Earnhardt to drive 50th anniversary car at Bristol

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Dale Earnhardt Jr. will help Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway celebrate its 50th anniversary by driving a golden No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard car that also features the track's anniversary logo in the Aug. 27 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event.

Earnhardt, who grew up watching his father, Dale Earnhardt Sr., race and win nine times at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile, looks forward to helping Bristol celebrate the special occasion.

“I just love that racetrack,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “Every time I go there I feel like I can win. There’s no other place like Bristol – I’m always amazed that somebody hasn’t tried to build another one – not that you could. I can’t wait to get back there in a couple of weeks.  This car is going to look so cool under the lights.”

Jerry Caldwell, executive vice president and general manager at Bristol Motor Speedway, feels he couldn’t have asked for a better way to cap the track’s 50th anniversary celebration.

“The Earnhardt name has played a very significant role in the history of Bristol Motor Speedway,” Caldwell said. “Dale Earnhardt won a lot of races here and while he was winning in the earlier years, Dale Jr. was watching, and learning, from the infield. When (Earnhardt Jr.) won both August night races in 2004, he did something here that no driver had ever accomplished at that point – including his dad – and that was a weekend sweep.

“It’s a very big weekend for us, and for NASCAR, because we’ll have one of the largest crowds of the year here for the night race. And we’re extremely honored that Dale Jr. and the folks at AMP Energy wanted to be part of our 50th anniversary celebration in such a significant manner.”

To purchase tickets, fans may contact the BMS ticket office at 1-855-415-4158 or 423-BRISTOL.