News Article

Lisa Marie Coming Home to "Start Your Engines"

September 1, 2005
D. Franklin

MEMPHIS, TN (August 30, 2005) – Track officials announced today that Memphis’s own Lisa Marie Presley will serve as Grand Marshal of the NASCAR Busch Series Sam’s Town 250 on Saturday, Oct. 22, at Memphis Motorsports Park.

Presley is the face of the latest 30-second NASCAR ad that asks, "How bad have you got it?" The commercial combines footage of Lisa Marie at the Daytona race in July with her song “Thanx” off the Now What album, which debuted in April at No. 9 on the Billboard chart.

Though her time at the Daytona International Speedway was her first NASCAR race to attend in person, she's quick to say that she’s already hooked. “I’m looking forward to being the Grand Marshal at the Sam's Town 250,” Presley said. “I've definitely become a total NASCAR fan!”

Presley is in the middle of promotion for her album and was also interviewed this month by Sports Illustrated for her take on NASCAR.

“Lisa Marie ‘gets it,’” said Jason Rittenberry, Memphis Motorsports Park Vice President and General Manager. “She gets NASCAR, and how lucky for our race fans that she will be sharing a NASCAR race day in her hometown with them. We are truly looking forward to having her join us.”

The Sam’s Town 250 is the NASCAR season finale in Memphis, and promises to be the best in the track’s history, with a win critical to those at the top of the tight points race, including defending series and Memphis champion Martin Truex Jr., Carl Edwards, Reed Sorenson and Clint Bowyer. Bill Elliott - voted the Most Popular Driver a record 16 times by NASCAR fans - will also be back in Memphis for a rare NASCAR Busch Series race appearance.

The race week schedule includes Fanfest on Thursday night at Sam’s Town, two practice sessions on Friday afternoon, and qualifying on Saturday morning at 10:35 a.m. The race will take the green flag following Presley’s “command” at 2:30 p.m., and The Charlie Daniels Band will perform a post-race concert. Tickets are -.

For more information or to order tickets, call toll-free 1-866-40-SPEED or visit memphismotorsportspark.com.

The NASCAR Busch Series is the No. 2 motorsports series in the United States, second only to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. It brings together up-and-coming drivers and established veterans where everyone has “something to prove.” This vital national series features 35 points races at 25 tracks nationwide and for the first time earlier this year, raced internationally in Mexico City. Over 2.7 million fans attended NASCAR Busch Series races last year.