Sharky 500 Fundraiser Set For Oct. 17 At Bristol Motor Speedway

BRISTOL, Tenn. –  Racing season is not over at Bristol Motor Speedway. In fact, the most unique event of the year unfolds Oct. 17.
The second annual Sharky 500 will feature 10,000 rubber sharks in a benefit race beginning at 1:30 p.m. along the waters of Beaver Creek.

Individuals can purchase a shark for $10, with the proceeds going to the Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities. Top prize is the 2009 BMS pace car, a Ford Mustang valued at nearly $32,000.

Claudia Byrd, executive director of the Bristol chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, said the concept for a rubber duck battle began after a fundraiser used by officials with Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tenn. 

The sharks are released simultaneously along a section of Beaver Creek between the speedway and Bristol Dragway. Second place is a $5,000 room makeover from Grand Home Furnishings, and third place is a vacation package to Universal Studios Orlando.

“We didn’t know what we were going to do, and it turned out to be a very successful and fun event,” said Byrd, in a Wednesday morning press conference at BMS. 

The inaugural event at BMS generated approximately $44,000 in profit.

“And 100 percent of that money goes to children in our area. That’s a win-win situation for everybody,” Byrd said.

The rubber sharks are currently on sale at BMS, and there is no limit on the number of entries.

“We learned a lot last year and we’ve had some great ideas, so we think the event will be much more successful,” Byrd said. “We never forget that the reason we’re doing this is to raise money for kids.”

Through events as the Sharky 500 and Speedway in Lights, Byrd’s group has raised in excess of $4.5 million in the last 12 years for children’s agencies in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. And Byrd said the demand remains strong.

“We were lucky enough to raise and give away $575,000 to non-profit children organizations last year. However, over $1.2 million was requested,” Byrd said. “We try to have bigger and better events every year because we hope to meet all of the needs in our area one day. That’s my goal.”

A free Kids Expo will be held in conjunction with the Sharky 500 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Events will include live music, a costume fashion show, an inflatable play area, rock wall climbing, an acting workshop and the War Wizard Monster Truck. For $25, participants can drive their own cars around the BMS oval for five laps.

In other news involving BMS Wednesday, track general manager Jeff Byrd confirmed reports that NASCAR officials are considering a switch to more uniform starting times for Sprint Cup races next season.

“Nothing has been decided, but the National Football League model has worked well where they start one game at 1 p.m. and the other at 4,” Byrd said.  “NASCAR is looking to a similar format for 2010.”

If a change is made, Byrd said the March 21 Food City 500 would likely move to a 1 p.m. start.

“The race fans I’ve talked to really like that idea,” Byrd said.  “The race would be over at 4. That would leave plenty of daylight for fans to travel in and be able to go to work on Monday. It would especially accommodate fans from the midwest.”

The start of the Aug. 21 Irwin Tools Night Race would remain the same.

Meanwhile, the BMS general manager said fans have reacted in a “universally positive” manner to the change in race dates at Bristol Dragway. Officials with the National Hot Rod Association recently announced that NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals has been moved to June 18-20 from May 15-17.

“In the optimal situation you get on a date and stay on it like we have with NASCAR, but due to circumstances beyond our control we’ve had to move the drag race date a number of times,” Byrd said. “Fans say the new date is great because their kids will be out of school and they come to Bristol on vacation.”

Byrd pointed out that largest crowds for an NHRA event in Bristol came in 2007 when the race dates were changed from May 18-20 to July 6-8 to allow for resurfacing of the concrete starting area.
Also on Tuesday, BMS director of public affairs Kevin Triplett said negotiations are going well for the return of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Series to the track next year.

The next event at Bristol Dragway will be the Sept. 25-27 Super Chevy Show.

Earlier this week, drag racing personality Rich Christensen announced the cancellation of the Sept. 18-19 ArmDrop Live event at Bristol Dragway due to a last-minute obligation with Christensen’s contract with the Speed channel.

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