ROCKINGHAM, N.C. – 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.
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