Gentlemen, start your engines! July 2, 2011 Central Florida will welcome the 53nd annual Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca Cola NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. This race begins at sundown on one of the biggest American holidays of the summer…July 4th weekend.
The Coke Zero 400 is a 160 lap, 400 mile night time race run by some of NASCAR’s biggest superstars. This race attracts the sport’s most famous stars and cars in the NASCAR Sprint Series. Fans will get their red-white-and-blue on for all the action at the 52nd annual race day weekend.
Martina McBride will perform a 60 minute pre-race concert prior to the 53rd annual Coke Zero 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Saturday night, July 2. All race fans that purchase a Pre-Race Sprint FANZONE access pass for the Coke Zero 400 in addition to a race ticket will be able to view McBride’s Coke Zero 400 Pre-Race Show as well as the driver introductions from the infield grass tri-oval area.
McBride is a four-time Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year, three-time American Country Music Female Vocalist of the Year and a Grammy winning recording artist with more than 18 million in album sales and 24 top-10 singles, including six that reached No.1.
McBride, whose hits include “Independence Day,” “Wild Angels,” “A Broken Wing,” “Blessed,” “Concrete Angel,” and “This Ones for the Girls,” recently signed with Big Machine Label Group’s Republic Nashville and is currently in the studio recording her 11th studio album that will be released later this year.
In 1959, the race was originally scheduled to be a USAC Championship (Indy) Car event. However, after a crash-filled event in April, open wheel racing on the oval was permanently canceled. NASCAR quickly stepped in and replaced the schedule with a stock car race.
The race was developed to provide a second major Cup-level racing event for the Daytona International Speedway which would not detract from the legendary status of the Daytona 500. At its creation in 1959, the race was 100 laps for 250 miles, and owing to the scheduling on the July 4th, was nicknamed the Firecracker 250. In 1963 the race was expanded from 100 laps to 160 laps, for a distance of 400 miles, and became known as the Firecracker 400.
In 1985, the race became known as the Pepsi Firecracker 400, when PepsiCo became the title sponsor. In 1989, the “Firecracker” name was dropped, and the race was known simply as the Pepsi 400 through 2007. From 1998-2002, the rave was often subtitled the Pepsi 400, held at Michigan during that period.
The renowned nationally syndicated radio personality, Bubba The Love Sponge® will serve as Honorary Pace Car driver for the 53rd annual Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Saturday, July 2 and will participate in a special ticket package built around the Independence Day holiday weekend.
As Honorary Pace Car driver, Bubba will be behind the wheel of the Dodge Charger pace car as he leads the 43 car field to the green flag for the 160-lap, 400-mile Independence Day holiday classic under the lights at Daytona.
In addition to Bubba’s role as Honorary Pace Car driver, a special Bubba Army Tailgate ticket package has been created for the Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola.
With packages starting at $104, admission to the outdoor infield tailgate area includes:
*Grandstand ticket for the Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola on Saturday, July 2.
*Designated infield tailgate parking
*Three drink tickets for beer, wine, soda or water
*NASCAR celebrity appearances and special giveaways
*Appearances by Bubba The Love Sponge® and Bubba The Love Sponge® Show personalities
*Happy hour specials
*Live entertainment and games
Race fans that have already purchased a Coke Zero 400 ticket can upgrade their experience with the tailgating package for just $60.
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