MARTINSVILLE, Va. (September 11, 2013) – Kasey Kahne roared into downtown Roanoke Wednesday morning to a cheering crowd of fans who had packed the Historic Roanoke City Market for a glimpse of the NASCAR Sprint Cup star.
Kahne drove a Sprint Cup car through the streets of Roanoke as part of the Chase Across America, an annual nationwide celebration to kick off the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup. The event was sponsored by Martinsville Speedway. Martinsville Speedway hosts the seventh race in the Chase, the Goody’s™ Headache Relief Shot™ 500 Powered by Kroger.
Kahne arrived on the market behind the wheel of a race car decked out in the black, yellow and white colors of Sprint. After leaving the car he walked through the crowd and hopped onstage to join Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell, Roanoke Mayor David Bowers and Miss Sprint Cup Jaclyn Roney.
Bowers presented Campbell a proclamation declaring the day “Chase Across America Day” in Roanoke and gave Kahne a commemorative gold star in honor of Roanoke’s nickname, The Star City.
“It’s natural for us to be in Roanoke with Kasey and this event today,” said Campbell. “We know there are lots of great race fans right here in the Roanoke Valley. We sell more tickets in Roanoke than we do in any other city in the state of Virginia.”
It was Kahne’s first trip to Roanoke and he was impressed with what he saw.
“I like Roanoke. I’ve never been here, but the city and the way it sits between the mountains, I think it’s a really cool place,” Kahne said of the city located about an hour north of Martinsville. “I’m definitely coming back and spend a little time here. It’s a cool city. I like some of the restaurants I saw and a little pub that I saw.”
Prior to Kahne’s arrival, the crowd was entertained by the Patrick Henry High School Marching Band, which also played the National Anthem after a moment of silence in remembrance of 9/11.
Tickets for the Goody’s™ Headache Relief Shot™ 500 Powered by Kroger are available in all areas of the grandstands. Advance tickets start at just $37.
Advance tickets for the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday, Oct. 26 are just $30 with youth 12 and under admitted free. Tickets for Pole Day, Friday, Oct. 25, are $15. To purchase tickets for the Goody’s™ Headache Relief Shot™ 500 Powered by Kroger weekend, call 877.RACE.TIX or visit www.martinsvillespeedway.com.
