Volume 15, Number 2 August 2014 Published by The Johnson City News & Neighbor

Transcription

1 Volume 15, Number 2 August 2014 Published by The Johnson City News & Neighbor Published by The Johnson City News & Neighbor AUGUST 2014 Half Mile Heat Race Magazine 1

2 FEEL THE ENERGY, ENJOY A BOOST! For An Energy Boost AND Great Taste... DR. ENUF is the WINNER! RICH IN VITAMINS! Tri-City Beverage Corp. Johnson City, TN 2 Half Mile Heat Race Magazine AUGUST 2014 Published by The Johnson City News & Neighbor

3 Bass Pro Shop exterior during the final phase of construction, July Photo by Adam Campbell Bass Pro Shops celebrates store opening Partners with Bristol Motor Speedway for August 2014 Qualifying Day Constructed to salute the region s picturesque landscapes and vast outdoor opportunities, America s favorite outdoor store celebrates the opening of its new Bristol, Tenn. location on Aug. 20 by partnering with another East Tennessee tradition - NASCAR racing at the Last Great Colosseum. Bass Pro Qualifying Day joins a full slate of racing at Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) on Friday, Aug. 22 that includes NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice and the NASCAR Nationwide Series Food City 300 along with knock-out qualifying for both series. We are very excited to bring Bass Pro Shops to the Tri-Cities area and be a part of the Pinnacle development, said Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops. The area s long history of great fishing and hunting traditions, along with the highly visible and easily accessible location, make it the perfect place to allow us to better serve our many customers and outdoor enthusiasts that visit and live in this beautiful part of the country. We also look forward to partnering with the Smith family, Jerry Caldwell and all our friends at the nearby Bristol Motor Speedway to promote events for the hundreds of thousands of race fans who also love the outdoors. Already involved in motorsports through partnerships with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Tony Stewart and Richard Childress Racing, adding Bristol Motor Speedway s title sponsorship of Qualifying Day to Bass Pro Shops NASCAR portfolio seemed a natural fit. Bass Pro Shops is a longtime supporter of NASCAR, and their brand is a favorite among our fan base, said Jerry Caldwell, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Bristol Motor Speedway. I know their new retail location will quickly become a regular, race weekend destination for our loyal guests. Located at Exit 74 off of Interstate 81, the new 100,000-square-foot store includes a bowling alley with food and beverage options and also offers shuttle transportation to the store from BMS on Thursday, Aug. 21 from 3-9 p.m. and from 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 22 and Saturday, Aug. 23. Tickets start at just $35 for the Friday, Aug. 22 Bass Pro Qualifying Day and Published by The Johnson City News & Neighbor NASCAR team owner Richard Childress, Bristol Mayor Joel Staton, Bass Pro Shops Founder Johnny Morris, NASCAR President Mike Helton and developer Steve Johnson pose at the groundbreaking. File Photo Food City 300 with half-price entry for children 15 and under, until Aug. 16. The cost of a full weekend experience at the famed short track begins at only $99 and includes Friday s full day of racing and Saturday s IRWIN Tools Night Race. Tickets for the Wednesday night tripleheader featuring the Whelen Modified Bush s Beans 150, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series UNOH 200 presented by ZLOOP and full-length Dierks Bentley concert presented by Mountain Dew start at just $30 for adults (until Aug. 16) with children 15 and under free. AUGUST 2014 Half Mile Heat Race Magazine 3

