What This Story Is About
Bristol Motor Speedway has partnered with the Dollywood Foundation to feature a series of tributes honoring Dolly Parton during the Bass Pro Shops Night Race weekend, Sept. 17-19.
What Happens Next
Race weekend kicks off Thursday, Sept. 17, with events culminating in Saturday night’s 500-lap NASCAR Cup Series playoff showdown under the lights.
For Context
A specially designed pink butterfly emblem with “Dolly” across the center will be placed on track walls, fan banners, and offered as car decals to all NASCAR teams.
Catch Up
A Dollywood-themed car will take to the track Thursday evening in the ARCA Menards East Series season finale.
BRISTOL, Tenn. (WVLT) – Dolly Parton’s presence will be felt all around “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile” this weekend as Bristol Motor Speedway prepares to honor the East Tennessee icon during the Bass Pro Shops Night Race week.
With official approval from the Dollywood Foundation, speedway officials unveiled a commemorative tribute mark featuring Parton’s signature pink butterfly with “Dolly” emblazoned across its center. The emblem will be integrated across the entire facility from Sept. 17 through Sept. 19.
“Dolly’s impact reaches far beyond East Tennessee, but she’ll always have a special place here at home,” said Jerry Caldwell, president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway. “We wanted to create a meaningful way for our fans and race teams to join us in honoring her during one of Bristol’s biggest weekends.”
Throughout the three-day race weekend, fans and teams will see the tribute mark in several key areas:
Track Signage: The pink butterfly logo will be featured prominently along the track walls and throughout the speedway grounds.NASCAR Decals: Specially made decals have been distributed across all three NASCAR national series so drivers can display them on their cars and trucks.Fan Tribute Banner: A massive 15-by-7-foot banner will be set up in the BMS Fan Zone, where racegoers can write personal messages and sign their names.Atmosphere: Parton’s catalog of music will be played over the speedway speakers throughout the weekend.
Parton’s celebration will share the spotlight with an entertainment lineup featuring Hollywood star Brad Pitt as grand marshal and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden as the honorary pace car driver.
Festivities also include an appearance by WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, a pre-race concert by Brian Kelley, an eagle flyover paired with Lee Greenwood performing “God Bless the USA” and a flyover by two U.S. Air Force C-130s.
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