Only five days remain until the
52nd running of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Here are
several Coca-Cola 600 news items that will help race fans coming to the
event this Sunday, May 29, get the most out of their race experience.
Patriotic
More than 5,600 Tickets Purchased for Troops Through Let the
Troops Race Program
For the second consecutive year, fans and companies responded
with strong support for Charlotte Motor Speedway’s invitation to honor
American troops by donating more than 5,600 tickets as part of the Let
the Troops Race ticket program. Through this patriotic initiative, fans
who bought tickets to the May 29 Coca-Cola 600 could also purchase an
additional ticket for just $20 to send a member of the U.S. Armed Forces
to the Memorial Day Weekend race. Tickets are being distributed through
the United Service Organizations to active servicemen and women.
Toyota, Charlotte Motor Speedway to Host Wounded Warriors at
Coca-Cola 600
Charlotte Motor Speedway and Toyota Racing are teaming up to
host 150 troops from the Warrior Transition Battalion in Fort Stewart,
Ga., at the Coca-Cola 600 on May 29. The Warrior Transition Battalion is
responsible for the daily care and treatment of more than 400 wounded
soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The troops will receive
transportation to and from the event, catering from Papa Johns and Levy
Restaurants in a hospitality tent donated by Charlotte Motor Speedway,
pre-race pit road access, gift bags, race scanners and grandstand
tickets. Several Toyota Racing drivers, including Kyle Busch, David
Reutimann and Martin Truex Jr., will meet with the battalion during
their visit.
Traveling Vietnam Wall Memorial on Display During Coca-Cola 600
Weekend
The American Veterans Traveling Tribute is bringing the Cost of
Freedom Tribute to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600
weekend. The centerpiece of this tribute is the Traveling Wall, an
80-percent scale version of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington,
D.C. The wall lists the name of every American casualty from the war,
just like the original. The tribute will be open to the public from May
26 to May 29 in the souvenir display area at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Opening ceremonies will be held at 1 p.m. on May 26, featuring a wreath
laying sponsored by The Blue Star Mothers. The wreath will be carried by
veterans from Richard’s Coffee Shop/Military Museum in Mooresville, N.C.
On May 29, before the Coca-Cola 600, a ceremony to honor Medal of Honor
recipients will be held at 9 a.m.
Honoring Our Heroes Car, World Trade Center Piece, On Display
for Fans
To mark the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 tragedy in
the United States, Lionel NASCAR Collectibles is partnering with the
Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, to offer fans the Honoring
Our Heroes program collectible diecast car. The Honoring Our Heroes show
car featuring the diecast design will be unveiled for media on Thursday,
May 26, then will be on display in the Charlotte Motor Speedway display
area for fans Saturday and Sunday during the Coca-Cola 600 Weekend. A
300-pound piece of the World Trade Center will also be at the display,
where fans can enter to win a case full of Lionel NASCAR Collectibles
diecast cars.
Fan Fun
Fans Can Wave the Green Flag for Windstream Pole Night
On Windstream Pole Night, May 26, Charlotte Motor Speedway
officials will randomly select fans in attendance to wave the green flag
for competitors attempting to qualify for the Coca-Cola 600 on May 29.
Qualifying is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.
Hamlin, Bowyer, Newman at Coca-Cola Family Track Walk,
Quarter-Mile Cookout on May 27
Coca-Cola Racing Family drivers Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer and
Ryan Newman and NASCAR Hall of Famers Bobby Allison and Ned Jarrett will
take part in the Coca-Cola Family Track Walk at 11 a.m. on Friday, May
27. Following the exercise walk, fans can enjoy activities for the whole
family including games, music, racing simulators, motivating lifestyle
tips and a Q-and-A session with the drivers and legends. To round out
the day, Coca-Cola and Charlotte Motor Speedway will once again host the
Quarter-Mile Cookout, where fans can enjoy a picnic-style lunch with
hamburgers, chicken sandwiches and all the fixings. The entire day of
events is free and open to all ticket and annual credential holders for
the Coca-Cola 600.
