Racing Briefs

SHOW CARS
BRISTOL, Tenn. – As part of its sponsorship of the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Nationwide Insurance is bringing the high-speed action to their local agents and fans.

Area Nationwide Insurance agency Robert Suggs & Associates will host show cars for two days across the street from their office, in the old Cheers restaurant parking lot on Volunteer Parkway, providing customers and fans the opportunity to see the NASCAR vehicle first hand.

One car is a Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS decked out in Nationwide colors and graphics, which will be on display from noon to 6 p.m. today and from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday.

Try out racing in the simulator and enter a drawing Wednesday to win two tickets to Friday night’s Food City 250.

For information, call (423) 968-1264 or e-mail .

JUNIOR JOHNSON

BRISTOL, Tenn. – NASCAR and moonshining legend Junior Johnson will have two personal appearances in Bristol during the upcoming Sharpie 500 race weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway.
He will meet with fans and autograph bottles of his legal moonshine, Junior Johnson’s Midnight Moon.

The scheduled appearances are:

* Thursday: 10 to 11 a.m. Parkway Liquors, 1182 Volunteer Pkwy.

* Thursday: 1 to 2 p.m. Pit Row Liquors, 4073 state Route 394.

Johnson is part owner of Piedmont Distillers, the only legal distiller in North Carolina.

Like many other early stock car drivers, Johnson grew up tending to the family’s whiskey business. He helped his father work the stills during the day and developed his driving skills by running ’shine at night.

Visit http://www.piedmontdistillers.com for more information.

ROCK ANGEL

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Rock Angel will perform at Thursday’s Food City Family Race Night in downtown Bristol.

The all-girl band, based in Kingsport, Tenn., includes McKenna Andrews, 11, of Kingsport, and Macy Brummitt, 16, of Church Hill, Tenn.

The duo will be performing an acoustic set at approximately 4 p.m. Thursday. Both girls sing, play guitar and have written original songs. Headlining the event is Firehouse, which will perform at 7 p.m.
For information on Rock Angel: http://www.myspace.com/mckennaandrews or call (423) 765-0129

PITSTOP CHALLENGE

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Fans can experience the challenge of NASCAR pit crew tire changers and benefit the Children’s Miracle Network at the same time.

From 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday. Souders Motorsports, Farmer Bob’s Campground and Free Service Tire Company will host the Pitstop Challenge at Farmer Bob’s Campground on Sportsway Drive off state Route 394 adjacent to Bristol Motor Speedway.

Contestants can try their hand at changing race car tires and compete against the clock, using the same air guns as the pros.

Entry fee is $5 per person and prizes will be awarded to the top 10 fastest times. All entrants must be 18 years old or older.

WHEELCHAIR DONATION

BRISTOL, Tenn. – An adopted 7-year-old boy with cerebral palsy soon will have the ability to move about more easily and comfortably, courtesy of a donated top-of-the-line wheelchair from the Darrell Gwynn Foundation, a Florida-based nonprofit organization.

Dante Harless of Church Hill, Tenn., will receive a new $12,000 wheelchair from the foundation, which provides customized wheelchairs to children and young adults. Thousands of NASCAR fans will watch the presentation prior to Saturday’s Sprint Cup race at BMS.

“Dante has limited mobility due to cerebral palsy. He cannot stand unassisted,” Darrell Gwynn, the foundation’s president who is paralyzed from a 1990 drag racing accident, said in a news release. “This powerful wheelchair will boost Dante’s self-esteem and independence,”

Dante is the fourth child adopted by Penny and Ronald Harless of Church Hill. He and his twin brother were born premature in 2001 to a South Carolina family who could not care for them. Over the years, the couple has cared for nearly 15 foster children.

“It’s so sad to watch him sit in his chair while the other kids run and play,” said Penny Harless. “Now he’ll get a motorized chair and he can be with them.”

ARMY LUNCHEON

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Maj. Gen. James R. Myles, commanding General of the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, and Staff Sgt. Kevin Manning, a Purple Heart recipient and the Army’s “Hometown Hero,” will appear at 4 p.m. luncheon on Saturday at the Army’s hospitality tent outside of Bristol Motor Speedway.

The soldiers will speak at the event, sharing their military experiences.

Gen. Myles, a Middle Tennessee State University graduate, oversees a division of the Army charged with all developmental and operation testing, which provides essential information and evaluations to key Army decision-makers.

Originally from Erwin, Tenn., Sgt. Manning served in Iraq where he was wounded during a gun battle in Tikrit. After 30 days of convalescence leave in Germany, he volunteered to return to Iraq and rejoin his unit to complete his tour of duty.

Aric Amirola, driver of the U.S. Army No. 8 Chevrolet, is also scheduled to attend the luncheon.