Here are some area results from Tuesday. A couple of Southwest District tourney games and the Black Diamond District girls and boys one-game playoffs were postponed due to the snow.

Clinch Mountain District Tournament Semifinals
Lee High 47, Gate City 31 (Lee’s Jalan McPherson scores her 1,000th career point in victory)
John Battle 58, Virginia High 42 (Fourth-seeded Trojans shock Bearcats)

Cumberland District Tournament 1st Round
Castlewood 52, Thomas Walker 43 (Haley Gilbert’s double-double leads Blue Devils to victory)
Rye Cove 52, St. Paul 41 (Senior guard Christi Hood’s shooting led Rye Cove)
Coeburn 48, Twin Springs 29 (Lindsay Lawson’s 24-point effort paces Coeburn)

District 1-AAA Tournament Quarterfinals
Tennessee High 57, Daniel Boone 45 (Back-and-forth game won by the Vikings)

Southwest District Tournament Quarterfinals
Richlands 55, Abingdon 54 (Evan Ferrell’s last-second shot sealed win)

Hogoheegee District Tournament 1st Round
Holston 52, Northwood 50 (Cavs eke out win over Panthers)
Rural Retreat 76, Patrick Henry 72 (Clutch foul shooting by Dustin Cox lifted RR)

Southwest District Tournament 1st Round
Abingdon 74, Tazewell 45 (Nathan Hess plays staring role in Falcons’ victory)
Richlands 65, Carroll County 52 (Austin Johnson leads Richlands’ balanced attack)

In Friday’s edition of the Bristol Herald Courier, my history column focused on the V-T rivalry and how it has been lopsided over the years. Here’s a year-by-year breakdown of how that’s transpired between the Virginia High Bearcats and Tennessee High Vikings in recent years:

BOYS

The teams split this year, with Virginia High taking a 68-67 win on a buzzer-beater by Robbie Howard. THS won 81-74 in the other meeting between the border city foes.

December 18 – Virginia High’s Adrian “Flipper” Sensabaugh scored 21 points as VHS eked out a 58-56 win over the Vikings.
Jan. 16 – Hugh McMurray gunned in 29 points as THS took a 68-58 win in the rematch.

Feb. 12 – James Daggs had 21 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks as the Vikings earned an 81-57 win.
Feb. 17 – Tennessee High raced out to a 16-0 lead and never looked back en route to a 65-39 triumph. Daggs had 18 points and 12 rebounds.

Jan. 7 – Lewis Satterwhite scored 17 points and THS earned a 59-47 victory over VHS.
Feb. 11 – Satterwhite scored 26 points to spark the Vikings in a 92-64 win.

Jan. 10 – The game was postponed twice due to snow, but when the teams did get on the court, Tennessee High’s Brent Messer scored 27 points and hauled down eight rebounds in an 83-63 win.
Feb. 13 – Behind 19 points and eight assists from Matt Keeter, Tennessee High posted a 74-50 win. A 19-5 run in the second quarter was key.

Jan. 25 – Virginia High’s last victory in the series was a dominant 56-36 effort as McKenzie McNulty led the way for the Bearcats.
Feb. 1 – David Coffey scored 13 points and Tennessee High gained revenge with a 47-44 victory over the Bearcats. It started the current winning streak the Vikings have against their crosstown rivals.

Jan. 24 – Kevin Springs sprung to action with 24 points and 10 rebounds as Tennessee High recorded a 67-56 victory over VHS.
Feb. 13 – Davey Wilson had 16 points, eight rebounds and four blocks to highlight Tennessee High’s 49-39 win over the Bearcats.

Jan. 30 – On the same day he celebrated his 18th birthday, Brandon Carter had 21 points to highlight Tennessee High’s 69-46 win over the Bearcats. C.J. Manahan added 17 points for THS. Forrest Pauley (16 points) and Jack Goodson (11 points) were the top scorers for VHS.
Feb. 13 – Tennessee High built a 24-2 lead after one quarter en route to a convincing 80-34 victory. Carter led the Vikings with 19 points.

Dec. 20 – Alex Nunez hit six 3-pointers and finished with 30 points as Tennessee High earned a 77-64 win. Jeremy Wright led VHS with 16 points.
Jan. 29 – THS raced out to a 25-5 lead en route to a 74-51 victory over VHS.

Jan. 23 – Derek Linkous scored 17 points and dished out six assists in Tennessee High’s 70-48 win.
Jan. 27 – Corey Maye scored 18 of his 30 points in the second quarter and Tennessee High had productive offensive night to say the least in a 94-70 win over the Bearcats.

Jan. 15 – Derek Linkous (25 points, seven assists) and Ryan Place (17 points) led THS to a 71-57 win. Kevin Fielder had 20 points for the Bearcats.
Feb. 5 – The trio of Linkous (21 points), Tim Dantas (10 points) and Drew Porter (10 points) were the differencemakers for the Vikings in a 60-35 triumph. Linkous never lost to VHS during his prep career and went on to have a nice career at King College.

Jan. 27 – Tennessee High took a 60-33 victory as Porter (19 points) and Justin Hampton (12 points) led the way. Current Atlanta Braves minor leaguer C.J. Lee scored 12 points for Virginia High.
Feb. 11 – Hampton and Matt Buchanan had 18 points apiece in Tennessee High’s 59-43 victory over Virginia High.

