprint Cup ________________________________________________________________________ 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

Winter 2015