As the area prepares for the upcoming race weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway, the folks at Food City are gearing up for the running of the August 19th Food City 300.

Company officials announced today that Bristol Mayors Chad Keen and Bill Hartley will join forces to serve as the event Grand Marshal and Honorary Starter.  Keen, Mayor of Bristol, TN will serve as Grand Marshal, announcing the starting command.  Bill Hartley, Mayor of Bristol, VA will serve as race Honorary Starter, waving the green flag to signal the start of Friday’s Food City 300.

“With six retail supermarkets in the immediate area, Food City is extremely proud to be a part of the strong Bristol retail community,” says Steven C. Smith, Food City president and chief executive officer.  “As Bristol Motor Speedway’s longest running sponsor and the presenting sponsor of the September 10th Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol, we are honored to have the Bristol mayors join us in celebration of this historic time in our community’s history.”     

Mayor Keen, a lifelong resident of Bristol received an Associates of Business Administration degree from Virginia Highlands Community College, along with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from King University.  Committed to jobs, economic growth, education and healthcare, Keen has served as Mayor, Vice Mayor and City Councilman of Bristol, TN and presides on the Industrial Development Board, Industrial Infrastructure Board, Convention and Visitors Bureau Board and Bristol Wellmont Board of Directors.  He is also a Rotary member, member of Highlands Fellowship Church and former Board Chair of Healing Hands Health Center.  The owner of Keen Promotions of Bristol, TN, Mayor Keen and his lovely wife Kathy have three children.  

“We are very excited Food City is sponsoring another great race weekend in Bristol,” says Mayor Keen.  “The economic impact that Food City and Bristol Motor Speedway bring to our region is astounding.  On behalf of our community and all the race fans that will be in our great city, we thank you.”

Mayor Hartley was elected to the Bristol, VA City Council on July 1, 2014 and named Mayor of Bristol, VA on July 1, 2016.  A native of Bristol, Hartley is a graduate of Virginia High School.  He holds a B.A in History and Political Science from Clemson University, an M.A. in History from the University of Alabama and an M.B.A. from King University.  Hartley has worked as an educator, non-profit administrator and was named one of the Tri-Cities Business Journal’s “Forty Under Forty”.  He is currently employed by the Barter Theatre as an Advancement Officer for Institutional Relations.  Mayor Hartley and his lovely wife have two young children.  

“I appreciate everything Food City does to promote our cities and region, not only during race week, but through their continued commitment to our community throughout the year,” says Mayor Harley.  “As a life-long NASCAR fan, I am incredibly honored to be invited to participate.  It is beyond my wildest dreams.”  

Food City is Bristol Motor Speedway’s longest running sponsor and the second longest in NASCAR.  The Food City 300 gets under way at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 19, 2016.  Qualifying for the event takes place at 3:45 p.m. on Friday.  Tickets are still available and may be purchased at www.bristoltix.com or by calling the BMS ticket office at 423-BRISTOL (274-7865).

Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 135 retail outlets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, Chattanooga and north Georgia.