Dec. 20 – DeShaud Johnson, who now plays at East Tennessee State, had 18 points and THS took a 59-41 victory over the Bearcats.
Jan. 16 – Tyler Harmon had 10 points and Tennessee High easily rolled to a 71-21 win over Virginia High.

Dec. 13 – THS took a 48-21 win as Johnson scored 11 points.
Jan. 14 – Johnson came through in the clutch again, scoring eight points during a key 16-4 run that closed out the first half as THS recorded a 57-44 victory.

Jan. 10 – In what has been the most exciting games the teams have played in recent memory, Tennessee High’s Tyler Harrison hit a 3-pointer as time expired to clinch the Vikings’ 39-36 victory. C.J. Tillie led VHS with 17 points.
Feb. 11 – Tyler Harmon and DeShaud Johnson combined for 26 points in a 47-34 win over VHS.

Jan. 9 – Matt Layton led a balanced attack with 10 points as Tennessee High earned a 38-29 win over VHS. VHS, which was limited to 11 first-half points, was led by Randy White’s 14 points.
Feb. 10 – Corey Young scored 16 points, including the final six of the game, as THS earned a hard-fought 40-35 win over the Bearcats.

Jan. 8—Thomas Turnbull battled his way inside for 10 points as THS took a 45-40 triumph.
Feb. 6 – Tre’ Webb scored 11 points and connected on some key free throws in the final two minutes as Tennessee High held on for a 49-45 win over the Bearcats.

Jan. 13 – Tennessee High’s 2-2-1 zone defense slowed Virginia High down in a 62-32 victory. Webb and Mason Canty scored 13 points apiece for the Vikings.
Feb. 13 – Tennessee High blew out to an 18-3 lead and then held off the Bearcats in a 53-46 win.

Jan. 9 – Ryan Matheson went off for 23 points and the Vikings easily posted a 67-22 win.
Feb. 12 – Tonight at Viking Hall, the teams meet again. Will this matchup be any different?

GIRLS

Dec. 20—This rivalry was reinstated during the 2003-04 season. For years, the Virginia High girls and the rest of the Virginia High School League had played basketball in the fall. They moved to the winter this year. Tennessee High took the initial meeting with a 54-47 decision. The Vikings were 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the final two minutes.
Jan. 16 –Courtney Watkins and Mindy Carter each scored 15 points apiece to key a 57-42 win. Watkins and Carter both went on to solid college career. Watkins had four strong years at Liberty University and played in the NCAA tournament, while Carter played at William & Mary and the University of Virginia’s College at Wise.

Dec. 13 – Courtney Reed scored 10 points and Tennessee High held on for a 51-47 win. Morgan Smith had 15 points and hit four 3-pointers for the Bearcats.
Jan. 14 – Virginia High’s lone win in the series came in convincing fashion as Aisha Clark recorded 21 points in a 63-49 victory over the Vikings.

Jan. 10 – Ashton Kaylor and Danielle Sharrett hit key free throws down the stretch as Tennessee High earned a wild 62-60 double overtime decision. Kayla Wells fired in 20 points to lead VHS.
Feb. 11 – Courtney Reed scored 11 points, while Kara Faidley scored the 1,000th point of her career in Tennessee High’s 48-36 win.

Jan. 9 – Sophomore guard Danielle Montgomery scored 17 points and keyed a late comeback in Tennessee High’s 47-45 win.
Feb. 10 – Montgomery fired in 24 points and THS opened the second half on a 13-0 run to secure a 68-54 win. Brooke Shepherd led VHS with 22 points.

Jan. 8 – Montgomery tortured the Bearcats again, scoring 19 points, in a 53-47 win over the previously unbeaten Bearcats.
Feb. 6 – Senior Nikita Jones had 13-point performance in the Vikings’ 54-57 victory.

Jan. 13 – Sarah Baker played the role of defensive stopper in Tennessee High’s 44-28 win. No VHS player scored in double figures.
Feb. 13 – Blakely Burleson played a starring role in Tennessee High’s 58-33 triumph.

Jan. 9 – A 14-2 run in the fourth quarter clinched Tennessee High’s 66-58 victory.
Feb. 12 – Round two of the city rivalry is tonight.

For the first time since 2005, the Super Bowl will not feature a player from Southwest Virginia.

Former Powell Valley High School star Thomas Jones saw his chances at the Super Bowl end on Sunday, when his New York Jets suffered a 30-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC championship game.

Jones finished with 42 yards on 16 carries and also caught two passes for 28 yards, but was held out of the end zone. Jones was trying to reach the biggest game in professional football for the second time in his career.

He was the starting running back for the Chicago Bears in 2007, but suffered a loss a 29-17 loss to the Colts in Super Bowl XLI. So, the two toughest losses of Jones’ professional career have come against the Peyton Manning-led Colts.

—- Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller reached a milestone without even playing on Sunday.

With the Colts advancing to the Super Bowl, Miller was assured a spot in next week’s Pro Bowl, the first time in his career he’ll compete in football’s All-Star Game. He will replace Indianapolis tight end Dallas Clark on the AFC roster.

The former Honaker High School star established several career-highs this season and finished with six TD receptions.

Dallas Cowboys tight end and Elizabethton, Tenn. native Jason Witten is on the NFC roster.

—- My early pick for the Super Bowl: New Orleans 35, Indianapolis 31.

