Coca-Cola to drop green on summer with LMS cookout

CONCORD, N.C. -- Coca-Cola will ignite the summer barbecue season Memorial Day weekend by firing up the nation's longest grill at the site of NASCAR's longest race, the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Requiring more than 7,000 pounds of Kingsford Charcoal, the monster-sized ring of fire will measure an astonishing 1,320 feet -- spanning more than four football fields in length if stretched end to end. The colossal grill will be used to cook up a feast for fans attending the "Coca-Cola Quarter-Mile Cookout" on May 22.

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"Nothing goes better on a hot summer day than a great meal and the delicious taste of an ice-cold Coca-Cola," said Bill Kelly Sr., vice president, Coke Trademark Brands. "We think the 'Coca-Cola Quarter-Mile Cookout' is the perfect way to mark the official kickoff of summer."

The oval-shaped quarter-mile grill -- assembled on part of the race track's frontstretch and pit road -- will be manned by celebrity chef and Food Network star Tyler Florence, host of Tyler's Ultimate and author of Dinner at My Place and Stirring the Pot. Joining Florence will be some of NASCAR's most popular drivers including Clint Bowyer, Bobby Labonte, Kyle Petty and racing legend Bobby Allison, all of whom will trade their fire suits for "track aprons" as they help grill up lunch for thousands of fans.

The event is free and open to all ticket and annual credential holders for the historic 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600. The action will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the race track near the speedway's start/finish line. The menu will feature hamburgers and hot dogs, along with Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad pasta salads and Betty Crocker Original Supreme brownies.

Entertainment will include Q&A sessions with Florence and the NASCAR drivers in attendance, as well as prize giveaways and photo opportunities with the actual Coca-Cola-sponsored 1969 Mercury Cyclone Allison drove to a victory in the 1971 600, and the Toyota Camry Hybrid pace car that will lead the field on May 24.

"Throughout our celebration of our 50th year, we've created new ways to add value for our ticketholders," said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway. "This will be a terrific family event for our Coca-Cola 600 customers and a chance for both the speedway and Coca-Cola to thank them for their loyal support."

For those looking to host their own family barbeques this summer, a collection of free recipes, grilling tips and suggestions created by Florence will be available at MyCokeRewards.com beginning May 11. Also included on the Web site are summer party planning tips, shopping lists, suggestions for fun backyard games and much more. A special section will showcase favorite foods enjoyed by the Coca-Cola Racing Family of NASCAR drivers when grilling at home or at the race track.

"Like many Americans, Memorial Day weekend marks the official start of the summer grilling season for me and my family, so I'm excited about kicking it off in a big way this year with Coca-Cola," Florence said. "Although most cookouts don't include the excitement of a quarter-mile grill, the same principles apply whether you're feeding thousands or just a few friends. The tips, recipes and other resources I've put together for MyCokeRewards.com/summer will help people create a successful backyard barbeque of any size this summer."

The Coca-Cola 600 is the longest continuous race sponsorship in NASCAR. Traditionally, the Coca-Cola 600 attracts approximately 180,000 fans to the race track. Tickets for the Coca-Cola 600 are available online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS.