Food City is gearing up for the September 15th running of the Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway, one of the most popular events in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Earlier today, company officials announced that Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 4 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series, and his daughter Piper, will serve as the event Grand Marshals, delivering the starting command for Friday night’s clash.

“Food City has supported NASCAR for over 30 years. I appreciate their dedication to the drivers and the sport. Piper and I are honored to serve as Grand Marshals for Friday night’s Food City 300,” said Harvick.

Since joining Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014, Harvick has established himself as one of the fastest, most dominant, and most consistent drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series. His highlights include a championship in 2014, a runner-up finish in the 2015 standings, third-place efforts in 2017, 2018 and 2019, and a regular-season title in 2020. In 10 seasons at Stewart-Haas Racing, Harvick has won 37 races. 

Harvick boasts 60 career wins, including all four of NASCAR’s crown-jewel events: the Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, Brickyard 400 and Southern 500. In addition to his impressive performance in the NASCAR Cup Series, Harvick has two NASCAR Xfinity Series championships and 47 Xfinity Series wins, along with 14 Truck Series victories.

“Kevin Harvick has certainly been one of NASCAR’s all-time most accomplished drivers, on and off the track. He has meant so much to the fans and the sport and we’re certainly proud to have him and his daughter Piper represent our company as our Food City 300 Grand Marshals,” said Steven C. Smith, Food City president and chief executive officer. 

Beth Rhinehart, president, and chief executive officer for the Bristol Chamber of Commerce will serve as Honorary Starter, waving the green flag to unleash the pack. 

“Serving as the Honorary Starter of the Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway is certainly an exciting opportunity. While honoring the long-standing partnership between Food City, Bristol Motor Speedway and NASCAR, starting the Food City 300 marks the beginning of a legacy sporting event and a celebration of the amazing assets and the vibrant economy we enjoy in this region,” said Rhinehart.

Rhinehart is the President & CEO of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce serving both Bristol VA and TN and representing nearly 600 businesses.  The Bristol TN/VA Chamber is a 5-star accredited organization and has been a leader in economic advocacy since 1909. Rhinehart currently serves as immediate Past-Chair of the GO Virginia Region 1 Council, as well as serving as Chair of the VA Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, Past President of the Bristol TN/VA Rotary Club, Past Chair of the Bristol TN/VA United Way Annual Campaign and Board, and serves on the Leadership Council for STRONG - the first Bi-State Accountable Care. She is a current member of the LEADERSHIP TENNESSEE Class X and was recently appointed by Governor Youngkin to the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. Rhinehart is a member of the U.S Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Committee of 100 - the top 100 Chamber CEOs in the country. In 2022, Beth earned her Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) – one of only 172 nationwide out of over 7,000 Chambers of Commerce.

Rhinehart is a native of Bristol, Virginia, and earned her B.S. degree from Mary Washington College – Fredericksburg, VA, Master of Arts in Teaching and Master of Science in Counseling degrees from Johns Hopkins University – Baltimore, MD, and an MBA from King College in Bristol, Tennessee. She has three adult children.

“The Bristol Chamber of Commerce has been accredited as one of the top chambers in the country. Beth and her team do an outstanding job supporting our local community and promoting free enterprise and business growth throughout Bristol Virginia, Bristol TN, and the surrounding Tri-City Region. We are honored to have her serve as the Honorary Starter for Friday night’s Food City 300,” said Steven C. Smith, Food City president and chief executive officer. 

Food City is the title sponsor of the spring NASCAR Cup Series Food City Dirt Race (formerly the Food City 500) and of the fall Food City 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race. Celebrating over 30 years of racing, the supermarket retailer is Bristol Motor Speedway’s longest running race entitlement sponsor and the second longest in NASCAR. The Food City 300 gets under way at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, September 15, 2023. 

Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 152 retail outlets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, north Georgia, and Alabama.