Food City has announced Fox News Channel’s co-host of “The Five” Dana Perino as the Honorary Starter for the upcoming April 19th Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

“The Five” is one of the most-watched cable news programs, regularly ranking #1 at 5PM/ET in all of basic cable.  In addition to her role on “The Five,” Perino also contributes to the network’s political and election coverage.  She served for seven years in the administration of President George W. Bush and became the first Republican woman to be named as the White House Press Secretary.  Following the September 11th terrorist attacks in 2001, she joined the Bush administration as a spokesperson at the U.S. Department of Justice. 

In January 2009, one day after President Bush left office, Perino and her husband traveled to Africa to volunteer at Living Hope in Fish Hoek, South Africa, a faith-based organization that leads several programs for people affected by all aspects of HIV and AIDS.  Upon her return, she was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve on the Broadcasting Board of Governors.  She was confirmed by the United States Senate in June of 2010.  Perino’s first book, “And the Good News Is” is being published by Twelve and will be released shortly after the race on April 21, 2015.

“We are extremely excited about our new April race date and the positive changes it promises for the fans and our loyal customers.  We couldn’t be prouder to have such a well-respected and accomplished individual serve as the Honorary Starter of our Food City 500,” says Steven C. Smith, Food City president and chief executive officer.  “We look forward to hosting Dana and her husband, Peter McMahon and having the opportunity to show them some of our beautiful region and rich heritage.”

When commenting on the announcement Perino said, “I never imagined I’d be invited to be an Honorary Starter for a NASCAR race, and I’m looking forward to being a part of one of America’s greatest sporting events."

Perino is a graduate of Colorado State University-Pueblo, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in mass communications and minors in both political science and Spanish.  She also holds a master’s degree in Public Affairs Reporting from the University of Illinois-Springfield.   

Food City is Bristol Motor Speedway’s longest running sponsor and the second longest in NASCAR motorsports.  The Food City 500 gets under way at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, 2015.  Qualifying for the event takes place on Friday, April 17 at 4:45 p.m.  The Drive to Stop Diabetes 300 is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, followed by the PittLite 125 at 4:30 p.m. 

Tickets are still available and may be purchased at www.bristoltix.com or by calling the BMS ticket office at 423-BRISTOL (274-7865).

Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 105 retail food outlets throughout the tri-state regions of Southeast Kentucky, Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. 

Speedway Motorsports is a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. The Company, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates the following premier facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Infineon Raceway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. The Company provides souvenir merchandising services through its SMI Properties subsidiaries; manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars and parts through its U.S. Legend Cars International subsidiary; and produces and broadcasts syndicated motorsports programming to radio stations nationwide through its Performance Racing Network subsidiary. The Company also equally-owns Motorsports Authentics, a joint venture formed with International Speedway Corporation to produce, market and sell licensed motorsports merchandise. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.speedwaymotorsports.com