It has been two months since Dale Jarrett strapped into the #44 UPS Toyota at Bristol Motor Speedway in what was his last championship points event in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition. This week, Jarrett will suit up in the UPS driver uniform one final time as he prepares for what will be his last race as a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star Race at Lowe's Motor Speedway (LMS) is one that features a great deal of pomp and circumstance. The race itself typically features special paint schemes, celebrity appearances and all out revelry. The annual event is quickly becoming more of a week-long celebration with activities such as the All-Star Pit Crew challenge and NASCAR Day all taking place in prelude to the event. This week it also signals the farewell to one of the sport's most respected former champions as Jarrett makes his grand finale.
As such, the week is filled with activities to celebrate Jarrett's more than 20-year career as a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. Jarrett's All-Star week begins at LMS on Tuesday for a special induction ceremony in which he, along with his legendary father, Ned Jarrett - a two-time NASCAR champion. The father and son duo will both be inducted into the Lowe's Motor Speedway Court of Legends. The Jarretts will each be enshrined into the track's version of the hall of fame, participating in a ceremony where they will leave their hand and foot imprints in concrete to be used as part of their display.
The following day, Jarrett has invited a number of his closest friends and competitors to a special retirement event that is both part and fundraiser. With the help from UPS, the night will feature a variety of activities from food and entertainment to silent and live auctions of a variety of sports and entertainment memorabilia. Performing during the evening is platinum-selling singer/songwriter Edwin McCain as well as the winner of NBC's Last Comic Standing, Jon Reep. Also performing during the evening is local cover band Charity Case. The proceeds earned from the event will go to support the Dale Jarrett Foundation, Victory Junction Gang Camp, Speedway Children's Charities and Grin Kids, an organization for chronically and terminally ill children.
Activities surrounding Jarrett's last race then switch to the speedway itself with track activity that begins on Friday afternoon with practice and qualifying for the Sprint All-Star Challenge. Jarrett will compete during the weekend in a special paint scheme that captures a variety of images of Jarrett's storied career. The fanfare of the event kicks into gear on Saturday night during driver introductions and pre-race ceremonies.
UPS and Sprint will each make special presentations to Jarrett during the pre-race ceremonies for the All-Star Open - a race for drivers and teams that have not already qualified for the All-Star Challenge. Once the special presentations are complete Jarrett will then go into preparations for the All-Star Challenge but not before he takes care of some outstanding business.
During driver introductions for the All-Star Challenge, Jarrett will finally step behind the wheel of the big, brown truck, taking a parade lap around the track in the UPS Race Truck, the vehicle made famous in the popular Race the Truck commercial campaign. Riding along with Jarrett will be one lucky fan that is selected from a random draw at LMS earlier in the week.
In the midst of all the weekly activities Jarrett will also participate in a variety of interviews with NASCAR trade television shows such as Speed Channel's popular Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain as well as local television outlets.
The week is preparing to be quite busy but it is one befitting a retiring champion.
