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Bill McClung | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> NASCAR - 2008 FOOD CITY 500 AT BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY - NIKON D300 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

NASCAR - 2008 FOOD CITY 500 AT BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY - NIKON D300

These are photos I took during the 16 March 2008 Food City 500 lap race at the Bristol Motor Speedway. The race is part of NASCAR's 2008 Sprint Cup Series. The images were made with a Nikon D300 SLR camera and were all taken from my seat in the stands. I have been a NASCAR fan for quite some time, but this was my first opportunity to actually attend a race.

This race marked the end of a long and successful career for Dale Jarrett, one of the real gentlemen of NASCAR. Before the race, special presentations were made to Dale and the sell-out crowd of 160,000 cheered him. The crowd spelled out "Thanks Dale" with colored cards in the stands, as Dale took an honorary lap around the track.

Bristol Motor Speedway is known as "The World's Fastest Half-Mile" and races there are the most difficult to get NASCAR tickets. Racing there is definitely a contact sport and just managing to survive until the end of the race is an accomplishment. The Bristol track is also a favorite for many drivers, who say they like to go there to "swap paint"!

MORE IMAGES FROM THIS RACE, TAKEN WITH A PANASONIC FZ18 CAMERA, MAY BE VIEWED AT:
www.pbase.com/nc_bill/bristol_foodcity500 or click on "all galleries".

