FOOD LION SPEED STREET PRESENTED BY COCA-COLA
BRINGS THE ENTERTAINMENT CHARLOTTE, NC– Famous for its stars,
cars and guitars, Food Lion Speed Street presented by Coca-Cola is a familyfriendly celebration of food, music and all things NASCAR that will energize Uptown Charlotte, N.C. from May 23-25. It’s a music-fest, a food-fest, a kid-fest and a NASCAR-fest all in one. And best of all, admission is free. Presented by Coca-Cola, this year’s event is expected to draw more than 400,000 fans during the weekend leading up to the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Opening at noon each day, Food Lion Speed Street presented by Coca-Cola provides fans an unparalleled chance to get close to racing’s brightest stars and their show cars while enjoying non-stop entertainment, sampling a wide-range of food and drink and participating in handson, race-themed activities – all in the shadow of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “The festival continues to focus on family fun,” says Jay Howard, president of JHE Production Group and promoter and producer of the award-winning event.
“2013 changes will showcase a variety of activities for Charlotte Motor Speedway fans, local attendees and kids of all ages.” Recently, JHE Production Group, with help from non-profit volunteer organization Hands On Charlotte, has turned Food Lion Speed Street presented by Coca-Cola into a “green event,” introducing a recycling effort that collected more than 18 tons of cardboard, bottles, cans, paper and grease in 2012 – a 66 percent increase over the previous year. A major change for 2013 is the firsttime addition of a presenting sponsor in Coca-Cola. “Food Lion Speed Street is a great opportunity to interact with our fans on a personal level,” says Heather Hucks, marketing sponsorships manager at CocaCola. “As a long-time supporter of the event, we are looking forward to growing our presence with this increased level of participation.” The Coca-Cola stage, on Martin Luther King Blvd., between Brevard and Caldwell streets, will be home to the festival’s featured musical acts each evening. It
will feature a rhythm and blues flavor on Thursday, night, a country theme on Friday and a rock-it-out party, bound to bring it all home Saturday night. Headliners will include Grammy winning rock band Survivor (best-known for their No. 1 hit “Eye of the Tiger”), which has reunited with the return of Jimi Jamison on lead vocals and Frankie Sullivan on guitar. Survivor, the festival’s final musical act (Saturday, 9:45 p.m.), will be preceded on stage by platinum-record alternative rockers Sister Hazel (8:15 p.m.). Country recording stars Randy Houser (“Boots On,” “Anything Goes”) and fivetime Grammy nominee Jamey Johnson (2007 Country Music Song of the Year “Give It Away”) will headline Friday’s onstage activity at 7:45 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., respectively. On Thursday, rhythm and blues trio SWV, which topped the iTunes chart in 2012 with the album “I Missed Us,” will command the stage at 9:45 p.m. Kicking off the featured entertainment will be Soul Train Musical Award nominee Jon B (Thursday, 8:45 p.m.). Others scheduled to appear include Pradigy GT (Thursday, 6 p.m.), Sol Fusion (Thursday, 7:30 p.m.), Hair Nation (Saturday, 4 p.m.) and Chelsea Bain (Saturday, 6:30 p.m.). In addition, Food Lion Speed Street presented by Coca-Cola, which in the past has featured such stars as Keith Urban,
Montgomery Gentry, 3 Doors Down, MC Hammer and Pat Benatar, will showcase its “Race to Stardom” winners, spotlighting two rising stars as opening acts throughout the festival. The victorious country performer, the Landon Parker Band, will take the stage at 6 p.m. on May 24 and the winning rock band, Blu Avenue, as chosen by the fans, will perform at 5:30 p.m. on May 25. As sensational as the sounds of Food Lion Speed Street presented by Coca-Cola might be, it’s not all about the music. NASCAR stars including Danica Patrick, Tony Stewart and Joey Logano will host question and answer sessions throughout the three-day event. They follow in the tradition of such NASCAR luminaries as Dale Earnhardt, Junior Johnson and Jeff Gordon who have made appearances in past years. The Food Lion Interactive Area, on Tryon Street at Fourth Street, offers fans the opportunity to meet many of their favorite drivers. The festival offers interactive displays, racing simulators, free food samples, coupons and other freebies and there will be multiple presentations for consumers on the Food Lion Food Stage. In addition, Carolina Chevy Dealers will provide fans the opportunity to test drive several new models at the Chevrolet Ride and Drive exhibit on Brevard Street,
Danica Patrick, Tony Stewart, Joey Logano and more will be onsite to greet fans and sign gear!
by Seth Livingstone Special to Charlotte Prowler Magazine
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B Y
D E R E K
S M I T H
JIMMIE
J O H N SO N
Car: No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet D.O.B.: 09.17.1975 Hometown: El Cajon, Calif. Residence: Charlotte, N.C. Team: Hendrick Motorsports Crew Chief: Chad Knaus 2013 Statistics: 1st in points, 1 pole, 2 wins, 6 top 5’s, 8 top 10’s, $3,328,830 in earnings.
