August is on its way… and yes, we have tickets

Wow, it’s been way too long since we’ve posted on the blog. Sorry ’bout that, but man it’s been busy around here. Since March we’ve hosted a variety of events across the creek at the Dragway — including the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals last month. A big congrats to Tony Schumacher, John Force and Mike Edwards who took home the wins in NHRA’s top classes at Bristol.

Now for some Speedway stuff. While we haven’t hosted any major events since Jimmy Johnson grabbed the checkered flag in the Food City 500, there has been quite a bit happening in, around and on the concrete oval. Construction workers are putting the finishing touches on the infield project, which includes a new media center, inspection area and Goodyear Tire building.

Outside of that, we’ve been visited twice by drivers from the NASCAR Whelen Modified Series testing tires for Hoosier. And also, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Denny Hamlin, Juan Pablo Montoya, David Ragan and Scott Speed completed a two-day tire test for Goodyear here at BMS last week. Check out video comments from Hamlin and Ragan.

Most importantly we’ve been working hard to sell August tickets. We’re finding that after 55 straight sell-outs it’s still hard for some folks to believe they can actually get tickets.

I got this e-mail from Cheryl Williams today, one of our fan advisory board members, who went to Daytona last weekend. It reads, “Hey Ben, I won some free tickets to Daytona, and wore my Bristol visor to the race. Lots of people told me Bristol is one track they want to go to before they die. They couldn’t believe it when I told them they could get tickets. I found it overwhelming at how many people didn’t know Bristol had night race tickets for sale. Of course I told them to go to the website, buy tickets and pass the word.”

Thanks to Cheryl for being a great Bristol ambassador. Now you folks do the same and tell all your race luvin’ buddies we still have IRWIN Tools Night Race tickets for sale. Just call toll-free 1.866.415.4158 or buy online.

Remember, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and we’ll be talkin’ to you again soon.

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.