Tickets for the 2020 DAYTONA 500 and all DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth events can be purchased online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and Snapchat, and by downloading Daytona International Speedway’s mobile app, for the latest Speedway news throughout the season.

Matt Crafton, driver of the No. 88 Ford for ThorSport Racing, won the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series (NGOTS) championship on Friday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It was the third title of Crafton’s career, tying Jack Sprague for the second-most championships in series history.

Crafton became the first driver under the current playoff format to win a championship without winning a race during the season. He finished second in the Ford EcoBoost 200, beating out Championship 4 contenders Ross Chastain, Stewart Friesen and Brett Moffitt. Austin Hill won the Ford EcoBoost 200, his fourth victory in the NGOTS and his first at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

“It feels amazing,” said Crafton. “It’s one step closer to what (Ron) Hornaday Jr. has done and they called us the underdog. I heard (Todd) Bodine and everybody say that I was the underdog and I didn’t have it, and we fought harder I guarantee it. Every one of these guys worked hard. This Menard’s F-150 was fast tonight.”

Kyle Busch captured the owner’s championship with the No. 51 truck. It was Kyle Busch Motorsports’ record-setting seventh NGOTS owner championship. Kyle Busch Motorsports made its series debut back in 2010 with driver Johnny Benson Jr. Since then, the organization hasput  15 different drivers to Victory Lane for a total of 75 series wins. 

Tyler Ankrum, driver of the No. 17 for DGR-Crosley, won the 2019 NGOTS Sunoco Rookie of the Year.

Ford Championship Weekend continues Saturday as the NASCAR Xfinity Series Ford EcoBoost 300 begins at 3:30 p.m. On Sunday, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will cap its 2019 season at Homestead-Miami Speedway with the Ford EcoBoost 400 championship race, which will be broadcast on NBC at 3:00 p.m.

HMS PR

During the holidays everyone is super busy creating lists. They love to list who’s been naughty and who’s been nice. Oh yes, they will certainly check that one twice. They like to list all of the gifts they are going to get for their family and friends. And when planning that delicious holiday meal, a checklist of menu items is essential.
 
To help ease the load of sketching out one more list, Santa’s Elves here at BMS are doing their part to help you by creating another very necessary list that will make your holiday season a memorable one: The top 10 things you have to see when visiting the amazing Pinnacle Speedway in Lights.
 
The brilliantly illuminated holiday tradition, The Pinnacle Speedway in Lights presented by TVA opens tonight at Bristol Motor Speedway for its 23rd year of bringing cheer to the region. More than 200,000 guests from around the world will take in the spectacular light show that spans a five-mile route through the Bristol Motor Speedway property and showcases 3 million lights attached to more than 250 incredible displays.
 
Since time is critical, here’s everything you must see and do during your Pinnacle Speedway in Lights visit:
 
No. 10: Take your car or truck for a spin around the historic half-mile high banks of Bristol Motor Speedway! Your tires will touch the same all-concrete surface where so much NASCAR history has been made over the years. As a high-horsepower bonus, you’ll get to also drive alongside the famed Bristol Dragway – the highly revered Thunder Valley – one of the most iconic dragstrips in the United States.
 
No. 9: Back by popular demand for its third season as an attraction along the route, the Race to Space presented by Mycroft Signs, will take you on an interstellar journey. The galaxy themed tunnel which features a starburst light show will provide an out of this world experience for sure.   
 
No. 8: One of the Speedway in Lights all-time guest favorites, the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies Sea of Illumination, returns to the route to take visitors into a cool underwater world of holiday lights that is located underneath the frontstretch grandstands of the famed BMS oval. Other guest favorite displays that you must see this year include: The Dueling Dragsters, The Twelve Days of Christmas, Dinosaur Village and Ripley's Penguin Playhouse.  
 
No. 7: New for 2019, a limited number of Speedway in Lights Season Passes are available for $100 each. The SIL Season Pass offers the ticket holder unlimited visits to the holiday light show, that also includes one visit to see Santa in the Christmas Village, as well as four tickets to go skating at the BMS Ice Rink presented by HVAC. To purchase a season pass, call 423-989-6900.
 