2013 Outlook: The introduction of the new Gen6 car has favored Johnson and Knaus. They won the title in 2007 during the first year of the Car of Tomorrow, and are eyeing another one. The No. 48 took the checkered flag at Daytona and Martinsville and have been the most consistent team in the first 11 races. Johnson, Knaus and Lowe’s are all signed to contracts through 2015. 2012 Statistics: 3rd in points, 4 poles, 5 wins, 18 top 5’s, 24 top 10’s, $8,210,314 in earnings.
48 2012 Review: Johnson won five races – at Darlington, Dover, Indianapolis, Martinsville and Fort Worth – and finished third in the Chase. He was runner-up five times and third three times in 2012. Johnson also won four poles – at Kentucky, Chicago, Martinsville and Fort Worth. A 32ndplace finish at Phoenix and 36th at Homestead ended his bid for a sixth championship.
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CARL
E DWA R D S
Car: No. 99 Fastenal Ford D.O.B.: 08.15.1979 Hometown: Columbia, Mo. Residence: Mooresville, N.C. Team: Roush Fenway Racing Crew Chief: Bob Osbourne 2013 Statistics: 2nd in points, 0 poles, 1 win, 5 top 5’s, 7 top 10’s, $2,175,639 in earnings.
2013 Outlook: Edwards won at Phoenix and was third at Fort Worth and Talladega. Jimmy Fennig moves over from the No. 17 and will be Edwards’ crew chief in 2013. Since 2004, Edwards has won 20 times, including nine in 2008, with 97 top 5’s and 164 top 10’s. He has finished second in points twice in his career (2008, 2011). Edwards has won 38 times in the Nationwide Series and took the 2007 championship. 2012 Statistics: 15th in points, 1 pole, 0 wins, 3
top 5’s, 13 top 10’s, $5,348,250 in earnings. 2012 Review: After coming in second for the championship in 2011, Edwards didn’t find Victory Lane. He ran one Nationwide Series race and won it – at Watkins Glen – and grabbed a Cup pole – at Daytona. Edward came in fifth three times – at Las Vegas, Fontana and Dover. Halfway through the season, his long-time crew chief Bob Osborne left and Chad Norris took over on an interim basis.
20
M AT T
K E N S ET H Car: No. 20 Home Depot/Dollar General Toyota D.O.B.: 03.10.1972 Hometown: Cambridge, Wis. Residence: Mooresville, N.C. Team: Joe Gibbs Racing Crew Chief: Jason Ratcliff Todd Parrott Todd Parrott
2013 Outlook: The No. 20 Toyota leads all cars with three wins (Las Vegas, Kansas, Darlington) in 2013. Kenseth was runner-up to Jimmie Johnson in 2006 and came in fourth in 2007 and 2011. He has 27 Sprint Cup victories and 26 Nationwide wins in 735 total starts. Despite five wins in 2002, he finished only 8th in points. Kenseth will pilot the No. 20, formerly driven by Joey Logano, with sponsorship from Home Depot and Dollar General. 2012 Statistics: 7th in points, 1 pole, 3 wins, 13
top 5’s, 19 top 10’s, $7,536,232 in earnings. 2012 Review: The 2003 Sprint Cup champion won at Daytona, Talladega and Kansas in his last season driving for Roush Fenway Racing. Many figured he would be content to ride out the rest of the year after making the announcement in June he was headed to Joe Gibbs Racing. Instead, Kenseth made the Chase for an eighth time. A 35th-place finish at Dover ended his chance at a second Sprint Cup championship.
DALE
E A R N H A R DT J R . Car: No. 88 Army National Guard/Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet D.O.B.: 10.10.1974 Hometown: Kannapolis, N.C. Residence: Mooresville, N.C. Team: Hendrick Motorsports Crew Chief: Steve Letarte 2013 Statistics: 4th in points, 0 poles, 0 wins, 3 top 5’s, 7 top 10’s,
2013 Outlook: Earnhardt, Jr., was runner-up at Daytona and Fontana, and had a top 5 at Phoenix. Army National Guard takes over as primary sponsor, replacing Diet Mountain Dew, which will scale back the number of races it sponsors in 2013. Hendrick Motorsports and Earnhardt, Jr., extended their deal to 2017. 2012 Statistics: 12th in points, 1 pole, 1 win, 10 top 5’s, 20 top 10’s, $5,173,155 in earnings. 2012 Review: NASCAR’s most popular driver
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made it back to Victory Lane at Michigan in June after 143 races. Earnhardt, Jr., led the points for a good portion of the season heading into the Chase but finished no higher than fourth after breaking his winless streak. Junior finished second twice – at Daytona and Richmond – and had 10 top 5’s with 20 top 10’s and a pole (Richmond). He missed two races during the Chase due to a concussion, losing out on valuable points.
