Chase Elliott visits Nashville to promote Bristol night race By Matt Courson, Staff Writer
NASHVILLE — NASCAR’s most popular driver and 2016 rookie-of-the-year recipient Chase Elliott flew his personal helicopter from his home in Georgia to Tennessee’s capital city on Wednesday (July 31) to promote the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
“I appreciate you guys having me, the flight was great,” Chase Elliott told the crowd in attendance. “This is really cool. I love Nashville and I love having the chance to come up here.
“I’ve never been to the base here (Berry Field). It’s a great experience. I love flying. I got to fly up here, the weather is nice, so that’s always a good thing.”
Elliott’s first stop of the day was at the 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion at Berry Field, where Elliott met military personnel and was joined by the staff at Bristol Motor Speedway. The battalion also presented Elliott with his very own uniform jacket and cap.
During the visit at Berry Field, Bristol Motor Speedway honored SFC Daniel L. Cole, a Senior Supply and Logistics Non-Commissioned Officer for the 1-230th with the title of “America’s Night Race Neighborhood Hero”.
SFC Cole has deployed overseas four times to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo. For his efforts, SFC Cole has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal, three Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals, Senior Aviation Badge, and many other ribbons for his service during the deployments.
The neighborhood hero program, put on by Bristol Motor Speedway, recognizes individuals or groups of people who go above and beyond for others. Along with Nashville, the speedway also awards recipients in Knoxville, Chattanooga, and the Tri-Cities area.
“This is a privilege. I’m honored to receive this,” SFC Cole said. “I would like to thank my family, 1-230th, Bristol Motor Speedway, Chase Elliott, I’m a long time fan of your Dad (Bill Elliott), so I’m glad to see you following your father’s footsteps.
“I’d like to thank everyone who showed up today. I was not expecting this. It’s an honor and a privilege to be sitting here in front of my fellow brothers and sisters. Thank you all.”
SFC Cole will formally be awarded along with the other neighborhood heroes with the honor during pre-race ceremonies at Bristol.
Elliott then took to the skies in a UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter with members from the battalion along with local and national media members. The approximate 20-minute flight included two ‘aerial laps’ around the city of Nashville and two laps around the Nashville Fairgrounds, which was the next stop of the tour.
After the aerial tour, Elliott headed over to the final stop of the day, Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, where he gave track lap rides to the Blackhawk pilots and other dignitaries. Elliott says that the Fairgrounds is “one of the coolest short tracks in the United States I’ve raced at.”
Elliott spoke about his performance at Bristol, where he claimed the pole earlier this season and finished a career-best third in the Night Race last Fall.
“I always look forward to going to Bristol. It’s a cool place,” Elliott told Kickin’ The Tires. “I was able to get a pole there at the beginning of the year, which was nice. We’ve had some hit or miss runs there.
“It’s been kind of odd. Unfortunately I haven’t found a lot of consistency. I thought we had an okay car there in the spring. We’re just trying to build on that.
“I always look forward to that race. It’s a really fun week and always a great event to watch, for sure; and to be a part of is pretty cool, too.”
Race fans interested in purchasing tickets to the 2019 Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race can do so by calling (423)-BRISTOL or by visiting Bristoltix.com