No. 6: If your vehicle isn’t big enough to fit your entire clan, consider these two fun group options: “The BMS Express” transforms a local school bus into BMS’ version of the Polar Express. The ride comes complete with “snow” and a BMS tour guide who will have the whole group singing carols by the end of the ride. “The BMS Express” runs on Thursday evenings for only $10 per person. If you prefer to enjoy the route in a more natural environment, “Santa’s Speedway Sleigh” sponsored by Tri-Cities Regional Airport provides guests with an open-air tram ride is available on Wednesday nights, complete with cozy blankets and a BMS staff member as the holiday tour guide. Passengers will enjoy hot chocolate and cookies prior to boarding. After traversing the entire route, The Sleigh will make a 30-minute stop in the Christmas Village. To purchase a seat on “The BMS Express”, visit http://bit.ly/32GAcyf or call 423-989-6900. For “Santa’s Speedway Sleigh” reservations, visit http://bit.ly/2Wi1F73 or order by phone at 423-989-6900.
 
No. 5: If ice skating is your thing, The Pinnacle Speedway in Lights has you covered! The Ice Rink is the place you’ll want to go with all your friends to get your fix. Located at the North Entrance, The BMS Ice Rink presented by HVAC is available for only $6 per session ($2 skate rentals). 
 
No. 4: If you love holiday music combined with tons of lights – approximately 300,000 to be exact – you’ll want to take in the popular Symphony in Lights presented by Grand Home Furnishings. Located in the Darrell Waltrip Grandstand, the lights in the display flash and flicker to the sounds and beats of holiday classics.
 
No. 3: Take a fast pass to holiday bliss!! On select nights for only a few bucks more – ($45, it’s for the kids after all!) – Jingle Bell Lane presented by Citi gives your vehicle permission to cut through the long line and have a much shorter wait before you are released to tour the fabulous light show. To see available dates and purchase a pass, visit http://bit.ly/2pNVYkM or call 423-989-6900.
 
No. 2: Meet Santa in Christmas Village. The jolly old elf will be available in Santa’s Hut for photos and to chat with your kids about what they would like him to leave under the tree this year. In addition the Christmas Village offers harmonious carolers, carnival rides, a brand new lighted holiday MAZE near the parking area and special appearances by many other famous kid-favorite characters. 
 
No. 1: Spending time with family and friends and savoring the great feeling you get for making a huge difference in the lives of so many children. That’s what the holidays are all about!
 
The Pinnacle Speedway in Lights, the major fundraiser for SCC-Bristol, runs from tonight (Nov. 15) through Saturday, Jan. 4. The event costs $15 for cars from Sunday through Thursday and $20 on Friday and Saturday nights. For more information, visit www.bristolmotorspeedway.com. As always, all proceeds for The Pinnacle Speedway in Lights will be used by SCC to give to numerous organizations that serve children in the 18-county area surrounding BMS.

BMS PR

Dover International Speedway President and CEO Mike Tatoian is the winner of the 2019 Comcast Community Champion of the Year award, which recognizes individuals in the NASCAR industry for their community service efforts.

The announcement was made Thursday, Nov. 14 at W. South Beach Hotel in Miami in conjunction with NASCAR Championship Weekend.

Tatoian was one of three finalists for the award. Artie Kempner, NASCAR on FOX coordinating director and co-founder of Austism Delaware and David Ragan, a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver and ambassador for Shriners Hospitals for Children were also finalists.

Those eligible for the award include NASCAR team owners, drivers, track employees, media members and NASCAR officials. In recognition of the champion’s efforts, a $60,000 contribution is made to the charitable organization affiliated with the winner. Each remaining finalist receives $30,000 toward their charity of choice. For Tatoian, the charity is USO Delaware.

On behalf of Tatoian’s efforts, Dover International Speedway is contributing an additional $10,000 to USO Delaware, bringing the total contribution to the organization to $70,000.

Tatoian, the Monster Mile’s president since 2007, is just the second track president to be named a finalist for the award, and the first to win the honor.

“This is a tremendous honor and I’m very thankful,” Tatoian said. “This gives a great spotlight to the tremendous work USO Delaware’s staff and volunteers put in and how important their efforts are for our service members and their families. Our industry should be proud of the impact we are having on communities all across this nation.”

