A star-studded lineup of top driver appearances, smoke-billowing show car exhibitions and high-flying motocross demonstrations highlighted a thrilling Parade of Power on Wednesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, as the speedway kicked off its Fall Season of Speed with appearances featuring NASCAR stars Clint Bowyer and Bubba Wallace as well as motocross sensation Phil Nicoletti, among others.
More than two dozen high-powered show cars - including two NASCAR stock cars, a ground-pounding NASCAR Modified, an MXGP dirt bike, an NHRA Pro Mod, two dirt late models, a trophy truck, a Legend Car, motorized lawnmowers and a monster truck - paraded two miles from Concord Mills down Bruton Smith Boulevard in front of hundreds of fans to showcase the diverse assortment of machines coming this fall.
Bowyer, the 2012 Bank of America 500 winner, said the parade was a fun experience that fueled his desire to win the 2016 edition on Oct. 8 at the iconic 1.5-mile superspeedway.
"Look at the list of stuff that's coming up at the race track," Bowyer said. "You can't ask for a better lineup of entertainment right here in our own backyard. I know if I can't be home, I'm going to be here. To see all these events is fun, and any time you can come back to the track as a past winner is an extra element of confidence as you roll in."
Wallace's bid for his first NASCAR XFINITY Series championship would receive a tremendous boost if he triumphs in the Drive for the Cure 300 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina on Oct. 7.
"Every race is big for us, but especially the one coming up at Charlotte," said Wallace, a Concord, North Carolina, native and 2011 Northwest Cabarrus High graduate. "This is everybody's home track, really, and it would be exciting to win one of these deals in front of my hometown crowd, since I grew up here."
For Nicoletti, a world-class motocross and supercross rider for Joe Gibbs' JGRMX team, his first race at the speedway will come on two wheels at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, when the international motocross superstars take on Americans like Nicoletti and Eli Tomac in the Monster Energy MXGP of the Americas Sept. 2-3.
"It was cool to see all the fans come out today," Nicoletti said. "I'm really excited. It's been a long time since a major motocross event has been here in Charlotte."
TICKETS:
Fans interested in attending any of the fall events, including the Monster Energy MXGP of the Americas on Sept. 2-3, the NHRA Carolina Nationals Sept. 16-18, the Bank of America 500 on Oct. 8 and the Bad Boy World of Outlaws World Finals Oct. 27-29, can call the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267) or visit online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.
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