CLICK ON EACH IMAGE TO ENLARGE. SUBSEQUENT IMAGES MAY BE SEEN BY CLICKING ON "NEXT" AT THE TOP RIGHT OF EACH PAGE.
RETIRING DRIVER, DALE JERRETT, TAKES A WELL-DESERVED HONORARY LAP AROUND THE TRACK
RETIRING DRIVER, DALE JERRETT, TAKES A WELL-DESERVED HONORARY LAP AROUND THE TRACK		 THE CROWD HONORS DALE JARRETT
THE CROWD HONORS DALE JARRETT		 DALE JARRETT WAVES TO THE CROWD DURING THE PRE-RACE DRIVER'S PARADE
DALE JARRETT WAVES TO THE CROWD DURING THE PRE-RACE DRIVER'S PARADE		 FANS BEGIN TO FILL THE STANDS. THE RACE WAS A SELL-OUT (160,000 SEATS)
FANS BEGIN TO FILL THE STANDS. THE RACE WAS A SELL-OUT (160,000 SEATS)
THE CROWD WATCHES A PRE-RACE CEREMONY HONORING DALE JARRETT
THE CROWD WATCHES A PRE-RACE CEREMONY HONORING DALE JARRETT		 DALE JARRETT RECEIVES PRAISE AND GIFTS IN A PRE-RACE CEREMONY
DALE JARRETT RECEIVES PRAISE AND GIFTS IN A PRE-RACE CEREMONY		 TONY STEWART WAVES TO THE CROWD DURING THE PRE-RACE DRIVER'S PARADE
TONY STEWART WAVES TO THE CROWD DURING THE PRE-RACE DRIVER'S PARADE		 RACE CAR HAULERS PARKED IN THE INFIELD, WITH PIT CREW CHIEF POSITIONS IN THE BACKGROUND
RACE CAR HAULERS PARKED IN THE INFIELD, WITH PIT CREW CHIEF POSITIONS IN THE BACKGROUND
WELL STOCKED PIT AREAS BEFORE THE RACE
WELL STOCKED PIT AREAS BEFORE THE RACE		 A PATRIOTIC DUO ENTERS THE BRISTOL TRACK
A PATRIOTIC DUO ENTERS THE BRISTOL TRACK		 PARACHUTING ONTO THE TRACK
PARACHUTING ONTO THE TRACK		 PARACHUTING ONTO THE TRACK
PARACHUTING ONTO THE TRACK
THE WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL GROCERY CART ROLLS AROUND THE BRISTOL TRACK
THE WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL GROCERY CART ROLLS AROUND THE BRISTOL TRACK		 MOTORCYCLE STUNT RIDER, CHRISTIAN PFEIFFER, ENTERTAINS THE CROWD BEFORE THE RACE
MOTORCYCLE STUNT RIDER, CHRISTIAN PFEIFFER, ENTERTAINS THE CROWD BEFORE THE RACE		 MOTORCYCLE STUNT RIDER, CHRISTIAN PFEIFFER, DEMONSTRATES A STOPIE BEFORE THE RACE
MOTORCYCLE STUNT RIDER, CHRISTIAN PFEIFFER, DEMONSTRATES A "STOPIE" BEFORE THE RACE		 MOTORCYCLE STUNT RIDER, CHRISTIAN PFEIFFER, DOES A GIANT WHEELIE BEFORE THE RACE
MOTORCYCLE STUNT RIDER, CHRISTIAN PFEIFFER, DOES A GIANT "WHEELIE" BEFORE THE RACE
CHECKING SPECS ON TONY STEWART'S CAR
CHECKING SPECS ON TONY STEWART'S CAR		 STANDING BY TO CLEAR THE TRACK AFTER ACCIDENTS
STANDING BY TO CLEAR THE TRACK AFTER ACCIDENTS		 FIREWORKS BEFORE THE RACE
FIREWORKS BEFORE THE RACE		 FLYOVER DURING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
FLYOVER DURING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
CREW MEMBERS PUSH JUAN PABLO MONTOYA'S CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AREA
CREW MEMBERS PUSH JUAN PABLO MONTOYA'S CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AREA		 TONY STEWART'S CAR READY TO LINE UP FOR THE START
TONY STEWART'S CAR READY TO LINE UP FOR THE START		 INFIELD ACTIVITY BEFORE THE RACE
INFIELD ACTIVITY BEFORE THE RACE		 CHECKING SPECS ON DENNY HAMLIN'S CAR
CHECKING SPECS ON DENNY HAMLIN'S CAR
LAST MINUTE PIT WORK, AS CARS LINE UP FOR THE RACE START
LAST MINUTE PIT WORK, AS CARS LINE UP FOR THE RACE START		 LINING UP IN THE PITS FOR THE START
LINING UP IN THE PITS FOR THE START		 DRIVERS AND CREWS STAND AT ATTENTION DURING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
