Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race week signals go time in east Tennessee

It’s officially race week in East Tennessee, which means the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race is just around the corner!

This coming week, Aug.17-20, Bristol Motor Speedway is home to another family reunion, welcoming NASCAR fans both experienced and new. Guests from all 50 states are making their way to The Last Great Colosseum for “America’s Night Race”, a celebration of all things that make America strong.

“We’re excited for all of our guests to arrive on property,” said Jerry Caldwell, executive vice president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway. “We have so many thrilling events centered around the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race that we know our guests will love. We’re ready for them to have the time of their lives!”

Highlights of the week include:

Monday, August 15: The 19^th Annual Speedway Children’s Charities Golf Tournament presented by Baker’s Construction Services returns to Tri-Cities Golf Course in Blountville, Tenn. Registration begins at 10 a.m., with lunch served at 11 a.m. and a shotgun start at Noon. A team of four with hole sponsorship is $750. For more information or to register, please contact Betsy Holleman with SCC at (423) 989-6975.

Tuesday, August 16: Later that evening, join some of NASCAR’s rising stars, including William Byron, John Hunter Nemechek and Ben Rhodes at Shooter’s Edge and compete for marksmanship scores among 15 different targets. Participants will be provided with a firearm and ammunition. Dinner will be held at 5 p.m. For more information or to register, please contact Betsy Holleman with SCC at (423) 989-6975.

Wednesday, August 17: It’s time to see cars on track! Wednesday includes practice and qualifying for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Practice for the NCWTS UNOH 200 is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. with knockout qualifying at 4:45 p.m. NWMT practice for the Bush’s Beans 150 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. with qualifying at 3 p.m.

For those attending Wednesday’s action, Gates 2, 3, 7, 8, 13 and 15 will be open for entry.

For those wanting to snag an autograph from their favorite NCWTS or NWMT driver, two autograph sessions will be held prior to racing. From 2-2:45 p.m., a NCWTS session will be held at the Waltrip A-B Mezzanine, just inside Gate 14. Drivers that will participate include William Byron, Christopher Bell, John Hunter Nemechek, Daniel Hemric and many more. A similar NWMT session will be held at the same location from 4:45-5:15 p.m.

The Bush’s Beans 150 will go green at 6:05 p.m., as the best of the best in the modified series duke it out for the chance to call themselves a Bristol victor.

Following the conclusion of the NWMT race, the stars of the NCWTS arrive for the UNOH 200. Green flag is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.

Kids will want to check out the free, interactive Kids Zone from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Activities, for children 15 and under, includes inflatables, a rock wall, zip line, euro bungee, cornhole, face painting and a coloring station located in the Fan Zone (near the large lighted Bristol Motor Speedway sign).

Tickets to Wednesday’s on-track action are available for only $35 with kids 12 and under FREE.

Thursday, August 18: Food City Race Night, one of the largest fan festivals on the circuit, will be held from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m. on State Street in downtown Bristol, Tenn./Va. The night includes driver autograph sessions, interactive games, music stages and more.

Guests who want to experience the thrill of top speeds around BMS should check out Half-Mile Hot Laps driven by Seat Time Racing School. Experiences will be set up on track from 6-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 18. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Visit www.bristol.speedwaycharities.org/events for more information. A portion of the proceeds will benefit SCC.

Returning once again for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race week is the Fitzgerald Peterbilt Transporter Parade. The longest-running parade of team haulers in NASCAR, the Fitzgerald Peterbilt Transporter Parade will depart from The Pinnacle at 9 p.m. and will follow a nine-mile route to the Speedway, arriving at the track at approximately 10 p.m. Fireworks will be shot from four different locations along the route, with a party celebrating the truck’s arrival.

The official Night Race 5K, presented by Bojangles, will also take place on Thursday, Aug. 18 at 8:30 p.m. Guests will be able to run on the legendary dragstrip of Thunder Valley, go for a lap around the Last Great Colosseum and finish inside for a roaring party to welcome the arrival of NASCAR driver haulers in the Transporter Parade. Registration is $25 at www.bristol.speedwaycharities.org.

For those who love good ole country music, Lance Stinson will perform on the stage in the Fan Zone at 9 p.m.

The Bristol Ultimate Experiences Auction runs online until Aug. 15 with a live auction on Thursday at 6 p.m. on the third floor of the O. Bruton Smith administration building. Auction items include the opportunity to ride with one of NASCAR’s superstars during driver introductions for Saturday night’s Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race. Drivers on the auction block online include Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, Danica Patrick and more. In addition to the ride along, winners will also receive a Cold Pass for race day. Other prizes include the Bristol Motor Speedway All-Access Package and the Spotter for a Day package. For more information, visit www.sccauctions.com.