Tatoian is a member of the following organizations:

• Chairman of the Advisory Council for USO Delaware -- active in the organization for 13 years.
• Serves on the United States Air Force Civic Leader Program.
• Numerous times an Honorary Commander at Dover (Del.) Air Force Base.
• Serves on Board of Directors of the Military Bowl Foundation, a college football bowl game played in the Washington, D.C. area, with proceeds going to USO and Patriot Point; a 290-acre retreat for recovering service members.
• Serves on National Board of Advisors for the Devos Sport Business Management Program at the University of Central Florida for past five years.

Tatoian’s nomination included several testimonials from top military and civilian officials, including from Gen. David Goldfein, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force.

“No one has more passion for our Airmen and has done more on their behalf than Mike,” Goldfein said. “He’s increased national awareness and understanding of the Air Force’s role in our nation’s defense and helped build vitally important grassroots support for our service.”

Previous winners of the Comcast Community Champion of the Year award include:

• 2018 – Joey Logano (Joey Logano Foundation)
• 2017 – Chip Ganassi Racing Pit Crew Department (Ronald McDonald House)
• 2016 – Wade Jackson, fabricator, JR Motorsports (Camp LUCK)
• 2015 – Joey Gase (Iowa Donor Network)

Previous finalists for the Comcast Community Champion of the Year award include:

• 2018 – Ryan Newman (Rescue Ranch); Steve Page, president, Sonoma Raceway (Speedway Children’s Charities Wildfire Relief Fund)
• 2017 – Jimmie Johnson (Jimmie Johnson Foundation); Brad Keselowski (Checkered Flag Foundation)
• 2016 – Samantha Busch (Bundle of Joy Fund); Ray Wright, RCR pit crew director (Pit Stops For Hope)
• 2015 – Martha Nemechek (Travis Manion Foundation); Martin Truex Jr. (Martin Truex Jr. Foundation)

More information on the 2019 Comcast Community Champion of the Year award can be found at comcastcommunitychampion.com. Since becoming the entitlement sponsor of the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2015, Comcast has donated $600,000 to 15 NASCAR-affiliated organizations to honor their efforts and help further the impact of their causes.

Dover International Speedway is hosting two NASCAR tripleheader weekends in 2020 on May 1-3 and Aug. 21-23, including two NASCAR Cup Series races on Sunday, May 3 and Sunday, Aug. 23.

Learn more about Monster Mile events and activities at Facebook.com/DoverInternationalSpeedway, or on Twitter and Instagram at @MonsterMile.

Dover Motorsports PR

Homestead-Miami Speedway today announced a grandstand sellout for the Ford EcoBoost 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship race this Sunday. The event, which starts at 3:00 p.m. ET and airs on NBC and MRN Radio/ SiriusXM, has sold out each of the last six years.

There are some select fan hospitality opportunities still available for sale.  In addition, tickets for Friday night’s Ford EcoBoost 200 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Championship race as well as Saturday’s Ford EcoBoost 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship race are still available.

“This is a true testament, not just to the hard work by everyone on our staff, but the tremendous enthusiasm in this area for an event of this stature, “said Homestead-Miami Speedway President Al Garcia.  “We have many new features in store for our fans this year which will greatly enhance their experience, not just for 2019 but for many years to come as we evolve into our March race weekend starting in 2020.”

Tickets for Homestead-Miami Speedway’s 2020 NASCAR race weekend, which encompasses the Dixie Vodka 400 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, March 22, the NASCAR Xfinity race on March 21 and the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series race on  March 20 are also now on sale.

Tickets can be purchased at www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com or by calling 866-409-RACE (7223).

Homestead Miami Speedway PR

On Thursday night, Bristol Motor Speedway’s Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC) celebrated another successful year of raising funds to support local agencies that support children in need. During its annual Night of Smiles event that was broadcast live on BTES’ Power 7 local channel for the first time, SCC-Bristol announced its highest donation total since 2016.

Executive Director Claudia Byrd announced that BMS’ SCC chapter raised a significant total of $920,851 during the 2019 calendar year that will be distributed to 103 rural-area child-focused agencies throughout Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Since its inception in 1997, SCC-Bristol has raised nearly $16 million with proceeds going back to the local community.

“There’s no greater blessing than to be here at the Night of Smiles and help give away the money raised to area agencies that are going to help children in need in our community,” Byrd said. “Although demand for assistance will always exceed our ability to assist, we’re so thankful to everyone who has donated and volunteered throughout the years to help us raise nearly $16 million. We would not be able to do this without your love and support.”