*Please note following last month’s poll for the fan favorite Witten Scholarship recipient, we have taken steps to safeguard this contest against any illegal voting. Votes will be blocked by the use of cookies as well as IP addresses. Unfortunately, this means that several voters who may be using the same IP address, for example a business or school, may be blocked from voting more than once a day. IP blocking will be reset every 24 hours, however, and TriCities.com encourages voters to vote from their home computers as well. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause, but assure our viewers that this is done in the best interest of the students involved and in the interest of fairness.

Eric Pearcy, Sullivan North

Ashton Zanoni, Sullivan South

Chorpee Sumo, David Crockett

Landon House, Cherokee High School

Brett Johnson, Marion

Chris Sensabaugh, Dobyns-Bennett

Andrew Jessee, Lebanon

Taylor Harmon, Tennessee High

Brett Price, Hampton High School

Wes Quarles, Greeneville

John Pratt, Holston High School

  ( CLICK VIDEO)
Sullivan South’s Clint Phillips named the Jason Witten Scholar-Athlete of the year, while Tennessee High’s Taylor Harmon garners the most online votes for the People’s Choice Award.

This year we’ve chosen ten young men as the recipient of a Jason Witten Scholar Athlete scholarship. Now it’s your turn to choose your favorite of the group.

Holston’s John Pratt named the Watauga Orthopaedics Player of the Week

  ( click video)

Greeneville’s Wes Quarles passed for over 230 yards and 3 td’s

  ( click video )

Patriot football player Gavin Walker is the latest Witten Scholar-Athlete

  ( click video )

Price amassed almost 300 total yards in offense, while scoring 3 td’s

  ( click video )

The number 1 ranked Tennessee Vikings are a perfect 8 ahd oh. 
  Despite injuries, they continue to rack up big numbers on offense, thanks in large part to the play of Taylor Harmon. 
  11 Connects Sports Kasey Marler tells us, Harmon’s numbers last week were good enough to be the Watauga Orthopaedics Player of the Week.

  ( click video )

  To say Dallas Newland is busy is an understatement.
  In addition to his football duties, the Sullivan North Golden Raider also holds down a part time job and he’s also a stellar student. 
  11 Connects Sports Kasey Marler tells us, that’s a formula for this week’s Witten Scholar Athlete Award.

  ( click video )

Jessee passed for over 150 yards and 5 touchdowns in the first half against the Bearcats

        ( CLICK VIDEO )
At 1 and 4, the Dobyns-Bennett Indians were in need of a big victory. 
  They got that win over Sullivan South last Friday thanks in large part to the play of running back Chris Sensabaugh.
  11 Connects Sports Kasey Marler tells us,  it was a performance worthy of this weeks Watuaga Orthopaedics Player of the Week award

Some score updates from the area
Virginia High 14, Chilhowie 14 (End of 1st Quarter)
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Chilhowie 21, Virginia High 14 (Halftime)
Abingdon 38, John Battle 12 (Halftime)
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Chilhowie 21, Virginia High 14 (End of 3rd Quarter)
Chilhowie 28, Virginia High 21 (56.2 seconds left in 4th quarter)
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J.I. Burton 41, Coeburn 0 (Final)
Chilhowie 28, Virginia High 21 (Final)
Clintwood 31, Powell Valley 8 (Final)
Appalachia 22, Patrick Henry 18 (Final)
Marion 29, Grundy 26 (Final)
J.J. Kelly 50, Rye Cove 8 (Final)
Haysi 22, Thomas Walker 7 (Final)
Abingdon 45, John Battle 12 (Final)
Tennessee High 42, Volunteer 7 (Final)
St. Paul 42, Castlewood 12 (Final)

  ( CLICK VIDEO )
Scarlet Knights Johnson rushed for almost 250 yards and found the endzone 3 times.

  We are looking for the best of the best. a play maker on the field, and a student off. 
  It’s called the Jason Witten Scholar Athlete Award and each week it spotlights what it means to be a student athlete. 
  11 Connects Sports Kasey Marler introduces us to our latest recipient, Preston Itaro.
  ( CLICK VIDEO )

      ( click video)
Harmon talks about balancing school and athletics.

House came up with big numbers in a Cherokee victory over Volunteer in the Battle of Hawkins Co.

There is no big secret to the appeal of motorsports.

From the glittery world of NASCAR to the gritty short tracks of small town America, it’s all about the noise, smell and sight of radical engines and daredevil drivers
In terms of purity and old-fashioned fun, no form of motorsports can compare to a demolition derby.

For the past 12 years, hundreds of folks from throughout Southwest Virginia have gathered at the Russell County Fairgrounds in Lebanon for the quintessential Labor Day derby.

The most event crash-fest was fascinating on many levels. In addition to the intoxicating smells of fried foods and contented livestock, a gang of fearless drivers waged a valiant battle in their crude and creative rides.

Fans were stacked 20-deep on the hillsides above the muddy dirt bowl. Each combatant came equipped with his own cheering section and resourceful pit crew. No fancy driving suits or public relations handlers were needed here.

As veteran country music entertainer Billy “Crash” Craddock belted out well-worn hits on a nearby stage, the derby boys entered the ring to a classic soundtrack of AC-DC and Bob Seger.

The most innovative paint scheme featured a Richlands Blue Tornado design, featuring little swirling tornadoes in tribute of the ultra-successful Richlands High School football team.