Friday, August 19: It’s time for guests to see their favorite drivers in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series take to the track. Practice for the NSCS Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race will take place at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. with knockout qualifying at 5:45 p.m.  NXS Food City 300 qualifying is at 3:15 p.m.

The Food City 300 goes green at 7:30 p.m. as the future stars of the sport go head-to-head in a battle for supremacy and a spot in the inaugural NASCAR XFINITY Series chase under the lights. Be sure to see Richard Childress Racing’s Ty Dillon as he makes his 100^th start in the NASCAR XFINITY Series behind the wheel of the Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet.

The first qualifying sessions for the Meade Tractor Cornhole Classic will take place at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday. The cost is $40 per team with proceeds benefitting SCC. Each player will receive a tournament t-shirt.

New for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race week is the Bristol Lawn Party. This adult-oriented backyard bash is a new entertainment area in the Fan Zone, located next to the iconic Bristol Tower, that includes games and activities that adults will love, including giant beer pong, a mechanical bull, human billiards and much more. On Friday, visit the Bristol Lawn Party from 2-7 p.m. and following the conclusion of the Food City 300.

Kids will want to check out the free, interactive Kids Zone from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Activities, for children 15 and under, includes inflatables, a rock wall, zip line, euro bungee, cornhole, face painting and a coloring station located in the Fan Zone (near the large lighted Bristol Motor Speedway sign).

Tickets for the Food City 300 are still available, starting at $40.

Saturday, August 20: It’s time for the main event, the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race! The stars of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series battle it out under the lights of The Last Great Colosseum.

Race festivities begin with the NRA Country presents Craig Morgan pre-race concert at 5:45 p.m. Known for country music staples, “International Harvester”, “Bonfire” and “That’s What I Love About Sunday”, Morgan is ready to put on a show for everyone in attendance.

Driver introductions for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race begin at 7:15 p.m. as drivers walk out to a song of their request. It’s one of the most interactive driver intros on the circuit! And once again, the intros will feature the booming voice of boxing announcer Michael Buffer.

Guests will want to be sure to keep their eyes to the sky during the National Anthem as two T-38 Talon’s, from Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Va., perform the flyover. The T-38 is a two-seat, twin-engine trainer used by air forces around the globe. It was the world’s first supersonic trainer when it was introduced in 1961.

Just after 8 p.m., the sounds of engines will roar to life with the “Drivers, Start your Engines” command, led by Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris and the BPS crew. After a few pace laps, the green flag will be displayed by American soldier Mark Geist, co-author of the book that spawned the hit movie “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi”, and one of the greatest spectacles in sports will begin. Guests cheer as their favorite gladiators attempts to tackle 500 laps under the lights on one of the most physically demanding tracks in NASCAR.

During the first caution or at Lap 50, whichever comes first, BMS will participate in the SCC Red Bucket Brigade. Guests are encouraged to drop their loose change into the buckets as volunteers pass them around the facility. All proceeds benefit SCC.

Be sure to pick up a souvenir program, available for $10 throughout the weekend, to commemorate your trip. Regan Smith will be on hand to sign programs and autographs in the O. Bruton Smith Building from 2:30-3:30 p.m.

As on Friday, be sure to check out the Bristol Lawn Party. This adult-oriented backyard bash is a new entertainment area in the Fan Zone that includes games and activities that adults will love, including giant beer pong, a mechanical bull, American Ninja Warrior-style inflatables, human billiards and much more. Saturday hours are 10 a.m.-7p.m.

The Meade Tractor Cornhole Classic will hold its final qualifying sessions at 9 a.m. and Noon. The top four teams will automatically move into the championship which takes place at 3 p.m.

A kid’s autograph session will be offered from 3-3:30 p.m. at the Guest Welcome Village. Kurt Busch, Trevor Bayne and David Ragan will be on hand to meet with the young guns.

Kids will want to check out the free, interactive Kids Zone from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Activities, for children 15 and under, includes inflatables, a rock wall, zip line, euro bungee, cornhole, face painting and a coloring station located in the Fan Zone (near the large lighted Bristol Motor Speedway sign).

Tickets for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race are still available, starting at just $79. A two-day weekend package is also available, beginning at just $104. Visit BristolTix.com or call (855) 580-5525.

BMS PR