Lookin’ forward to the Modifieds

Had a lot of fun yesterday watching teams from the NASCAR Whelen Modified Series circle the high banks of Bristol during an open test session for the open-wheelers.

Kasey Kahne, who had just finished 15th on Sunday at Pocono, was on hand and participated in the test session. Cup car owner Tommy Baldwin, Jr. made the trip to Bristol along with Kahne.

I’m tellin’ ya, these cars get around Bristol Motor Speedway. Anyone who attends the UNOH Perfect Storm 150 on August 19, is going to see the quickest  laps ever at BMS.

The UNOH Perfect Storm 150 and the O’Reilly 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event make up the card on the Wednesday night double feature that kicks off the Sharpie 500 weekend. 

Check out more photos from the test session on the BMS Flickr photo page.

August ticket packages are available and include tickets for both the Sharpie 500 and the Food City 250. Package prices begin at $145.

Latest episode of It’s Bristol Baby – dragway edition

With the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals this week, Bristol Dragway’s 2009 season schedule is in full swing. From Street Fights to the raw power of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, this episode of It’s Bristol Baby brings you up to speed.

Join hosts Paul Johnson and Rebecca Pepin from FOX Tri-Cities for the latest from Thunder Valley.

Shifting gears… It’s NHRA time in Thunder Valley

It’s time to go racin’ again at Bristol… Only this time it’s “straight line” racin’ at the legendary Bristol Dragway. We’re all set to welcome the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series May 15-17 for the Thunder Valley Nationals.

We’re really excited that the schedule includes a Friday night round for the first time in three years. Food City Nitro Under the Lights (May 15) promises to open the 2009 event in a spectacular way.

Visit Bristol Dragway or NHRA for all the latest information.

And make sure you check out the below video… John Force picking flowers? Enjoying the fresh mountain air? John Force the 14-time NHRA Funny Car champ? Really?

Yep. Force tip-toes (not so gracefully) through the tulips in this video, but in just a few days he’ll be blasting down the legendary strip at Bristol Dragway in the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

You just gotta love John Force.

Food City 500 Video Recap

Kyle Busch led 378 of 503 laps before a sellout crowd at Bristol Motor Speedway for his second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win of the season, holding off Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin. Jimmie Johnson climbed into the top 10 with a third-place finish while Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon held onto the point lead with a top-five finish. Hear from Busch, Hamlin and more.

Food City Race Night – game on!

The racing action at Bristol Motor Speedway is well-known for generating quotes. Bristol fans can recite them like the pledge of allegiance including liners like “That’s just Bristol” and “It’s Bristol baby!”

Where else will you see mild-mannered drivers like Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon have a candid conversation on pit-road after the 2006 Food City 500?

Now you have the chance to see NASCAR’s top drivers (Kasey Kahne, Clint Bowyer, Elliott Sadler & A.J. Allmendinger) drop their gloves once again to prove they are the King of Bristol!

Don’t worry, you won’t see black eyes or bloodied noses because we’re settling the score on Nintendo Wii Boxing. The only thing getting roughed up is the driver’s pride.

The boxing tournament is only one of many interactive activities happening at Food City Race Night in Hospitality Village including a Q&A Session with the Roush-Fenway Drivers and live music.

We’re not talking about Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart playing Rock Band (which is happening at 7:45 PM) but national recording artists like King Billy, 10,000 Flames and Great White.

Ford Fan Friday is a can’t miss day of racing including Food City 500 qualifying and night of interaction and entertainment. To sum up Friday it’s a whole lotta’ rock stars and race cars! You can’t miss it!