As expected, one driver paid tribute to blue-collar hero Dale Earnhardt by sporting the No. 3 on the side of his low-budget car. Other competitors offered shout-outs to friends, family and sponsors.
Fans accustomed to watching slick NASCAR races from the comfort of their couch or recliner might have been disappointed, but this spectacle included something for folks of all ages.

There were daring backward and sideways driving maneuvers,  teeth-chattering crashes, and loads of emotion. You didn’t have to be a gearhead to appreciate this show.
After each round, the drivers guided their wounded, smoke-spewing rides back up the hill to their awaiting crews.

Through a mix of high-speed welding, hammering, trashing and cussing, most of the cars somehow returned to the fray. The frantic thrashing process rivaled that of any well-honed NASCAR mechanic.
Like a Spanish bullfight, audience members responded with oohs and ahhs after each crash. 

Hometown heroes, community pride, eye-popping action – every true motorsports fan needs to see a demolition derby.
And there is no better setting than the rolling hills of Russell County on Labor Day.

agregory@bristolnews.com (276) 669-2544  

Just call it the little track that could.

In a fretful season marked by layoffs, empty seats and lackluster television ratings, Bristol Motor Speedway continues to set the pace of the NASCAR world.

More good news came Monday, as NASCAR officials announced that the 2010 Sprint Cup schedule for BMS will remain the same.

The Food City 500 has been set for March 21, with the Irwin Tools Night race to follow Aug. 21. The O’Reilly 200 Camping World Truck Series returns Wednesday, Aug. 18. The two
Nationwide races at Bristol will again be held the day before the Sprint Cup shows.

It would be fun to see BMS included into the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup, but the sense of tradition and consistency at Bristol is vital. Vacations are planned around these dates and area businessmen rely on the annual bonanzas.

For 55 Sprint Cup events, every ticket has been sold to this 160,000-seat mountain marvel. No other major motorsports facility can come close to matching that mark. A crowd of over 100,000 attended the most recent Nationwide race at Bristol while an estimated 46,000 attended the Truck race on a Wednesday night.

Like it or not, racing is the economic engine of Bristol.

Admittedly, the tone of BMS events have changed dramatically since the introduction of the bland Car of Tomorrow and the repaving job of the worn-out concrete surface two years ago.

Instead of beating and banging their way to the front, drivers must now rely on their brains and resourceful crews.

This is not your father’s Bristol. There are many critics of the new BMS, yet fans continue to gobble up tickets and trinkets.

“We had a tremendous year in 2009,” said BMS president and general manager Jeff Byrd, in a press release Monday. “Our fans once again spoke loudly and proudly by making sure we sold out both Sprint Cup races. As we did this year, we’ll continue to give our fans added value in 2010 and are already looking forward to March.”

Those touches of added value include elaborate prerace shows and attention to essential details such as clean rest rooms and efficient traffic flow. A race involving NASCAR legends will also return in 2010.

The only real change at Bristol next season involves Bristol Dragway. The National Hot Rod Association Thunder Valley Nationals has been moved to June 18-20, four weeks later than in recent years.

To some motorsports diehards, the mention of the Thunder Valley dragstrip stirs more emotions than Bristol Motor Speedway. In fact, Bristol was once known as “Drag City USA.”

Interest has steadily grown for the NHRA since a Speedway Motortsports Inc. makeover in 1999, and Byrd expects that trend to continue.

“We’ve had some amazing crowds here for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals,” Byrd said. “…The drivers have always put on quite a show here and I feel our fans will benefit from a June date with an even better weekend of racing.”

As the 2009 NASCAR season shifts into the drama-soaked Chase, Bristol area residents should take comfort in knowing that all is well at their most popular attraction.

We are looking for the best of the best. a play maker on the field, and a student off. 

It’s called the Jason Witten Scholar Athlete Award and our first recipient epitomizes what it means to be a student athlete.  To see more, click on the video above as 11 Connects’  Kasey Marler introduces us to our first recipient,Greyson Janeway.

One of the many joys of small college football is the sheer unpredictability of the drama. Take Saturday’s season opener at Fred Selfe Stadium in Emory as an example.

While some folks opted to spend the pleasant afternoon riding the couch during the expected blowout between the University of Tennessee and Western Kentucky, over 5,500 fans were treated to a thrill ride between the Ferrum College Panthers and Emory & Henry Wasps.

This off-Broadway drama featured big hits, hometown heroes and a suspenseful finish. All that with no traffic jams, profane fans or endless timeouts for television commercials.

The E&H roster includes former standouts from high schools throughout the Mountain Empire. In fact, three Richlands High School graduates starred for E&H Saturday.
Junior tailback Caleb Jennings accounted for 250 total yards and two touchdowns, while senior fullback Cain Ringstaff added 18 yards rushing and many crunching blocks. Sophomore linebacker Shane Wicks led the team in tackles with nine.

Fans were on edge until the final 10 seconds. Senior Caleb Moore finally sealed the win for E&H by intercepting a long Ferrum pass at the E&H 13-yard line.

When it comes to small college rivalries in Virginia, few matchups can compare to Ferrum versus E&H. Both schools have rich football traditions and passionate fan bases, plus their coaches battle for many of the same recruits.

For the third straight time, E&H earned recruiting points and bragging rights with its 24-21 victory.  The memories will linger from this Saturday afternoon matinee, however.

It was wild, real and fun. And that’s what makes small college football unique.