DRIVERS AND CREWS STAND AT ATTENTION DURING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM		 THE UPS RACING TRUCK DELIVERS DALE JARRETT'S FATHER TO THE STARTING TOWER
THE UPS "RACING TRUCK" DELIVERS DALE JARRETT'S FATHER TO THE STARTING TOWER
THE PACE CAR LEADS THE RACE CARS AROUND THE TRACK
THE PACE CAR LEADS THE RACE CARS AROUND THE TRACK		 FOLLOWING THE PACE CAR - TWO MORE TURNS AND THE RACE IS ON
FOLLOWING THE PACE CAR - TWO MORE TURNS AND THE RACE IS ON		 DALE JARRETT'S DAD, NED, WAVES THE GREEN FLAG TO START THE RACE
DALE JARRETT'S DAD, NED, WAVES THE GREEN FLAG TO START THE RACE		 THE FIRST LAP - ONLY 499 MORE TO GO
THE FIRST LAP - ONLY 499 MORE TO GO
HEADING FOR TURN TWO
HEADING FOR TURN TWO		 DALE JERRETT LEADS JIMMIE JOHNSON
DALE JERRETT LEADS JIMMIE JOHNSON		 BRIAN VICKERS, GREG BIFFLE AND KYLE BUSCH
BRIAN VICKERS, GREG BIFFLE AND KYLE BUSCH		 CLOSELY PACKED, ENTERING TURN ONE
CLOSELY PACKED, ENTERING TURN ONE
MATT KENSETH ON JEFF GORDON'S TAIL
MATT KENSETH ON JEFF GORDON'S TAIL		 FIGHTING FOR POSITION GOING INTO TURN ONE
FIGHTING FOR POSITION GOING INTO TURN ONE		 THE BLIMP PROVIDES OVERHEAD CAMERA SHOTS OF THE RACE AND ADVERTISING
THE BLIMP PROVIDES OVERHEAD CAMERA SHOTS OF THE RACE AND ADVERTISING		 THE TENNESSEE STATE POLICE PROVIDED OVERHEAD SECURITY FOR THE RACE
THE TENNESSEE STATE POLICE PROVIDED OVERHEAD SECURITY FOR THE RACE
THEIR FIRST NASCAR RACE! - MY WIFE AND GRANDDAUGHTER GETTING RACE VIDEO AND COMMENTARY FROM THE SPRINT SYSTEM
THEIR FIRST NASCAR RACE! - MY WIFE AND GRANDDAUGHTER GETTING RACE VIDEO AND COMMENTARY FROM THE SPRINT SYSTEM		 KYLE BUSCH PREPARES TO ENTER TURN FOUR
KYLE BUSCH PREPARES TO ENTER TURN FOUR		 TONY STEWART TAKES THE LEAD
TONY STEWART TAKES THE LEAD		 JEFF GORDON PREPARES TO ENTER TURN FOUR
JEFF GORDON PREPARES TO ENTER TURN FOUR
PICKING UP SPEED ON THE STRAIGHTAWAY
PICKING UP SPEED ON THE STRAIGHTAWAY		 BOBBY LABONTE PLAYS CATCH-UP AFTER BEING BRISTOLIZED
BOBBY LABONTE PLAYS CATCH-UP AFTER BEING "BRISTOLIZED"		 REED SORENSON AND RYAN NEWMAN IN THE PITS
REED SORENSON AND RYAN NEWMAN IN THE PITS		 FRANTIC ACTIVITY AND KEVIN HARVICK (#29) HAS A NEAR MISS IN THE PITS
FRANTIC ACTIVITY AND KEVIN HARVICK (#29) HAS A NEAR MISS IN THE PITS
DARIO FRANCHITTE SPINS OUT ON TURN FOUR
DARIO FRANCHITTE SPINS OUT ON TURN FOUR		 JEFF BURTON GETS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH TONY STEWART
JEFF BURTON GETS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH TONY STEWART		 TONY STEWARD LEADS THE PACK INTO TURN THREE
TONY STEWARD LEADS THE PACK INTO TURN THREE		 CLINT BOWYER ENTERS TURN FOUR
CLINT BOWYER ENTERS TURN FOUR
TONY STEWART (#20), JEREMY MAYFIELD (#70) AND ELLIOTT SADLER (#19) EXIT TURN ONE
TONY STEWART (#20), JEREMY MAYFIELD (#70) AND ELLIOTT SADLER (#19) EXIT TURN ONE		 JOE NEMECHEK PASSES A FOX CAMERA CREW
JOE NEMECHEK PASSES A FOX CAMERA CREW		 JIMMY JOHNSON CHASES TONY STEWART
JIMMY JOHNSON CHASES TONY STEWART		 ARIC ALMIROLA CHASES JEFF GORDON
ARIC ALMIROLA CHASES JEFF GORDON
TONY STEWARD (#20) AND KEVIN HARVICK (#29) PASS BY A FOX SPORTS TV CREW, AS THEY HEAD FOR TURN FOUR
TONY STEWARD (#20) AND KEVIN HARVICK (#29) PASS BY A FOX SPORTS TV CREW, AS THEY HEAD FOR TURN FOUR		 REGAN SMITH PASSES JUAN MONTOYA TO PICK UP A TRACK POSITION
REGAN SMITH PASSES JUAN MONTOYA TO PICK UP A TRACK POSITION		 RYAN NEWMAN BRINGS HIS BRISTOLIZED CAR INTO THE PITS
