Inaugural Sharky 500 Slated For High Banks Of Beaver Creek At BMS

Sharks are currently being sold at the Bristol Motor Speedway ticket office for $10 each. There is no limit to the number that may be purchased. Winners will be notified after the race by telephone and/or e-mail. Entrants do not have to be present to win. Any prize not claimed by 5:01 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, 2008, becomes the property of Speedway Children’s Charities.
For more information, go to http://www.bristolmotorspeedway.com.

BRISTOL, Tenn. – The folks at Bristol Motor Speedway have come up with a fun and charitable way to slide another race into their schedule this year.

The inaugural Sharky 500 won’t be contested on “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile,” and it won’t cover 500 miles, but it will provide a generous payout.

Beaver Creek’s high banks will play host to the Sharky 500, an event in which rubber sharks will be dumped simultaneously into the stream on the north side of the BMS property. The sharks will drift 1,500 feet, or 500 yards, to the finish line.

Just like race winners at BMS and the Bristol Dragway – to the victor go the spoils. The winning shark will earn its owner a Centurion Falcon V Air Warrior boat and trailer valued at $40,000.

A maximum of 10,000 tickets will be sold as chances to win one of three prizes.

The event is part of The Kids Expo, which runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 4 and features a number of child-friendly activities, along with interactive booths and entertainment.

Proceeds from the Sharky 500 will benefit the Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, which has raised more than $4 million in the last 11 years for children’s agencies in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

“We feel like this is going to be a tremendous success,” said Claudia Byrd, director of the Bristol Chapter of SCC. “It’s going to be a lot of fun, somebody will win this fabulous boat and we’re going to raise a great deal of money for children in this area.

“The boat is a wonderful first prize and we have a number of other prizes, too, for the folks who have some of the highest finishing sharks in the race. For only $10, people will not just have the chance to win some really great prizes, but they’ll also be supporting a very worthy cause.”

A number of other prizes will be given away, including a room makeover by Grand Home Furnishings, which is a $5,000 value. Participants are not required to be present to win.

Set up in the Hospitality Village adjacent to Beaver Creek, the Kids Expo will feature the Wellmont One helicopter, a design-a-pumpkin station, the Bays Mountain Birds of Prey exhibit, Rocky Mount 18th century games, the Blackbird Bakery Pastry Walk and a Voice Magazine Halloween arts and crafts exhibition.

The expo will also have a National Weather Service exhibit, the Bristol Virginia Police Department’s Jailbird character, McGruff the Crime Dog from the Bristol Virginia Sheriff’s Office, Firepup, a character from the Bristol Virginia Fire Department and Bristol Tennessee Fire Department trucks.

The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office also will bring their K-9 and motorcycle units, the DREAM car, a SWAT team member and equipment, the mounted patrol, auxiliary and DNA kits for parents, along with fingerprinting, and the Sullivan County Animal Shelter will have animals available for adoption.

“The Kids Expo offers all kinds of events for kids,” said Lori Worley, BMS media and public relations director. “It should be a fun day, and all the activities for the kids are free.”

Beginning at 11 a.m., entertainment on the stage will include the Barter Theatre acting workshop, the David Vaught Magic Show, and singer McKenna Andrews. A number of food vendors will be on hand, including Java J’s, which will be giving out free snow cones.

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