4 Food City Race Night returns to State Street As the area prepares for the onslaught of race fans and RV s, the folks at Food City are gearing up for the annual Food City Race Night, which paves the way for a weekend of action-packed Nationwide and Sprint Cup racing at one of NAS- CAR s most popular venues. The event will take place on Thursday, August 21, 2014 on State Street in downtown Bristol, VA/TN. Food City has hosted the highly popular event, which has contributed over $500,000 in proceeds to area non-profits for more than twenty-five years. Jeff Gordon and Richard Petty will also make on-stage appearances, along with Medal of Honor recipients Ron Rosser, Sammy L. Davis, Harold A. Fritz and James A. Taylor. The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Generally presented to its recipient by the President of the United States of America in the name of Congress. Fans can expect a fun-filled evening jam-packed with driver autograph sessions, show cars, simulators, souvenir trailers, entertainment and a smorgasbord of free food samples. The action will get underway at 1:00 p.m. and continue until 9:00 p.m. $5.00 advance tickets are available at area Food City locations. Tickets will be $6.00 on the day of the event. Children twelve and under are admitted free of charge. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Birthplace of Country Music. Food City has already received confirmation from several big name drivers and attractions, with more expected in. Among those already confirmed are Kevin Harvick (6-6:45 p.m., 200 wristbands will be given out at 1 p.m. at the Armour display), Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (6-8 p.m., 200 wristbands will be given out at 4 p.m. at the beginning of his line), Austin Dillon (3:30 p.m., 250 wristbands will be given out at 2:30 p.m. at the beginning of his line), David Ragan (6:30-7:30 p.m., 150 wristbands will be given out at 4 p.m. at the beginning of his line), Greg Biffle, Regan Smith, Eric McClure, Morgan Shepherd, Derrike Cope, Joey Gase, Michael McDowell, Joey Coulter, Brennan Newberry, Spencer Gallagher, Gray Gaulding, Caleb Holman, John King, Chris Lafferty, Jake Crum and Jennifer Jo Cobb, NASCAR Whelen drivers Jenna Wagner and Chad Finchum, Steve Smith, right, Food city president and CEO, presents a check for $125,000 to the Paralyzed Veterans of America Fund from proceeds of Food City s annual Food City Race Night celebration in Bristol. ARAC driver Blake Jones, Lonesome Pine driver Kevin Wolfe, Vintage drivers Gary Potter, Haskell McKee and Danny Casteel, NASCAR Legends Paul Lewis, Brownie King, John A. Utsman and Travis Tiller, Late Model driver Tyler Goodwin, Kart drivers Dillon Hodge and Brandon Morris, along with drivers Brandon Rogers, Tim Lopata, C.J. Hulsey, Adam Gray, Mike Blevins and Jon Pittman. Free food sampling will be available from 4 until 9:00 p.m., while supplies last. Shuttle services will be available from 11:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. Pick-up and drop off locations include: the Bruton Smith Building (front entrance) at Bristol Motor Speedway; Tower C/Speedway Blvd. at BMS; Hwy. 11E & Whitetop Road; Hwy 394 and Whitetop Road; Hwy. 394 & Copperhead Road and the Bristol Mall - Exit 1 off I-81. The event site is just minutes from Bristol Motor Speedway. Food City Names Grand Marshal and Honorary Starter As the area prepares for the upcoming race weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway, the folks at Food City are gearing up for the running of the August 22nd Food City 300. Company officials recently announced that a gathering of at least ten Medal of Honor recipients will serve as the event Grand Marshals. Numerous public officials and well-known figures have been privileged to give the command for the start of the Food City showdown, one of the most popular Nationwide Series races on the NASCAR schedule. Our region is privileged to be hosting the Medal of Honor Convention in Knoxville, Tennessee in September of this year. Food City is proud to serve as a major sponsor for the event, says Food City president and chief executive officer Steven C. Smith. It s an honor to have such a valiant group of individuals represent our company as this Heath Calhoun year s Grand Marshals. U.S. Army Veteran and Paralympic Alpine Skier Heath Calhoun has been named Honorary Starter. A retired Army Staff Sgt., Calhoun has gone from the battlefield to the ski slopes, all in the name of representing his country first in the military and now as an athlete. Born in Bristol, Tennessee, Calhoun is a native of Grundy, Virginia. At a young age, he earned respect for the U.S. military. His father served in Vietnam and his grandfather in World War II, and in 1999, Calhoun made the decision to carry on his family s dedication to the military and to the service of his country by enlisting in the U.S. Army. While deployed in Iraq, Calhoun served as Squad Leader for the 101st Airborne Division. He was severely wounded when a rocket-propelled grenade hit his Humvee in 2003, resulting in the amputation of both of his legs above the knee. For his service, Calhoun received a Purple Heart. As he was learning to walk on prosthetics during rehabilitation, Calhoun learned about the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), which provides programs and support for wounded service members, and through the program was introduced to adaptive skiing. Calhoun is an advocate for wounded warriors and helped to get the Wounded Warrior Bill passed through Congress in Then in 2007, the WWP awarded him the George C. Lang Award for Courage in honor of his achievements. We are humbled to have the opportunity to host such an esteemed group of veterans. We are excited to welcome them to the World s Fastest Half Mile in recognition of their sacrifice, dedication and service to our country. says Smith. 4 Half Mile Heat Race Magazine AUGUST 2014 Published by The Johnson City News & Neighbor