A friend recently passed on a link to this story in the Miami Herald about Tim James (here’s a link: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/story/1208917.html)

Many people in Bristol might remember James.  He starred at Miami Northwestern High School and was selected to the Arby’s Classic all-tournament team in 1993.

He helped Northwestern finish third in the tournament and averaged 17 points in four games at Viking Hall. James was also a part of one of the most memorable games in the history of the long-running holiday tourney.

He scored 22 points as Miami Northwestern held on for a wild 46-44 victory over Tennessee High in the third-place game. After the Vikings held the ball for a final shot, Tennessee High’s Paul Cheney just missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have given THS a major upset victory.

James went on to a productive career at the University of Miami and he later played 43 career NBA games with the Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers.

Now, he’s serving his country as a soldier.

Former Bristol White Sox slugger Brandon Allen has made a splash this season in his first season with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Allen is hitting .243 with two home runs and seven RBIs for Arizona. The rookie first baseman connected for a two-run homer in the fifth inning on Wednesday in the Diamondbacks’ 4-1 nationally-televised win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Allen played for the BriSox in 2004 and hit .205 with three homers and 23 RBIs.

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Kyle Busch was in a tough spot late Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway.

He had to fend off one of the most beloved figures in motorsports during the Sharpie 500, then deal with an angry crowd of over 160,000 fans afterward.
Moments after edging Mark Martin to record his second straight victory at BMS, Busch explained what is was like to be viewed as the guy in the black hat.

“Really, it’s no different if I was the hero or the villain.  I just love to race,” Busch said. “That’s solely what I’m built to do, be a racecar driver. 
“I mean, I don’t think I could make it as a basketball player or soccer player because I’d certainly run out of breath in a hurry.  But a racecar driver seemed to be what my DNA gave me talent to do.“

Busch said he embraces the laser-like attention of the fans and the scutiny of the media.

“I love being able to race for Joe Gibbs Racing for all the people that help support what we do and our program. It’s a blast, man,” Busch said.  “I love the fans.  And this is what’s so cool about this sport is we come here tonight and we fill this place with 160,000 people.

“You go to an NFL game on Sundays and you might see 40,000 people at a big game.  Even the Super Bowl I think it only sells close to a hundred [thousand].  That’s still not here and we can do it every week.”

As for his victory, Busch said it was a matter of willpower and manpower.

“We never had the best car I didn’t feel like,” Busch said. “ We just kept plugging away at making some adjustments trying to make the car faster, trying to make it better in the short run, better in the long run where it was capable enough of keeping up with the 5 [Mark Martin] in general, man.

“It really setup a tight battle between myself and Mark Martin, who was the best car all night.  Man, what an honorable racecar driver Mark Martin is.  Such an honor to race with him and to give him the room that he needed for him to give me the room that I needed was awesome.  I can’t thank him enough.  He didn’t let me win the race but he certainly didn’t take it from us.  Tonight we had what mattered most when it mattered most and we were able to get the victory tonight.”

agregory@bristolnews.com (276) 645-2544.

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Mark Martin was nearly perfect Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The beloved 50-year-old veteran from Arkansas led 240 laps in the Sharpie 500, and seemed to have a magic line around the bottom of the concrete track.
After an emotion-packed prerace ceremony in his honor, it seemed destined that Martin would author successful chapter in his glorious career.

To the dismay of many fans, Kyle Busch spoiled the Disney-style scenario by holding off Martin at the finish.
The fans weren’t the only ones left frustrated by the final act of the long night.

“It’s a shame we had all them cautions,” said Dale Earnhardt, Jr.,  who finished ninth. “I think Mark (Martin) could have won the race and we could have probably finished a little bit better.
“All them cautions just stacked everybody up.”

While his car ran in the top five for much of the race, Earnhardt seemed content with his top 10 finish.

“Yeah it was a good finish for us,” Earnhardt said. “The car was working good in practice and when the race started we had some work to do. We made it better.
“I’m real proud of my team. My guys worked really hard. They had some awesome pit stops and we just had a pretty decent car. We just didn’t have what we needed there at the end and the cautions fell a little too often for me.”

Though his fans were eager for a victory, Martin expressed pride with his runnerup finish and in the performance of his Alan Gustafson led team.

“It was a good run,” said Martin, who moved up to 10th in Sprint Cup points. “I’m really glad that we finished like we ran tonight. There were so many times this year that we haven’t done that and I’m proud to drive this guy’s car.
“Alan and these guys, they are just fantastic. I’m having the time of my life and it’ a real special night even though we ran second.”

Martin said he was touched by the prerace video montage which chronicled his rise from the dusty short tracks of his native Arkansas to the flashy speedways of NASCAR.

“That was pretty exciting,” Martin said. “I want to thank all the fans again for being so great tonight.
“Thank you guys. You brought a tear to my eye.”

agregory@bristolnews.com (276) 645-2544.

BRISTOL, Tenn.  – Mark Martin knew what line of questions to expect late Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. Martin has faced them before and will likely face them again.

Inquiring reporters and fans were eager to know why he didn’t attempt to nudge Kyle Busch out of the way in the closing laps of the Sharpie 500.

The actions and answers by Martin illustrate why he has such universal respect among his peers.

“What can I say? Kyle gave me room and I didn’t get the pass,” Martin said. “We were both racing hard for it. “That inside was tough and I took my shot at it. I just about slid up into him and wiped us both out.
“[Busch] gave me plenty of room there. He didn’t crowd me at all and I needed the room because I slipped the back end and I did everything I could. I wanted to get him but just couldn’t pull it off.”

