As the area prepares for the onslaught of race fans and RV’s, the folks at Food City are gearing up for their annual Food City Race Night, which will return to Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday, April 17th. 

The event paves the way for a weekend of action-packed Nationwide and Sprint Cup racing at one of NASCAR’s most popular venues.  Fans can expect a great line-up of driver interactive sessions, along with show cars, simulators, souvenir trailers, entertainment and a smorgasbord of free food samples.  Festivities will get underway at 4 p.m. and continue until 9 p.m.  Admission is free of charge.   

Food City has already received confirmations from several drivers and attractions.  Among those already confirmed are:  Kasey Kahne, Brad Keselowski, Cole Whitt, Eric McClure, Joey Gase, Chris Lafferty, Morgan Shepherd, Cole Williams, Gray Gaulding, Danny Casteel, ARCA driver Blake Jones, UARA driver Brandon Rogers, Late Model drivers Harold Crook, Bobby Helton and Matthew Eads, Vintage driver Gary Potter, NASCAR Legends Brownie King, Paul Lewis, Travis Tiller, Larry Utsman and John Utsman, Kart drivers Brandon Morris and Dillon Hodge, Dirt track driver Jordon Horton, Supercross driver Kyle Cunningham and Modified driver Blake Terry.

Free food sampling will begin at 4 p.m. and continue while supplies last.  Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad will take the stage from 4:15 until 5:00 p.m., followed by Jessica Nixon from  5:10 until 6:00 p.m. Welcome ceremonies will begin at 6:00 p.m., featuring MC Larry McReynolds as well as a special presentation to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and announcements by Richard Petty and Brad Keselowski.  Driver interactive sessions will follow from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m.  Tony Justice will perform live in concert from 8 to 9 p.m.  The event will close with a special 9:00 p.m. fireworks show (weather permitting).  This year’s media sponsors are Bristol Herald Courier and News Channel 11 in your corner.

For a complete listing of Food City Race Night attractions, click here, where updates will be posted.  Follow us on Twitter @FoodCity #FoodCity500 #FCRaceNight. Please note that scheduling and driver appearances are subject to change and autographs are limited to time availability.  Food City Race Night in Knoxville, TN is scheduled for Thursday, April 16th at the Knoxville Expo Center from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. 

Food City is Bristol Motor Speedway’s longest running sponsor and the second longest in NASCAR motorsports.  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.