WELCOME, N.C. — In anticipation of the first time in more than 50 years the NASCAR
Cup Series schedule will include a dirt race, Richard Petty Motorsports has partnered with Food City and Tide for the Food City Dirt Race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

As part of the agreement, the No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will carry the Tide brand as the primary partner in the NASCAR Cup Series event at Bristol on March 28 with driver Erik Jones.

In honor of Bristol Motor Speedway’s 60th anniversary celebration, the half-mile, high-banked concrete oval will be transformed into a state-of-the-art dirt racing facility for the Food City Dirt Race.

The event will mark the first time the NASCAR Cup Series will compete on dirt in the sport’s modern era.

“The Food City Dirt Race marks the first time that the NASCAR Cup Series has competed on dirt since 1970 at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, N.C., when Richard Petty took home the checkered flag,” Steven C. Smith, Food City president and chief executive officer, said. “How awesome is it that we have the opportunity to serve as the primary partner of the iconic Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro for the running of this historic event at the Bristol Motor Speedway?”

This is the first time a dirt surface has been put down for any race at The Last Great
Colosseum in over 20 years, and it will likely be the most anticipated.

“We are so proud to have Food City and Tide to partner with Richard Petty Motorsports for the Food City Dirt Race,” Jones said. “Tide has such a rich history in this sport, and I am honored to continue the legacy as a driver behind-the-wheel of the No. 43 Tide Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.”

Tide’s unmistakable logo, the distinctive orange-and-yellow bulls-eye, is on the hood and will adorn Jones No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for the circuit’s return of dirt track racing.

The paint scheme was inspired by Tide’s rich history in NASCAR, with its classic bright paint scheme. The addition of Petty Blue, one of the most iconic colors in NASCAR, is a fresh twist on the classic design that has adorned the hoods in the past with Darrell Waltrip, Ricky Rudd and Ricky Craven.

As part of the partnership, Tide is partnering with Food City and Richard Petty Motorsports at the Bristol Motor Speedway to bring NASCAR fans “The Ultimate Dirt Race” Sweepstakes.

Three first place winners will each receive one $1,500 Best Buy gift card to be used toward the purchase of a new washer/dryer. Three second place winners will each receive one $500 Best Buy gift card, and three third place winners will each receive free Tide for a year.

The 24-year-old Byron, Michigan, native has eight starts in the NASCAR Cup Series at the .533-mile track. Jones collected the pole award at the Bristol Motor Speedway in August 2017, and has posted four top-five finishes and four top-10 finishes, with 293 laps led.

In addition, Jones has notched two wins (2016, ’17), three top-five finishes, and four top-10 finishes in six career starts at the Northeast Tennessee half-mile oval in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

He has one start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Bristol Motor Speedway.