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NASCAR's next stop: Concord
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Published: October 5, 2008
Concord - Hundreds of campers poured into spaces near Lowe's Motor Speedway on Sunday, many watching Tony Stewart's first victory of the season at Talladega, Ala., on television in their spacious travel trailers and RVs.
Businesses near the track braced for the influx of thousands of fans this week.
The Speedway has four major events scheduled: Wednesday's Armour Foods Vienna Sausage Showdown at The Dirt Track, followed by Thursday's Bojangles' Pole Night, Friday's Nationwide Series Dollar General Store 300 and Saturday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Bank of America 500 on the superspeedway.
Drivers will be racing for $6.6 million in purses Saturday night. The race will be broadcast nationally on ABC.
"Racing in prime time at Lowe's Motor Speedway brings out the intensity in these drivers, especially in a Saturday night race like the Bank of America 500," said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway. "There's a lot boiling to the surface for Oct. 11."
Before the racers turn up the heat, fans stream into town. The track owns approximately 9,000 spaces for camping. More than two-thirds of them will be filled this week with race fans, said Scott Cooper, Lowe's Motor Speedway's vice president for communications.
A Wisconsin husband and wife were the earliest arrivals this year. They have been parked since Sept. 24, two and a half weeks before the Sprint Cup race.
New arrivals pulled steadily into lots Sunday, including Larry and Judy Kiger from Tipp City, Ohio, near Dayton.
"We enjoy coming here early, seeing some of the garages and visiting the area," said Larry Kiger, whose brother, Kenny, lives in Monroe.
Kiger said he and his wife came to Concord in May for the Coca-Cola 600 and camped in the same spot near the new zMAX Dragway. They drove a Holiday Rambler RV to the campsite and towed a personal vehicle behind it to use for local excursions.
"I'm a big Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan, and my wife likes Jeff Gordon," he said.
NASCAR Speedpark at Concord Mills, a prime attraction for kids, debuted Bank of America 500 shirts for sale for $19.99. Driver jackets were $20 off, taking them down to $119.99.
Stewart merchandise was half price at the store. Stewart announced in July he's leaving his No. 20 Home Depot team with Joe Gibbs Racing. He's joining forces with Haas CNC Racing in Kannapolis to drive one of Haas' Chevrolets. Stewart will own half of the team, renaming it Stewart-Haas Racing.
Service stations along Bruton Smith and Concord Mills boulevards were pumping gas Sunday. The Texaco station near Concord Mills was out of gas Saturday evening, but a clerk there said no one was expecting shortages this week.
The Texaco was charging $3.79 per gallon Sunday. The Shell on Bruton Smith Boulevard was $3.79, and the BP was asking $3.89.
NASCAR personalities and other celebrities began announcing personal appearances in Concord and Kannapolis.
Five-time Olympic gold medal swimmer Aaron Peirsol will serve as the honorary grand marshal for the Bank of America 500. The bank was a sponsor for Peirol as he trained for the Olympics.
"Bank of America has been such a huge supporter of my Olympic journey," Peirsol said. "When they invited me to come to Lowe's Motor Speedway and be the honorary grand marshal, I was thrilled to get my first chance to make the start-command and get up close and personal with the action at one of the most exciting races in NASCAR."
Peirsol has competed in three Olympics. At the 2008 Games in Beijing, he won gold in the 100-meter men's backstroke and the 4x100 meter medley relay. He was a silver medalist in the 200 meter men's backstroke. In his career, he has won five gold and two silver medals.
Former NASCAR champion and ESPN commentator Rusty Wallace and his son, Steve, a Nationwide Series driver, will sign autographs Wednesday on behalf of 5-Hour Energy in Kannapolis.
They will appear 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Rushco Food Stores location at 2850 South Cannon Blvd. The store is located off Interstate 85 at Exit 58. Turn toward Kannapolis. The store is located at Mt. Olivet and South Cannon.
The No. 66 Team 5-Hour Energy Rusty Wallace Racing Chevrolet show car will be on display. Wallace's racing team is headquartered in Mooresville.
NASCAR legend Junior Johnson will appear 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Concord ABC Liquor Store at 7000 Hudspeth Rd., Concord.
Johnson, a former champion driver, team owner and moonshiner, is part owner of Piedmont Distillers, the only legal distillery in the state. The company makes Junior Johnson's Midnight Run, its second moonshine product.
"I am really proud to own part of this company," Johnson said. "I've done a lot of things in my life, and my history in the moonshine business is no secret. Back in the old days, we learned to drive cars fast because we'd go to jail if we didn't. Now, I own part of a legal moonshine company that makes the best shine ever."
Tickets remain for the race, the fifth in NASCAR's Chase for the Championship. They are available at the track, by calling 1-800-455-FANS or by going to www.lowesmotorspeedway.com. On Saturday, tickets are available after 4 p.m. only at The Dirt Track ticket window.
Contact Managing Editor James Bennett at 704-789-9150.
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