HISTORY to Premiere Clips from New Season of “Top Gear,” Season
5 of “Ice Road Truckers” on World’s Largest HDTV
Following the Top Gear 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series Race on May
28, fans will be treated to entertainment from award-winning cable
network HISTORY on the world’s largest HDTV. Immediately following the
Top Gear 300, HISTORY will offer an exclusive preview of the second
season of “Top Gear.” During the preview fans will have a chance to win
a trip to the Aug. 24 race at Bristol Motor Speedway. At 8 p.m., HISTORY
will then broadcast the season-five premiere of “Ice Road Truckers,” a
full two weeks before the episode airs on television.
Race Ride-Alongs Offered from the Richard Petty Driving
Experience
Race week means fans’ chance to participate in a Race Ride-Along
with the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Each ride-along participant
will receive three laps in a NASCAR race car at speeds approaching 160
mph. The cars will be driven by Richard Petty Driving Experience’s
professional instructors. Ride-Alongs start Saturday evening, May 28,
following the Top Gear 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race and at noon on
Monday, May 30, following the Coca-Cola 600. The ride-alongs are open to
the public and are $149. Reservations are required. To book a spot, fans
can visit www.DrivePetty.com or call 1 (800) 237-3889.
“CARS 2” Cars, Petting Zoo, Alpo Dog Jump New Additions to
Powerade Play Zone
The Powerade Play Zone returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway for
the May race weeks and will once again feature racing-themed inflatable
bounce houses, face painters and appearances by Lug Nut, the world’s
fastest mascot. New for 2011, the Powerade Play Zone will include a
petting zoo and a display on Sunday morning featuring full-size replicas
of Lightning McQueen and Mater from Disney*Pixar’s “CARS 2” which opens
in U.S. theaters June 24. Also, the Alpo Ultimate Air Dogs will be in
the Powerade Play Zone for Coca-Cola 600 weekend. Fans may enter their
dogs to compete for only $5 a splash at www.ultimateairdogs.net. The
Powerade Play Zone will be located in the Smith Tower south parking lot
near the main speedway entrance and will be open May 26 from noon to 7
p.m.; May 28 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and May 29 from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Newman, Reutimann, 82nd Airborne Chorus, Marcus Smith on “PRN Up
To SPEED” at SPEED Stage Sunday
The popular free fan forum “PRN Up To SPEED” takes place at the
SPEED stage, located at the speedway’s main entrance, from 2:30 p.m. to
3:00 p.m., prior to the Coca-Cola 600 on May 29. NASCAR stars Ryan
Newman and David Reutimann, as well as Charlotte Motor Speedway
President Marcus Smith and the 82nd Airborne Chorus, are scheduled to
join personalities from the Performance Racing Network for the 30-minute
Q-and-A session.
Entertainment, Information, Donuts Waiting For Fans at New
Welcome Area
Fans entering Charlotte Motor Speedway through the main entrance
near Bruton Smith Boulevard and Highway 29 will notice a few changes to
the speedway’s fan welcome area. The welcome tent will feature an emcee
and DJ playing music. Fans can stop by the tent for information on
everything Coca-Cola 600-related and enjoy free donuts and drinks. Also
new for 2011, live music will greet fans in front of Smith Tower during
the Coca-Cola 600 Weekend.
Traffic Information Available on 91.1 FM
Race fans will be able to tune into 91.1 FM for up-to-date
traffic information following Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600. Charlotte Motor
Speedway will broadcast traffic exit updates on that frequency to inform
fans of any traffic concerns around the speedway.
Speedway Offers Traffic Tips, Maps to Ease Race Day Travel
With help from the North Carolina Department of Transportation
(NCDOT), Charlotte Motor Speedway is working to ease travel for fans
heading to and from the Coca-Cola 600 Week races. New for 2011 are tips
from Charlotte Motor Speedway and NCDOT on the best routes to get to the
speedway, the best times to arrive at the track and information on
post-race traffic flow and public transportation options. For traffic
tips and maps, visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/fans/directions.
Charities
Speedway Children’s Charities Partners with Feed the Children to
Help Concord Families
Feed The Children, in partnership with Speedway Children’s
Charities, delivered two truckloads of food and essentials to the Boys &
Girls Club of Cabarrus County today. The Boys & Girls Club of Cabarrus
County selected 600 families to receive a 25-pound box of food, a
10-pound box of personal care items and a box of Avon products. The
items distributed are designed to help a family of four for a week. The
delivery was part of a nationwide effort by Feed The Children and
Speedway Children’s Charities to deliver 500,000 pounds of food and
supplies to help families in areas surrounding racing venues.
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