RYAN NEWMAN BRINGS HIS "BRISTOLIZED" CAR INTO THE PITS		 TONY STEWART PASSES BRIAN VICKERS ON THE OUTSIDE
TONY STEWART PASSES BRIAN VICKERS ON THE OUTSIDE
KYLE BUSCH - GREAT DRIVER AND GREAT CANDY!
KYLE BUSCH - GREAT DRIVER AND GREAT CANDY!		 TONY STEWART (#20), DALE JARRETT (#44) AND JIMMIE JOHNSON (#48)
TONY STEWART (#20), DALE JARRETT (#44) AND JIMMIE JOHNSON (#48)		 GOING INTO TURN ONE
GOING INTO TURN ONE		 GREAT SIDE-BY-SIDE RACING
GREAT SIDE-BY-SIDE RACING
PAUL MENARD HEADS FOR THE PITS AFTER SUSTAINING CRASH DAMAGE
PAUL MENARD HEADS FOR THE PITS AFTER SUSTAINING CRASH DAMAGE		 FRANTIC ACTIVITY IN THE PITS, UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYES OF NASCAR OFFICIALS
FRANTIC ACTIVITY IN THE PITS, UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYES OF NASCAR OFFICIALS		 JUAN PABLO MONTOYA'S PIT CREW AT WORK
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA'S PIT CREW AT WORK		 JAMIE McMURRAY (#26), BRIAN VICKERS (#83) AND GREG BIFFLE (#16)
JAMIE McMURRAY (#26), BRIAN VICKERS (#83) AND GREG BIFFLE (#16)
ORGANIZED CHAOS IN THE PIT AREA
ORGANIZED CHAOS IN THE PIT AREA		 JEFF BURTON (#31) LEADS DOWN THE STRAIGHTAWAY
JEFF BURTON (#31) LEADS DOWN THE STRAIGHTAWAY		 KEVIN HARVICK MAKES A MOVE TO PASS TONY STEWART
KEVIN HARVICK MAKES A MOVE TO PASS TONY STEWART		 RACE LEADER, TONY STEWART, SPINS OUT AFTER BEING HIT BY KEVIN HARVICK IN LAP 498 OF 500
RACE LEADER, TONY STEWART, SPINS OUT AFTER BEING HIT BY KEVIN HARVICK IN LAP 498 OF 500
DAVID GILLILAND (#38) HAS A VERY CLOSE CALL, AS TONY STEWART SLIDES DOWN THE TRACK
DAVID GILLILAND (#38) HAS A VERY CLOSE CALL, AS TONY STEWART SLIDES DOWN THE TRACK		 KURT BUSCH (#2) ALSO HAS A NEAR MISS, AS TONY STEWART CONTINUES TO SLIDE DOWN THE TRACK
KURT BUSCH (#2) ALSO HAS A NEAR MISS, AS TONY STEWART CONTINUES TO SLIDE DOWN THE TRACK		 TONY STEWART LIMPS INTO THE PITS, FOLLOWING HIS CRASH
TONY STEWART LIMPS INTO THE PITS, FOLLOWING HIS CRASH		 TONY STEWART'S CAR AFTER BEING BRISTOLIZED. DESPITE THE DAMAGE, STEWART ACTUALLY RETURNED TO THE TRACK AND FINISHED 14th!
TONY STEWART'S CAR AFTER BEING "BRISTOLIZED". DESPITE THE DAMAGE, STEWART ACTUALLY RETURNED TO THE TRACK AND FINISHED 14th!
DESPITE HEAVY DAMAGE, TONY STEWART (#20) MANAGES TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE
DESPITE HEAVY DAMAGE, TONY STEWART (#20) MANAGES TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE		 RACE WINNER, JEFF BURTON, TAKES A VICTORY LAP
RACE WINNER, JEFF BURTON, TAKES A VICTORY LAP		 JEFF BURTON RECEIVES THE CHECKERED FLAG ON THE WAY TO VICTORY LANE
JEFF BURTON RECEIVES THE CHECKERED FLAG ON THE WAY TO VICTORY LANE		 A VERY CROWDED VICTORY LANE
A VERY CROWDED VICTORY LANE
THE #31 CAR (JOE BURTON) GOES TO VICTORY LANE
THE #31 CAR (JOE BURTON) GOES TO VICTORY LANE

comment | share
Wayne 28-Jul-2008 22:04
I was at the race too, but don't share your eye or talent for great pics!
Thanks for sharing
Richard Vance20-Mar-2008 17:30
Who'd ever thunk Toyotas would be out there running with the big boys? Excellent series of racing images at the "Fastest Half-Mile". The 80-400 served you well from apparently high up in the stands.
Best regards,
Dick:)
Guest 18-Mar-2008 21:59
Very nice gallery Bill - thanks for sharing with the DPReviewers (-:
~Val
Guest 18-Mar-2008 06:22
Nicely done!!
click on thumbnails for full image