5 TAKE A SHOPPING CART OUT FOR A FEW LAPS! Johnson City Crossing is the victory lane for shopping. Our unmatched selection gives you an amazing array of choices. Race on over - the shopping experience will thrill you! Area Code 423 Amigo Mexican Restaurant Bed Bath & Beyond Diamond Exchange Dress Barn GameStop HH Gregg Home Depot Lifeway Christian Stores Michaels Natural Foods Market Old Navy Oreck Vacuums PetsMart Ross Dress For Less Rugged Wearhouse Sally Beauty Supply Salon BellaDona Shoe Carnival Stein Mart State of Franklin Knob Creek Road & Peoples Street Published by The Johnson City News & Neighbor AUGUST 2014 Half Mile Heat Race Magazine 5

6 Dierks Bentley to perform Aug. 20 Bristol Motor Speedway revs up Wednesday night (Aug. 20), adding a full-length concert by award-winning country music star Dierks Bentley to its already competitive racing doubleheader. The newly announced tripleheader - the Bush s Beans 150 Whelen Modfied race, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series UNOH 200 presented by ZLOOP and Dierks Bentley concert - provides an unforgettable race-day experience at an unbeatable price. Wednesday night at Bristol Motor Speedway is already one of the most exciting nights in motorsports, said BMS Executive Vice President and General Manager Jerry Caldwell. Now, with the support of our friends at Mountain Dew, we are able to offer fans an unbelievable night. The combination of intense racing, a country concert with music superstar Dierks Bentley and a $30 ticket price makes Wednesday night a can t-miss event. The Bush s Beans 150 fires up its engines at approximately 5:45pm and the UNOH 200 presented by ZLOOP is slated for an 8 p.m. start. The Dierks Dierks Bentley headlines Bristol Motor Speedway s NASCAR Camping World Post-Race Concert Bentley concert follows the Camping World Truck Series Race. August 2014 Race Week Schedule Wednesday, August 20 8:30 AM Spectator Gates Open 8:30 AM Bush s Beans 150 Practice 11:00 AM Bush s Beans 150 Final Practice 5:45 PM Bush s Beans 150 Driver Introductions Speedway Track 6:15 PM Start of Bush s Beans 150 (150 Laps, Miles) 8:00 PM UNOH 200 Driver Introductions 8:30 PM Start of UNOH 200 (200 Laps, Miles) 10:45 PM (approx.) Dierks Bentley Concert Thursday, August 21 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm Food City Race Night 1:30 PM Food City 300 Practice 3:00 PM Food City 300 Final Practice 5:30 PM Richard Petty Driving Experience Ride-Along Thursday, August 21 - continued 9:00 PM Transporter Parade Friday, August 22 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM IRWIN Tools Night Race Practice 1:30 PM IRWIN Tools Night Race Final Practice 7:00 PM Food City 300 Driver Introductions 7:30 PM Start of Food City 300 (300 Laps, Miles) Saturday, August 23 1:00 PM Spectator Gates Open 7:00 PM IRWIN Tools Night Race Driver Introductions 7:30 PM Start of IRWIN Tools Night Race (500 Laps, Miles) The owners and staff of Omar Awning love Bristol Dragway. There is one only way to win at It s also the only way to win at life: Go forward fast and know your stuff. We thank Bristol Dragway for their support and their giving back to our community. Commercial and Residential 202 Wesley Street ETSU For more than 20 years, ETSU Online has helped students move their careers forward faster with convenient and flexible courses and programs. Find your online graduate or undergraduate degree program at ETSU Online. ETSU ONLINE 6 Half Mile Heat Race Magazine AUGUST 2014 Published by The Johnson City News & Neighbor

7 think There is never a good time for minor illnesses and injuries in your family. First Assist Urgent Care gives you the peace of mind that comes from expert treatment for minor illnesses and injuries without a trip to the Emergency Room. Open weekdays, evenings, weekends and holidays. Call or visit our website for directions and hours. 8 Convenient Locations: ABINGDON, VA 603 Campus Drive, Suite COLONIAL HEIGHTS, TN 4600 Fort Henry Drive ELIZABETHTON, TN 314 Rogosin Drive JOHNSON CITY, TN 1019 W. Oakland Ave., Suite JONESBOROUGH, TN 395 Forrest Circle, Suite KINGSPORT, TN 1101 E. Stone Drive, Suite MARION, VA 245 Medical Park Dr., Suite C Opening Soon! PINEY FLATS, TN * * An affiliate of Mountain States Medical Group 6419 Bristol Hwy Published by The Johnson City News & Neighbor AUGUST 2014 Half Mile Heat Race Magazine 7

