Fans Can Enjoy a Track Walk, Wave the Flag for Qualifying, Take a Ride-Along And Honor Servicemen and Women During Coca-Cola 600 Week
CONCORD, N.C. (May 24, 2011) – 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.
Tickets for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway can be purchased online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Fans can purchase two frontstretch tickets with the best views of the world’s largest HDTV for just $99. For daily updates on May race activities, connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway by following on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CLTMotorSpdwy or become a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/charlottemotorspeedway.
