BRISTOL, TENN. (April 16, 2015) — Chevrolet, with more than a century of motorsports success, reunites with Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) in a multiyear deal as the official vehicle and pace car of the iconic short track.
Beginning with this weekend’s first race, Drive to Stop Diabetes 300, a red Chevrolet Camaro 1LE pace car will lead the field of 40 NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers down to the green flag. The Camaro will be the front-runner throughout the 160-mile contest as drivers duke it out at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile.
For the first time since 2008, a Chevrolet will serve as the pace car of the Food City 500 in Support of Steve Byrnes and Stand Up To Cancer. A sleek white Chevrolet SS will lead the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars to the start of the race and pace the field throughout the battle of the high banks.
“We’re thrilled that Chevrolet, the most successful manufacturer in NASCAR, is back at Bristol,” said Jerry Caldwell, executive vice president and general manager for Bristol Motor Speedway. “Team Chevy strives for excellence on and off the track and like us, they are driven and fueled by passionate fans. Our mutual commitment to enhancing fan and customer experiences while looking for innovative ways to grow our businesses will make this a great partnership.”
Over the course of its NASCAR history, Chevrolet has won the Sprint Cup Manufacturers’ Championship 38 times, including the last 12 consecutive seasons. And no brand has powered more Sprint Cup Series championships than the Bowtie.
“We are very happy to be back as the official vehicle of Bristol Motor Speedway,” said Jeff Chew, manager, strategic planning and operations for Chevrolet Racing. “This effort was all made possible through collaboration with our Southeast Region. Bristol is a special place on the NASCAR circuit with some of the most passionate fans and loyal Chevrolet enthusiasts. We are proud to support them and partner with the Southeast Region on this multiyear endeavor. We hope everyone enjoys time at our display in the midway area, as well as watching our Chevy Camaro and SS pace cars during the races.”
Team Chevy is the most successful manufacturer at the 0.563-mile facility earning 43 victories over the course of the 108 races held in Thunder Valley.
The Chevrolet pace car for the Food City 500 will be adorned with Steve Byrnes’ name above the driver and passenger doors.
Byrnes, co-host of NASCAR Race Hub and play-by-play announcer for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, is on a medical leave of absence while he undergoes treatment. Byrnes, who turned 56 this week, has been part of the FOX NASCAR broadcast team since its inaugural year of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series coverage in 2001.
About Chevrolet:
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.8 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive & active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
About Bristol Motor Speedway
Nestled in the mountains of Northeast Tennessee near the Virginia state line, Bristol Motor Speedway is a 0.533-mile concrete oval race track with 28-degree corner banking, 650-feet straightaways and a 40-foot wide racing surface. Renowned as “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile,” the short track features two races each year from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series, one Monster Truck event and one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and NASCAR K&N Pro Series-East race. With a crowd capacity in excess of 150,000, the facility is expected to set a new NCAA college football attendance record on Sept. 10, 2016, when the racetrack transforms into a football stadium and plays host to border rivals, the University of Tennessee and Virginia Tech. The speedway property is also home to Bristol Dragway. The historic drag strip celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, headlines with the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals and operates more than 70 event days each season. In 2014, the Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, a 501©(3) nonprofit organization, awarded a record-breaking $749,000 to regional children’s charities, bringing their 17-year total to nearly $9 million in grants. In existence since 1961, Bristol Motor Speedway was purchased in 1996 by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., a publicly traded company that is a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. For more information, visit the company’s website at bristolmotorspeedway.com.