8 Wynonna and The Big Noise Concert headlines Built Ford Tough Pre-Race The robust sounds and dynamic vocals of Wynonna and The Big Noise spice up an already powerful Built Ford Tough Pre-Race. Spirits soar and tensions mount during the Saturday night show as The University of Tennessee s Pride of the Southland Band fires up fans with their rendition of Rocky Top, and for the third consecutive year, Michael Buffer readies drivers to rumble after entrances accompanied by music of their own selection. The Aug. 23 performance marks the fivetime Grammy winner s first show at Bristol Motor Speedway, but not her first visit to the Last Great Colosseum. BMS officials are proud to include the legendary country artist among its fans and growing list of talent performing during the IRWIN Tools Night Race week. Wynonna s distinctive country sounds and high-energy hits are perfect additions to the electric atmosphere of the IRWIN Tools Night Race, said BMS Executive Vice President and General Manager Jerry Caldwell. I m confident she will put on a great show for our guests, and we re thrilled to welcome her back to Bristol as part of pre-race entertainment. Tickets still remain to witness Saturday night under the lights of the Last Great Colosseum. Single-day tickets start at just $75 with weekend packages as low as $99. Guests may attend Friday s full day of racing, including Bass Pro Shops Qualifying and the newly expanded Food City 300, for as little as $35 with half-price admission for children 15 and under. Tickets for the Wednesday night tripleheader featuring the Whelen Modified Bush s Beans 150, NASCAR Camping World Truck Wynonna Judd Series UNOH 200 presented by ZLOOP and full-length Dierks Bentley concert presented by Mountain Dew start at just $30 for adults with children 15 and under free. All ticket prices increase by $5 starting Aug. 17. For information on reserving your seat at Bristol, visit BristolTix.com or call (855) Matt Kenseth celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the 53rd Annual IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 24, 2013 Photo courtesy of Food City HAYWORTH Tire Centers & Auto Service Get Your Car Race Day Ready Johnson City 4100 Bristol Hwy Convenient Locations! Elizabethton 19E / Valley Forge Kingsport 2101 W. Stone Drive Family Owned & Operated 1805 W. State of Franklin, Johnson City Next to Kroger, Near ETSU Broad Street Elizabethton Bristol Hwy, Suite B Welcome Bienvenidos RACE FANS! HAPPY HOUR: 5 p.m p.m. Mondays & Wednesdays 5p.m. - Close 13oz. Margaritas - $2.25 w/meal Tuesdays & Thursdays 5p.m. - Close 32 oz. Draft Beer - $2.00 w/meal 8 Half Mile Heat Race Magazine AUGUST 2014 Published by The Johnson City News & Neighbor

9 THE NIGHT RACES ARE COMING TO THE LAST GREAT COLOSSEUM AUGUST 20, 22 & BRISTOL Published by The Johnson City News & Neighbor AUGUST 2014 Half Mile Heat Race Magazine 9

10 Photos courtesy BMS and Getty Images 10 Half Mile Heat Race Magazine AUGUST 2014 Published by The Johnson City News & Neighbor

11 Photos courtesy BMS and Getty Images Published by The Johnson City News & Neighbor AUGUST 2014 Half Mile Heat Race Magazine 11

12 WELCOME RACE FANS! No matter where you re staying in the Tri-Cities, there s a Food City store just around the corner U.S. Hwy. 23 North Weber City, VA 396 Towne Centre Drive Abingdon, VA 731 Hwy. 11W Church Hill, TN 23 Crown Point Center 1205 N. Eastman Rd. Kingsport, TN 300 Clinchfield Street Kingsport, TN Volunteer Pkwy. Bristol, TN 1921 Hwy. 394 Blountville, TN 100 Bonham Rd. Bristol, VA 1320 Euclid Ave. Shopping Center Bristol, VA 1317 Virginia Ave. Hwy. 421 Bristol, TN 1911 Moreland Drive Kingsport, TN Stock up for race week at one of 18 convenient Tri-Cities area Food City stores. 125 Judge Gresham Rd. Gray, TN Carroll Creek Crossing Johnson City, TN 5970 Hwy. 11E Piney Flats, TN 421 Village Shopping Center 920 Broad St., Elizabethton, TN 509 N.State of Franklin Rd. Johnson City, TN 500 Forest Drive Jonesborough, TN 2120 S.Roan St. Johnson City, TN SEE YOU... At the Food City 300 on Friday, August 22 at Bristol Motor Speedway! 12 Half Mile Heat Race Magazine AUGUST 2014 Published by The Johnson City News & Neighbor