Welcome to HickoryRecord.com. Skip directly to: our Keyword Search, Section Navigation, Content.

HickoryRecord.com - Hickory Daily Record

HomeNewsEntertainmentSportsLifestylesOpinionCommunityWeather Online Tools Jobs | Real Estate | Shopping | Classified

Racing, pop culture collide in Concord

Bridgett S. Baker / bbaker@independenttribune.com

Recording artist Jessica Simpson sings “These Boots Are Made For Walking” Saturday during a concert before the Bank of America 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

By Josh McCann | Independent Tribune

Published: October 11, 2008

Concord - At one point before Saturday's Bank of America 500, potential first lady and honorary race director Cindy McCain passed within feet of billionaire track owner Bruton Smith in the infield at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

McCain was on her way for a TV interview, and Smith was holding court with Charlotte mayor and Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory.

Five minutes earlier, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France made the rounds, and recording artist Jessica Simpson was cloistered away somewhere in the vicinity before her pre-race concert.

Coming at the height of campaign season, this year's October race brought a legion of politicians to Lowe's Motor Speedway along with the annual array of sports and entertainment celebrities.

The candidates who appeared and addressed the crowd before the race included McCrory, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole and McCain, the wife of Republican presidential candidate and Arizona senator John McCain.

Passersby stopped in their tracks as McCain arrived, escorted by a convoy of black sport utility vehicles.

Simpson, who recently released an album of country music, provided further star power, delivering a 40-minute pre-race concert and singing the national anthem.

During a booming rendition of her hit cover "These Boots Are Made for Walking," the thunderous beat could be felt across the 1.5-mile track.

Fresh from the Beijing Olympics, gold medal-winning swimmer Aaron Piersol served as grand marshal for the race.

He put his own flourish to the traditional command of "Gentlemen, start your engines," roaring the final words with added emphasis before the drivers fired their ignitions.

Presiding over the show was Smith's son, Marcus, who recently took over as president and general manager at LMS following the retirement of renowned promoter Humpy Wheeler.

Tough economic times don't deter fans.

Using the open cargo door of their weathered, converted tour bus as an awning, three men with graying hair looked from their green plastic chairs at patches of empty grass.

The three friends from eastern North Carolina were hopeful the unoccupied spots would fill up with school buses or RVs carrying fellow campers before Saturday night's Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

The trio conceded tough economic times almost kept them from coming to the same spot they have reserved for most of the last two decades.

They considered not making the trip until Sam Bell visited Ernie Prevatte's mechanic shop Thursday and decided the weather felt too good not to hit the road and continue their tradition, an annual rite for scores of NASCAR fans.

"Ernie, let's go to that race," Bell told his friend.

They set out on Friday, but their bus broke down after a pit stop in Midland.

With the help of a Good Samaritan and a nearby auto parts store that happened to stock two heavy-duty batteries and happened to be open for another 10 minutes, they made it to their destination in time for Friday's Nationwide Series race.

Sitting and joking Saturday afternoon with a light breeze whistling by, they were pleased with their decision.

The journey, which the men estimated would cost them a combined $800 plus the cost of the batteries, wouldn't be cheap.

According to Jimmy Lambert, though, the money would be worth it since he was happy to share the experience with his buddies.

"Long as you go to enjoy yourself," Lambert said. "You can't carry it with you when you die."

Three drivers go pink

Kyle Busch, Bobby Labonte and Elliott Sadler drove pink cars Saturday in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The move was particularly meaningful for Sadler, whose mother is a breast cancer survivor. He remembers finding out she would need chemotherapy on a Saturday night in New Hampshire.
"My life changed just like that," Sadler said.

Before Saturday's race, Sadler said, his mom was eager to take pictures with his car.

Several of the drivers' sponsors also made donations to support the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a grassroots awareness organization.

Olympic appearance

Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Aaron Piersol, Saturday's grand marshal, sounded impressed – if somewhat overwhelmed – by his first NASCAR race.

"I've been absolutely in awe at the spectacle," Piersol said.

He expressed surprise that so many people kept wishing him luck before he was to give the famous command of "Gentlemen, start your engines."

"All I have to do is say four words," Piersol joked.

• Contact reporter Josh McCann: 704-789-9152