Miss Food City 2010

As always, this blog is an unabashed supporter of the greatest venue in sports: Bristol Motor Speedway. And to that end, there is an obligation to report the elevation of this year’s Miss Food City: Melissa O'Neal.

We all loved Lindsey. But meet the new Miss Food City:

O'Neal enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, going to the lake, reading, modeling, watching NASCAR races and participating in pageants. She was featured in Fashion Showcase for pageantry/prom Time Magazine's spring 2009 issue. She was president of the Campus Activities Board and a member of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society at Roane State Community College. She is most proud of her volunteer work with various organizations including Teens Against Drugs Center, Bread of Life Rescue Mission, Relay for Life, Salvation Army and an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. She plans to obtain a bachelor's degree in mass communication and pursue a career as a broadcast personality. She hopes to study abroad, continue to promote volunteerism and one day have a family of her own.

Stop Crashing Into Each Other

The reigning Miss Food City is Lindsey Blevins. And even her kindly heart would be down on Dale Jr after the Daytona 500- joining the rest of the national racing press.

Junior had a very bad day. But he isn’t a “dirty” driver. He made a bad mistake at a track where if you make a mistake you wreck half the field. That is all. One can overanalyze it.

Vickers threw a block- but, let’s be honest, they all do at these plate tracks. Plate racing is getting in line and blocking people in the other line. As a matter of fact, Junior is good at the plate tracks because he is a great rear mirror driver. And they were racing for an important position created by this “lucky dog” rule; they're gonna block.

Now, a great driver, a driver with championship aspirations, drives with an eye toward a 34-race campaign, let alone another 100 laps. He backs off there. You won’t see Johnson or Martin throwing away an entire race, an entire off-season of prep because they’re real mad they were blocked and frustrated because they make moronic mistakes in the pits. But that isn't Dale. Junior is an average driver whose biggest problem is lap after lap discipline. He isn’t “dirty” but he obviously can be undisciplined, sloppy.

For a guy who generates a ton of ink and is a stone class act, Junior is a arid race car driver. He clearly has plus skills on the plate tracks- but he isn’t compelling or magnetic on the cookie cutter tracks and intermediate venues. He’s always got good gear (Truex took the second DEI car to the Chase) and good teammates/peers- and seems to have reached a ceiling of driving around in twelfth all day.

He is sort of miscast as an A-Driver on an A-Team. In an environment where he has to stand shoulder to shoulder with guys like Edwards and Kyle Busch, he is going to be an endless disappointment.

He should go to a B-level team. Take the pressure off himself. Use his grade A personal class, fan rapport and business contacts to bring resources and personnel to ramp up atwo/three car team. Drive the top effort there. Staff it with your pals. Make it fun again. Take an ownership share. One win every other year coupled with lots of good finishes on plate tracks, as well as elevating a second tier organization to top status, would have to better than this- the endless excuses, losing and disappointment.

Junior would have to give up dreams of winning a championship- but he isn’t going to ever win one anyway. He just isn’t good enough away from Daytona/Talladega

Miss Food City 2009

This blog is an unabashed supporter of the greatest venue in sports: Bristol Motor Speedway. And to that end, there is an obligation to report the elevation of this year’s Miss Food City- destined to reign over this year’s race activities and ride in the giant grocery cart. We all loved Jennifer- but all things must progress. To that end, Miss Food City is:

When the moment arrived, it was Lindsey Lorraine Blevins of Wise, VA who was crowned 2009 Miss Food City. Lindsey is a 21 year-old student at the University of Virginia at Wise. “It’s an honor to be crowned with such a prestigious title” Blevins commented. “I’ve worked hard for this opportunity and I can now testify that the ‘third time’s a charm’. I am excited and looking forward to spending the next year with Mr. Steve Smith and the Food City family.”

Lindsey will represent Food City during the Food City 500 and the Food City 250 NASCAR events at Bristol Motor Speedway during 2009. In addition to those responsibilities, Lindsey will represent Food City at various other company events.

Lindsey enjoys fishing, running, water and snow skiing, attending church, volunteering, NASCAR racing and UT Football. Her volunteer efforts include helping to raise a great deal of money for the Speedway Children’s Charities. She is the first traditional college student in her family, and is currently completing an internship at Norton Community Hospital. She plans to graduate with honors in May 2009 with a B.A. in Biology and to pursue a second degree in nursing to become a health care provider in the Southwest Virginia area.

Can't wait for August!

Miss Food City

This blog is an unabashed supporter of the greatest venue in sports: Bristol Motor Speedway. And to that end, there is an obligation to report the elevation of this year’s Miss Food City- destined to reign over this year’s race activities and ride in the giant grocery cart. Miss Food City is:

When the moment arrived, it was Jennifer Whittington of Pounding Mill, VA who was crowned 2008 Miss Food City. Jennifer is a 23 year-old student at the Quillen College of Medicine in Johnson City, TN. “I was completely shocked when the announcer called my name, but it has been an incredible honor and a blessing to be crowned Miss Food City 500. I would like to personally congratulate all of the other contestants on a job well done and thank them for the friendship and memories that we have all made,” Whittington commented.

Jennifer will represent Food City during the Food City 500 and the Food City 250 NASCAR events at Bristol Motor Speedway during 2008. In addition to those responsibilities, Jennifer will represent Food City at various other company events.

Jennifer enjoys relaxing with family and friends, going to church, volunteering in her community, hiking, running, playing with her dog, and is a NASCAR enthusiast. She is looking forward to the opportunity to use her medical experience to care for her patients and at the same time make them feel valued and comfortable. She plans to graduate from medical school and complete a residency in General Surgery/Trauma Surgery.

Can't wait for August!