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Carolina
500 Ready to Roll at “The Rock”
LISTEN
TO REPLAY OF
THE CAROLINA 500 we brought you LIVE
 The
Carolina 500 weekend is just a day away, and it will be a
record breaking weekend of racing with plenty of celebrities
participating in the reopening of “The Rock”.
When
championship driver Tony Stewart waves the green flag on Sunday,
the 50-car ARCA RE/MAX Series field will be racing for the
richest purse in ARCA’s 56-year history – more than
$324,000. Oh, by the way, 50 cars is the largest starting
field in the ARCA RE/MAX Series modern era.
Stewart’s
two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series crew chief Greg Zipadelli
will lead the field to the green flag, driving the pace car
just after country music star Josh Gracin sings the national
anthem.
Celebrities
will not only participate in pre-race activities, but post-race
as well. The race winner will receive the trophy from “The
World’s Strongest Redneck,” Steve McGranahan. The
North Carolina native possesses the world record for ripping
11 decks of cards in 28 seconds with his teeth and one hand.
McGranahan has appeared on numerous TV shows, including "The
Tonight Show" with Jay Leno and “Steve Harvey's
Big Time Challenge”.
Veteran
Drivers Vs. Young Guns
The
Carolina 500 will be an interesting competition between ARCA
RE/MAX Series veterans and young drivers looking to make a
name for themselves. Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race
winner Ken Schrader, nine- time and defending ARCA Champion
Frank Kimmel and five-time Daytona race winner Bobby Gerhart
lead the veterans gunning for the checkered flag.
Among
the Young Guns looking to steal the veterans' thunder are:
Joey Logano, who will make his ARCA debut at age 17; Austin
Dillon, 16-year old grandson of NASCAR championship team owner
Richard Childress, who will take his S.A.T. exams Saturday
before qualifying; Bill Davis Racing development driver Michael
Annett; and Roush-Fenway Racing’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Current
point leader Matt Carter, the son of Travis Carter, who was
the crew chief for then Ellerbe, N.C., resident Benny Parsons
when he won the 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship
at Rockingham, will be seeking his first series victory this
weekend.
Free
Parking
Parking
is free on Rockingham Speedway property. Just follow the signs
along the roads leading to the track and follow the directions
of the parking attendants. No charge!
Thunder
Cup – PBG Classic Race
On
Saturday at approximately 3:15 p.m., the exciting Thunder
Cup Cars will run a 20-lap race at Rockingham Speedway –
the PBG Classic at The Rock. This race is a part of the King
of the Oval Series where the top-two finishers in points receive
an invitation to compete against other Thunder Cup competitors
for an ARCA race later in the year.
The
INEX Race to the Top Challenge will reward one Thunder Cup
Car [formerly Thunder Roadster] competitor a chance to compete
in a 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series event in a fully-funded entry.
The
recipient will be the winner of the invitation-only Top Challenge
Thunder Cup race at Elko [Minn.] Speedway during the Oct.
2-4 RACEceiver Legends and Thunder Roadster Asphalt Nationals.
Twelve
Thunder Cup competitors will receive invitations to the event
through competition in their regional Race to the Top Thunder
Roadster Series. There will be six regions with two drivers
from each region receiving invitations to compete in the Top
Challenge. The regions are North Carolina, Georgia, Indiana,
Texas, Nevada and Northern California.
Pre-Race
Pit Tours
Any
fan who would like to get a close-up view of the action before
the Carolina 500 starts may do so by participating in a pre-race
pit tour. Sunday, starting at 8 a.m., grandstand ticket holders
can purchase a pre-race tour for only $10 per person that
allows access onto the race track and pit road until 10 a.m.
Be
sure to arrive early on Sunday to beat the traffic and see
the action up close.
Pre-race
passes may purchased at the turn 1 crossover gate at the bottom
of Grandstand Section 29. Just look for the access gate leading
onto the track.
Benny
Parsons Tower
During
pre-race ceremonies, Rockingham Speedway will honor one of
NASCAR’s greats – former Ellerbe, N.C., resident,
Benny Parsons. Don’t miss this special ceremony and help
us remember a legend.
Special
Kids Pricing
Due
to popular demand, Rockingham Speedway has added children's
ticket prices for Sunday’s Carolina 500. Children were
already half price for Savage Energy Pole day – only
$5 for two rounds of qualifying, a Thunder Roadster race and
ARCA RE/MAX Series driver autograph sessions. Now, children
12n years and younger will be admitted into the infield for
only $5 on Sunday. There will be unreserved bleachers in the
infield and plenty of space for lawn chairs and blankets for
families wishing to see the race.
On-track
activities begin Friday, May 2,, at 2 p.m. with practice for
the Carolina 500. Grandstand admission is free. Savage Energy
Pole Day is set for Saturday, May 3, with the first round
of qualifying at 10 a.m. The second-round of qualifying is
scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. Stewart will wave the green
flag to start the Carolina 500 on Sunday, May 4, at noon.
LISTEN
TO REPLAY OF
THE CAROLINA 500 we brought you LIVE
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GO!