Martin seemed to bristle when the line of questioning continued.

“Anyone who thinks I was soft out there on the race track wasn’t watching,” Martin said. “I raced my guts out.”

Busch said he appreciated the honorable approach of Martin, who led five times for a total of 250 laps.

“Mark Martin, what a class act,” Busch said. “He deserved to win this race. I’m sorry he got second.”

After his fourth win of the season, Busch is now 13th in the Sprint Cup standings and just 34 points behind the cutoff point.
Martin is now to 10th in points. Kasey Kahne and Matt Kenseth are next in line.

agregory@bristolnews.com (276) 645-2544.

At a press conference earlier this afternoon, Rusty Wallace announced 5 Hour Energy as full time sponsor for Steven Wallace’s Nationwide car.

When he has a car that can’t be blocked, no matter how “stupid” or “idiotic” the opposition, Busch is a pretty happy race car driver.

Kyle Busch broke Ron Hornaday’s streak of five straight truck victories, cruising to an easy win at the O’Reilly 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Wednesday.

After last weekend’s ruckus in the Nationwide Race, Busch was back to good spirits by blowing away the competition at race track that is quickly becoming one of his favorites. This is “Rowdy’s” fifth overall win at Bristol, and second straight O’Reilly 200 victory.

He is the only truck driver to win two Bristol races.

Hornaday didn’t finish too poorly, grabbing third behind Matt Crafton, who is second in the overall points race behind Hornaday. It’s all very complicated.

Hornaday wasn’t too upset about his humiliating (sarcasm) third place finish.

“At least you will stop asking me about it,“ he said to nosy reporters.
—-
Busch also spoke about his prospects about making it into the Sprint Cup playoffs. Currently 15th in the points, Busch thinks he needs a top-5 finish in the final three races, and the No. 18 Toyota will make the Chase. The only problem in that stretch might be Atlanta, he said, where the competition has caught up to his team.

—-
Jason White had lead since the caution at lap 67, but Busch finally caught back up with him at lap 123.

They just went three-wide around turns 3 and 4, with neither driver wanting to give up the lead. Busch pulling away seems like a matter of time, though. His car is handling like a video game.

Ryan Newman is also moving up the board. “Rocket”, as BMS’ David McGee likes to say, is having a rough night. He was crashed out of the modified race and after grabbing the pole for the trucks, Newman lost some spots because he didn’t understands some of the pit road rules.

Still, he’s up to sixth and charging.

Hornaday’s bid for No. 6 in a row is looking less and less likely as Busch looks stronger and stronger. Hornaday is in 4th with 60 laps to go.

Kyle Busch took the lead away from Mike Skinner on lap 36 at the O’Reilly 200 at BMS.

Just as he took the lead, however, rookie Taylor Malsam and Ken Schrader got together in turn three to bring out the first caution of the night on lap 36.

Busch then lost the lead as he entered pit row for some early gas. That left Jason White in the lead, his third time to head a truck race this year.

A bit of news concerning the starting grid:

These three drivers will move to the back of the pack due to car adjustments after the trucks were impounded after qualifying—Brad Keselowski (Qualified 24), Butch Miller (Qualified 32), and Terry Cook (Qualified 21). These two—Ken Schrader (Qualified 11) and Norm Benning (Qualified 33) are headed to the back of the pack because they missed the drivers’ meeting.

At 8:40 p.m., they mercifully asked the gentlemen to start their engines. By 10:40 p.m., we should be on the track. Just kidding. It should start any second now.

In case you hadn’t heard, Ryan Newman is one the pole. Ron Hornaday, Jr., looking for his sixth straight win, starts third, and Kyle Busch (they love to boo him here) starts sixth. 

Connecticut’s Don Lia passed Connecticut’s Ted Christopher with eight laps to go, winning the UNOH Perfect Storm 150 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Wednesday night.

The victory is Lia’s 13th overall win in the NASCAR Whelan Modified Tour. Wednesday’s race was the inaugural modified race at BMS, and while many theorized that the smaller, faster cars would bounce around the track, the UNOH featured only four cautions, one of which was caused by rain.

“It’s huge,“ Lia said. “There’s no better racing than modified, and I hope we showed that today.“

Coming out of the fourth caution, Christopher, after leading the first 100 laps, regained the lead over Lia on lap 139 with a pass on turn two. But that wouldn’t last long, as Lia blew past Christopher three laps later and ran away to Victory Lane.

“We just didn’t tune ourselves enough in the second set,“ Christopher said. “It was a good run, they just tightened it too much [during the mandatory pit stall].“

Neither of the two marquee names in field, Sprint Cup drivers Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman, managed to finish the race. Kahne exited the track of his own volition after the 100th lap.

Newman, however, managed only two laps before he was caught up in a wreck and knocked out of the race. This is bad news for Newman’s PR campaign. The Indiana native will run in all four BMS races this week, hoping to log 1,000 laps at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile.

If he won all four races, Newman was going to dish out $400,000 to a lucky fan.

It’s too bad. I was counting on that dough.

A small rain shower has brought out the fourth caution of the race. This is good news for only one person, Ted Christopher, who had fallen far behind Lia after losing the lead.

Good new for the rest of the race fans is that the cars are still circling the track. The rain hasn’t been strong enough to park the cars.