CONTINUOUS COVERAGE
ALL
THINGS
OF
SPORTS
W W W. SO U T H E R N S P O RT S J O U R N A L . CO M W W W. P R OW L E R M AG A Z I N E . CO M
CLINT
B OW Y E R
Car: No. 15 Five Hour Energy Toyota D.O.B.: 05.30.1979 Hometown: Emporia, Kan. Residence: Clemmons, N.C. Team: Michael Waltrip Racing Crew Chief: Brian Pattie 2013 Statistics: 5th in points, 0 poles, 0 wins, 4 top 5’s, 5 top 10’s, $1,879,451 in earnings.
2013 Outlook: Bowyer was runner-up at Martinsville and Richmond, and had top 5’s at Bristol and Kansas, his home track. His move to Michael Waltrip Racing has paid off for both the driver and owner. Bowyer has won eight career NASCAR races and eight Nationwide events. The 2008 Nationwide Series champion has made the Chase four of the last six years (2007, 2008, 2010, 2012). 2012 Statistics: 2nd in points, 0 poles, 3 wins, 10
BRAD
K E S E LOW S K I
Car: No. 2 Miller Lite Ford D.O.B: 02.12.1984 Hometown: Rochester Hills, Mich. Residence: Mooresville, N.C. Team: Penske Racing Crew Chief: Paul Wolfe 2013 Statistics: Tied-6th in point s, 0 poles, 0 wins, 4 top 5’s, 7 top 10’s, $2,341,985 in earnings.
2013 Outlook: Keselowski was fourth, fourth, third and third in the first four races of the season. He won at Richmond in the Nationwide series. The driver of the Miller Lite Ford is the best young driver in NASCAR. He didn’t blink as he battled five-time champion Jimmie Johnson going down the stretch of the 2012 Chase. Penske Racing switches from Dodge to Ford in 2013. Dodge hasn’t ruled out a return to NASCAR in the possibly very near future.
KASEY
KAHNE
Car: No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet D.O.B.: 04.10.1980 Hometown: Enumclaw, Wash. Residence: Mooresville, N.C. Team: Hendrick Motorsports Crew Chief: Kenny Francis 2013 Statistics: Tied-6th in points, 0 poles, 1 win, 4 top 5’s, 5 top 10’s, $1,787,473 in earnings.
2013 Outlook: Kahne won at Bristol and was runner-up at Las Vegas and Kansas. He has won 15 races all-time, but only eight in the last six years after winning six in 2006. Kahne will work with crew chief Kenny Francis again in 2013 with whom he was paired at Red Bull Racing in 2011. He is reportedly under contract with Hendrick Motorsports until 2015 and Farmers Insurance is on board through 2014. 2012 Statistics: 4th in points, 4 poles, 2 wins, 12 top 5’s, 19 top 10’s, $4,736,046 in earnings.
KYLE
B U SC H
Car: No. 18 M&M’s Toyota D.O.B.: 05.02.1985 Hometown: Las Vegas, Nev. Residence: Mooresville, N.C. Team: Joe Gibbs Racing Crew Chief: Dave Rogers 2013 Statistics: 8th in points, 2 poles, 2 wins, 5 top 5’s, 6 top 10’s, $2,506,735 in earnings.
2013 Outlook: Busch won at Fontana and Fort Worth and was runner-up at Bristol. He has also won five Nationwide races and two truck events in 2013. He is still looking to become a factor in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Since 2006, he has finished tenth, fifth, tenth, 13th, eighth, 12th and 13th in the final points’ standings. 2012 Statistics: 13th in points, 2 poles, 1 win, 13 top 5’s, 20 top 10’s, $6,593,466 in earnings.
15 top 5’s, 23 top 10’s, $5,550,157 in earnings. 2012 Review: Bowyer made the Chase for the fourth time with three wins, ten top 5’s and 23 top 10’s and finished second in points, his best season since coming in at third in 2007, which was his second year on the NASCAR circuit. Bowyer drove the No. 15 Five Hour Energy Toyota to Victory Lane at Sonoma, Richmond and Charlotte. He was also runner-up at Homestead in the final race of 2012.
2 2012 Statistics: Sprint Cup Series champion, 1st in points, 0 poles, 5 wins, 13 top 5’s, 23 top 10’s, $6,231,925 in earnings. 2012 Review: Keselowski, who won his first Sprint Cup race at Talladega in 2009, took the Championship in only his third full season. After a break-out season with three wins in 2011, he guided the Blue Deuce to victory five times last year, including twice during the Chase.
5 2012 Review: Taking over Mark Martin’s No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Kahne had two wins (Charlotte, Loudon) and was 4th in points, earning 12 top 5’s, 19 top 10’s and two poles (Las Vegas, Martinsville). He finished eighth or better in six of the ten Chase races. However, a 25th place finish at Fort Worth essentially ended his hopes of a championship.
18 2012 Review: Busch won once in a Sprint Cup car – at Richmond – and didn’t win an event in either the Nationwide Series or Camping World Truck Series for the first time since 2005. The younger of the Busch racing brothers has earned 112 victories in the three divisions of racing. His lone championship came in 2009 in the Nationwide Series.