The 2019 Jeff Byrd Grant also was awarded to Isaiah 117 House. Presented in honor of the late general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway, the $50,000 award will go towards the organization’s efforts to build a home that will provide a safe and stable nurturing environment for children during traumatic times in their lives. The effort to build the house came after the Department of Child Services in Sullivan County, Tenn. expressed the immediate need of a home of this nature in the area. The funds will go toward capital to build the house.

Night of Smiles is the culmination of a year of SCC fundraising events, including numerous activities during NASCAR and NHRA race weekends and The Pinnacle Speedway in Lights, which opens for its 23rd season on Friday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m.
 
Organizations that received funding from Bristol Motor Speedway’s Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities includes Abuse Alternatives, AdapToPlay, American Red Cross of Mountain Empire Virginia, American Red Cross of Northeast Tennessee, Appalachia Service Project, Appalachian Literacy Initiative, Arc of Washington Co., Assistance and Resource Ministry (ARM), Barter Foundation, Bethany Christian Services, Big Brothers/ Big Sisters of East Tennessee, Boys and Girls Club of Central Appalachia, Boys and Girls Club of Elizabethton/Carter Co., Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kingsport, Boys and Girls Club of Greenville & Greene County, Boys and Girls Club of Johnson City/Washington County, Boys and Girls Club of Morristown, Boys and Girls Club of the Mountain Empire, Bread of Life Children's Ministry, Bristol Emergency Food Pantry, Bristol Faith In Action, Bristol Regional Speech and Hearing, Camp ACC, Cap the Gap for Foster Care, Cap the Gap for Foster Care- Carter Johnson and Unicoi, Carter County Foster Care, Carter Co. Imagination Library, CASA for Kids, CASA of Northeast Tennessee, CARE Center, Children's Advocacy Center of the 1st Judicial District, Children's Advocacy Center of Highlands Community Services, Children's Advocacy Center of Sullivan Co., Child Advocacy Center of the 3rd Judicial District, Children Exceeding Expectations School JLK, Christmas Box of Northeast Tennessee, Coalition for Kids, Communities In Schools of Southwest Virginia, Community Help Center of Northeast Tennessee, Crossroads Medical Mission, Crumley House Brain Injury Rehab Center, East TN Christian Home and Academy, Family Crisis Support Services, Feeding America Southwest Virginia, First Book-Greater Kingsport, FRIENDS, Gifts for Kids, Girls Incorporated of Bristol, Girls Incorporated of Johnson City/Washington County, Girls Incorporated of Kingsport, Girls on the Run of NE. Tennessee, Good Samaritan Ministries, Greater Kingsport Family YMCA, Greene County Imagination Library, Hands On!  Discovery Center, Hawkins County Imagination Library Foundation, Healing Hands Health Center, Holston Habitat for Humanity, Holston United Methodist Home for Children, Hope House, Hope House of Scott Co., Imagination Library of Bristol VA, Imagination Library of Russell County, Isaiah 117 House, Jeremiah School, Jericho Shriners, Literacy Council of Kingsport, Lonesome Pine Office on Youth, LXI, Marine Toys For Tots, McClure River Valley Community Center, Mountain Kids Inc, Mountain Region Speech and Hearing Center, Niswonger Children's Hospital -- Mountain States/Ballad Health , Of One Accord Ministry, One Acre Café, Reading Buddies, Ridin' High Therapeutic Horse Program, Rise Up!, River's Way Outdoor Adventure Center, Santa Pal, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast TN, Shepard's Inn, Small Miracles Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Southern Appalachian Ronald McDonald House, Southwest VA CAC - Mountain Empire Older Citizens, St. Anthony Bread Food Pantry, Sullivan County Imagination Library, Sullivan County Scottish Rite Foundation, Sullivan Co. Sheriff's Office Auxiliary, TASK: Taking Action for Special Kids, TLC Community Center, Town Square Inc. Food Ministries, Unicoi County Family YMCA, United Way of Southwest Virginia, United Way of Washington County, Waiting to Hear, Washington County Friends of Santa, Young Life Bristol, Young Life Kingsport, Young Life Upper East Tennessee, YMCA of Bristol, YWCA NETN and SWVA

BMS SCC PR