Bristol celebrates 100th Cup race with 100 prizes 

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Bristol Motor Speedway celebrates a momentous milestone in August as it hosts its 100th Cup Series event, the Irwin Tools Night Race. And the focus, as always, is on its tremendous legion of fans.

To mark the significance of the race, on May 14, which is 100 days from the Cup race, Bristol will begin awarding lucky fans with a prize every day until race day -- Aug. 21.

Among the daily prizes are autographed driver souvenirs, race tickets, parking passes, weekend getaways, camping passes, Food City gift certificates, suite packages and numerous sponsor gifts.

Bristol vice president of corporate sales Jerry Caldwell said incorporating the fans is a perfect way to kick off festivities for next year's 50th anniversary celebration.

"The 100th Sprint Cup race is definitely something we're extremely excited about," Caldwell said. "It's also the launch to marking our golden anniversary in 2011 so we have a lot to celebrate.

"Bristol Motor Speedway has long held a special place in race fans' hearts and they are the folks who are responsible for making us the most popular track on the circuit. The 100 days of giveaways is simply our way to saying thank you for their loyalty and support."

Through the years, Bristol Motor Speedway, which crowned its first winner, Jack Smith, on July 30, 1961, has been the scene of some of the sport's most memorable races and unforgettable moments. Darrell Waltrip, who leads all drivers with 12 Bristol wins, won an incredible seven consecutive races from the spring of 1981 through the spring of 1984. Dale Earnhardt, who captured the first of his nine Bristol wins in the spring of 1979, is one of several drivers who earned their initial Cup wins on the .533-mile oval.

Tempers often have flared among drivers due to on-track incidents on the steeply-banked track that features close-quarters action. Two of the most well-known confrontations took place in the 1995 and 1999 August night races between Earnhardt and Terry Labonte.

Tickets are available to all of the August night races. Tickets for the Cup race are $109.

Fans also may purchase three-day packages, which features four NASCAR races. Action kicks off Aug. 18 with the Wednesday night doubleheader, the O'Reilly 200 Truck Series race and the UNOH Perfect Storm Whelen Modified event. Included in the package are the Food City 250 Nationwide event Friday night and the Irwin Tools Night Race.

For fans able to attend just the Friday and Saturday night races, a two-race package for the Food City 250 and Irwin Tools Night Race is available.

Packages for all three days start at only $170 while pricing for the two-day package begins at $126. Both packages are renewable.

To purchase, please contact the Bristol Motor Speedway ticket office at (866) 415-4158 or (423) BRISTOL. Tickets also may be purchased at www.bristoltix.com.