Fans Will Wave Thousands Of Green Flags To Start Tums Fast Relief 500

Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin lead the field to the green flag.

For the first time in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history, all fans attending the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, October 25, will serve as the ‘Grand Marshal’ for the event. 

TUMS, Martinsville Speedway, NASCAR and the Sprint Cup Series drivers will salute the fans during pre-race activities leading up to the final honors of giving the command ‘Gentlemen, Start Your Engines’ and the waving of the green flag for the start the 500-lap event. 

On a few occasions, fans have been invited to join the designated Grand Marshal in giving the command ‘Gentlemen, Start Your Engines’.  At the TUMS Fast Relief 500, fans will not only give the command to start the engines, but also participate in starting the race.  All fans will receive a 12” x 15” commemorative green flag.  Following the lead of the NASCAR flagman, fans will participate in the official start of the race by waving their green flag.

"The fans have always been a priority at Martinsville Speedway,” said Tony Stewart, co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing and the current point leader in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.  “Honoring every fan as the Grand Marshal for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 is an excellent way to show appreciation for their support.  This is a first for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.  Serving as Grand Marshal will be an added experience for the fans.  Not to be overlooked is the competition on the track.  It's short-track racing at its best.  It would be great to finish the day with my third win at Martinsville."  

NASCAR fans are passionate about their sport and drivers.  Kurt Busch is familiar with such passion.  "I'm a huge Chicago Cub fan,” said Busch, driver of the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge.  “There's a tremendous amount of tradition around a game at Wrigley Field.  It's baseball at its best.  There's tradition at Martinsville Speedway, NASCAR's oldest track -- the grandfather clock that goes to the race winner, the Martinsville hot dog and the fan-friendly atmosphere and hospitality.  Naming fans the Grand Marshal for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 is a great way to recognize their support.  And it's not just one fan; it's every fan attending the race. The NASCAR family is looking forward to making this a special day for our fans."

For Kasey Kahne, fans put their loyalty to work.  They voted him into the 2008 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, which he won.

"NASCAR truly has the best, most loyal fans,” said Kahne, driver of the No. 9 Budweiser Dodge.  “The NASCAR community continues to come up with creative ways to incorporate the fans.  To have them serve as the Grand Marshal at Martinsville is just another way to give back to the fans and show thanks for their support.  It should be a really cool tribute and I'm looking forward to it."

TUMS returns as the title sponsor for the fall NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at the .526-mile track for the second consecutive year.  The TUMS Fast Relief 500 is the sixth of 10 races that make up The Chase that will determine the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion.

For more information on TUMS, visit www.TUMS.com.