The word is that they’re about to go green, with 13 laps to go. Christopher has had the better car on the short runs today, but Lia’s is far better on the long. We’ll see if Lia can hold him off with only 13 trips around the track left.

Kasey Kahne, who was piloting the No. 96 car at the Perfect Storm 150, left the track at around the 100th lap.

Shortly after Kahne’s exit, Don Lia took the lead from Ted Christopher, who had led the entire way. Lia looks like he has the car to beat now. He’s far ahead of Christopher, in 2nd, with only 35 laps to go.

Pretty clean race, with only three cautions so far.

Ted Christopher led the NASCAR Whelan Modified Tour’s UNOH Perfect Storm 150 at the 75-lap mandatory intermission. In second was Todd Szegedy, with Don Lia in third.

That’s still the top-3 after 91 laps, after Bryant Dauzat’s wreck in turn one, issuing the race’s third caution.

Green flag for the O’Reilly 200 set for around 8:30 p.m. tonight.

Contributed by BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Personalities among NASCAR’s Sprint Cup drivers are as varied as their musical tastes. Fans will get more of an indication as to what might make their favorite drivers tick during driver introductions for the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway Aug. 22.

Back in the day, drivers had a great deal of fun during pre-race festivities as they introduced themselves to the fans in attendance, injecting some of their own individuality into the way they addressed the crowd. BMS will turn back the clock Saturday, not only asking the drivers to introduce themselves to the sold-out throng of nearly 160,000, but also asking them to walk out to the song of their choice.

The Sprint Cup stars take their music seriously and a good many of them deliberated for weeks before making their song choice for driver introductions, while others changed selections several times. Whether it is country or hard rock, their musical tastes are as diverse as the paint schemes on their cars.

For instance, current point leader Tony Stewart has selected his good friend Kid Rock’s “Bawitdaba,“ while Mark Martin is going with AC/DC’s “For Those About To Rock.“ Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson also are AC/DC fans, choosing “Thunderstruck” as their theme music.

Hard-rock loving Matt Kenseth is partial to Godsmack’s “The Enemy” while Scott Speed wants to hear the strains of “Boom, Boom, Pow” by Black Eyed Peas as he makes his entrance. Kurt Busch likes Cake’s “Going The Distance” while brother Kyle prefers Kanye West’s “Amazing.“

Defending Sharpie 500 winner Carl Edwards identifies with “Jump Around” by House of Pain, while Jeff Gordon likes an oldie but a goody in the Rolling Stones’ “Start Me Up” and Jeff Burton gives a tip of the hat to BMS, choosing Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome To The Jungle.“

Kasey Kahne is going country with buddy Dierks Bentley’s “Life On The Run,“ while Michael Waltrip offers some insight by choosing Toby Keith’s “As Good As I Once Was.“ Ryan Newman likes “Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy” by Big & Rich.

Some of the legends of the entertainment business also will be represented, including The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll and “The King of Pop.“ Clint Bowyer, an Elvis Presley aficionado, wants to “enter the building” as The King often did, to the strains of CC Rider while Reed Sorenson is paying homage to Michael Jackson with “Billy Jean.“

The Sharpie 500, the 55th consecutive sellout at BMS, takes the green flag at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night.

Local group J4 will entertain fans in Bristol this weekend as they sing the national anthem for the O’Reilly 200 on Wednesday.  The group is made of four siblings from Bluff City, Tenn., who shot to fame last year after winning the nationally televised CBS Singing Family Face Off contest. The group recently signed with CBS Records.

David Nail, an MCA Nashville recording artist, has been chosen to sing the national anthem Friday night before the Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Nail is celebrating the release of his debut album “I’m About To Come Alive” with a weekend in Bristol. 

The anthem will be televised live on ESPN 2 just prior to the green flag.  Also, Nail will entertain the crowd with an acoustic concert prior to the start of the Sharpie 500 Saturday night.
The 30-year-old rising country music star is currently getting a great deal of radio play with “Red Light,” which is a Top 25 Country hit.  Nail’s much-anticipated album “I’m About To Come Alive” is releasing in stores and online Tuesday, Aug. 18.
The Missouri native’s album includes several songs co-written with Kenny Chesney and Gary LeVox, the lead singer for Rascal Flatts. Also on the album is a track recorded with friend and artist Miranda Lambert.
Always one of the most popular groups to sing the anthem, the children of NASCAR’s drivers, with assistance from Motor Racing Outreach, will sing prior to the start of the Sharpie 500 Saturday night, before the sold-out crowd of nearly 160,000.
Emily Sutton, a meteorologist with local NBC affiliate WCYB, will sing the national anthem for the UNOH Perfect Storm 150 Whelen Modified Series race Wednesday.

Submitted by Bristol Motor Speedway

The voting is complete and the 1990 Garth Brooks classic, “Friends In Low Places” will be the song fans will sing in an attempt to establish a new Guinness World Record for the largest group karaoke ever.

The song, which won 1990 Academy of Country Music Single of the Year honors, edged out “Rocky Top”—the traditional Tennessee anthem first made popular by the Osborne Borthers in 1967. Today, the song is widely recognized as the “unofficial” fight song for the University of Tennessee.

Following in the voting were Hank William’s Jr.‘s “Family Tradition”, and “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC. Bruce Springsteen’s “Born In The USA” rounded out the top-five.

