Fansided

Butch Jones, Frank Beamer to be grand marshals at Food City 500

By Patrick Schmidt

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Oct 14, 2013; Knoxville, TN, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies head coach Frank Beamer and athletic director Jim Weaver and Speedway Motorsports Inc. president Marcus Smith and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway Jerry Caldwell and University of Tennessee Volunteers athletic director Dave Hart and head coach Butch Jones pose for a photo after announcing that the Tennessee Volunteers and Virginia Tech Hokies will play a football game on Sep. 10, 2016 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 14, 2013; Knoxville, TN, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies head coach Frank Beamer and athletic director Jim Weaver and Speedway Motorsports Inc. president Marcus Smith and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway Jerry Caldwell and University of Tennessee Volunteers athletic director Dave Hart and head coach Butch Jones pose for a photo after announcing that the Tennessee Volunteers and Virginia Tech Hokies will play a football game on Sep. 10, 2016 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

The Tennessee Volunteers and Virginia Tech Hokies are scheduled to play a football game in the infield of Bristol Motor Speedway in 2016, but before the two teams meet in the game expected to draw 160,000 and break the record for attendance at a football game, the head coaches of each program will serve as grand marshals at the Food City 500 on Sunday.

"“I am honored to once again have the opportunity to travel to Bristol Motor Speedway and play a role, along with Coach Beamer, in the Food City 500,” said Jones. “We are very much looking forward to breaking the all-time college football attendance record in September 2016 at Bristol. While our game is still two years away, I had such a great time at last year’s race that I wanted to return to Bristol to witness again one of NASCAR’s most iconic and exciting events.”"

The excitement was shared by Beamer who even got in a plug for his book when he spoke about his involvement in Sunday’s race.

"“As I said in my book, Let Me Be Frank, I think Butch Jones has the right ‘stuff,’” Beamer said. “I think he is going to have a great career at Tennessee. To be the Co-Grand Marshal with him is a pleasure as we represent the two schools that have a lot of fans in this area. Bristol Motor Speedway is one of the most exciting sports venues that I know and like to visit, and we look forward to playing Tennessee there in 2016 before the largest crowd to ever watch a football game.”"

I can’t wait to see the game in what will be an unreal setting atmosphere for not only Tennessee and Virginia Tech fans, but also fans of college football and NASCAR to see a football field created in the infield of Bristol.

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