Over the years, Bristol Motor Speedway has involved its rabid fans in a number of fantastic card stunts, as well as the Guinness Book of World Records.

These fan feats have played a major role in the unparalleled excitement and unique atmosphere offered by the overall BMS experience. And on Aug. 22, prior to the start of the Sharpie 500, BMS again will ask its fans to take part in what will be the World’s Largest Group Karaoke attempt. With nearly 160,000 fans in attendance, this will shatter the old mark of 80,000 set in Europe earlier this year.

Not only will fans be able to be part of the record, they get to vote for the song they will be signing to set the record.

A list of songs is available fans to choose from. Voting runs through Thursday, Aug. 12. The winning song will be announced Friday, Aug. 14, 2009.

Fans voting for the World’s Largest Group Karaoke song also will be entered in a contest to be one of 20 fans to stand on Bristol’s start/finish line and lead all Sharpie 500 fans in the record-setting song.

The Sharpie 500 Sprint Cup event is the last of four electrifying night races that will take place at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile in August. Race week kicks off with a doubleheader Wednesday, Aug. 19 as the Whelen Modified Series takes to the track for the first time in the UNOH Perfect Storm 150, followed by the O’Reilly 200 Camping World Truck Series. Next up is the Food City 250 Nationwide race Friday, which will again feature a host of Sprint Cup stars.

SUBMITTED BY BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY

There’s plenty of racin’ the way it ought’a be headed your way with Bristol Motor Speedway’s 2009 August Race Week. We’ll see NASCAR’s top-three series in action, and we’ll also witness the debut of the Whelen Modified Series on the high banks of Bristol.

But… A race week at Bristol means more that just what takes place when the green flag waves. Here’s a rundown of highlights you’ll want to make a part of your Bristol to-do list.

Tuesday, August 18

Bluegrass Nights, Downtown Center, Bristol, TN, Holston Mountain Boys, FREE, 7 PM

Hooters Rev-It-Up Party - Hooters Restaurant, 228 North Roan Street, Johnson City, TN, 6 pm, Live music, bikini contest, wing-eating contest, Colin Braun’s truck series team and more.

Wednesday, August 19

Wednesday Night Doubleheader, Bristol Motor Speedway, Gates open at 9 am. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series O’Reilly 200, NASCAR Whelen Modified Series UNOH Perfect Storm 150, $30, Kids 12-and-under free with ticketed adult. Ticket also includes practice and qualifying for each race. Event Schedule.

Thursday, August 20

Food City Family Race Night, State Street, begins 1 pm, $5 (advance)/$6, Fans can expect a fun-filled evening jam-packed with driver autograph sessions, show cars, simulators, souvenir trailers, entertainment and a smorgasbord of free food samples.  Musical performances at Downtown Center Stage.  Proceeds benefit The Paramount Center for the Arts.

Richard Petty Driving Experience Ride-Alongs, 6:45 pm to 9:45 pm, Take the ultimate ride, three laps in a real race car around the high banks of “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile.“

20th Annual Eastman Motorsports Club Racing Memorabilia Auction, 6 pm, O. Bruton Smith Building, 3rd floor, Bid with fellow fans looking to add that exclusive piece of NASCAR racing memorabilia to their collections. And don’t be surprised to see a NASCAR celebrity at the auction.

Ford presents the BMS Transporter Parade, 9 pm, Volunteer Parkway (Hwy 11E), Bristol Mall to Bristol Motor Speedway. See the machines that haul the machines as NASCAR transporters take center stage completing the final leg of their trek to Bristol Motor Speedway. Fireworks highlight the parade route at the Euclid Ave. Food City, Executive Park, Avoca Elementary and upon arrival at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Friday, August 21

NASCAR Nationwide Series Food City 250, Gates open at 9 am, A full day of on-track action highlighted by the running of the Food City 250. Tickets start at $45 and also include practice and qualifying for the SOLD-OUT Sharpie 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

Scotts Turfbuilder Thunder Valley Cornhole Classic, begins at 9 am, Register your team to toss the bags for $1,000 in cash and suite tickets to all Bristol Motor Speedway 2010 NASCAR events.

Levy Restaurants Rubbin’ is Racin’ Spice Rub Contest Finals, 3 pm, The chefs have been narrowed down to a few and they’ll test pit spice rub recipes against each other for a panel of Bristol judges to see who’ll win the right to serve up “The Official Spice Rub of Bristol Motor Speedway” in 2010.

Saturday, August 22

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sharpie 500 (SOLD-OUT), Bristol Motor Speedway, Gates open at 1 pm, It’s THE night race!

*Please note, while tickets for the Sharpie 500 are sold-out, fans may now reserve 2010 season tickets. Call 423.BRISTOL or visit the ticket office while you are here to make sure you experience every Bristol event next year.

Scotts Turfbuilder Thunder Valley Cornhole Classic continues, begins at 9 am, Register your team to toss the bags for $1,000 in cash and suite tickets to all Bristol Motor Speedway 2010 NASCAR events.

NASCAR Foundation/Speedway Children’s Charities Track Walk, 9:30 am, Gate 9, Walk around the legendary half-mile to kick off your Sharpie 500 race day. Registration information: Thursday, August 20th 1pm-5pm; Friday August 21st 9am-7pm; Saturday, August 22nd 8am-9am (at Gate 9) Registration Location in fan zone area near the dragway bridge.