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Nascar and Racing

LMS Adds 'Flair' to All-Star Lineup

Posted Mar 14, 2009 12:55PM By Geoffrey Miller (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Kevin Harvick, Lowes Motor Speedway, Sprint Cup

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Chalk this one up as a homage to those nitwit NASCAR conspiracy theorists who think every race has a predetermined outcome, that Dale Earnhardt Jr. always gets the biggest restrictor plate and that every good racing story is a carefully scripted work of Daytona Beach's France & Family.

Yep, Lowe's Motor Speedway announced Friday that Hall of Fame wrestler Ric Flair will not only be on hand for the Sprint All-Star Race pre-race activities, but he'll serve as "honorary race director".

Somebody cue the black helicopters.

The track held a press conference Friday to introduce both Flair's at-track position (for first-time race fans, he doesn't actually do anything important involving the race, he's just more of a "Hey, guess who was at the race track this week?" type of guy) and that he'll be taking part in some upcoming advertisements for the race.

Of course, some (i.e. the people I described with my, uh, bitter opening) will find terrific irony in the fact that the "Nature Boy" of America's top scripted sports entertainment venue will be on hand for a sport that has seen its share of rigging accusations. For reference, just remember the cronies yelping after Dale Earnhardt Jr. won in dominant fashion at Daytona in July of 2001 -- the first race at the track after his father's death.

Snapshots of WWE Stars

    Get ready for a figure four leg lock, NASCAR fans. Lowe's Motor Speedway has announced that wrestling legend Ric Flair will serve as the honorary race director at the Sprint All-Star Race in May. Click through to see photos of other World Wrestling Entertainment stars.

    Jason Merritt, FilmMagic

    WWE Superstars, MVP, and Maria attend an in store autograph signing at Kmart storE 4135 in Augusta, Ga., Saturday, March 7, 2009. (Brett FlashnickAP Images for KMart)

    AP IMAGES FOR KMART

    WWE Superstars, MVP, and Maria attend an in store autograph signing at Kmart stor 4135 in Augusta, Ga., Saturday, March 7, 2009. (Brett Flashnick/AP Images for KMart)

    AP IMAGES FOR KMART)

    LOS ANGELES - FEBRUARY 12: WWE Wrestler and actor John Cena poses with the Los Angeles Police Department medal of valor winners before a game between the Calgary Flames and the Los Angeles Kings on February 12, 2009 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Wendi Kaminski/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** John Cena

    NHLI via Getty Images

    WWE wrestler John Cena and TV personality Bindi Irwin arrive at the Nickelodeon Australian Kids

    Serge Thomann/WireImage.com

    WWE wrestler John Cena arrives at the Nickelodeon Australian Kids

    Serge Thomann/WireImage.com

    MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 11: WWE wrestler John Cena poses with the award for Fave Sports Star backstage at the Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards 2008 at the Hisense Arena on October 11, 2008 in Melbourne, Australia. This year's event, now in its sixth year, was held in Melbourne for the first time in its history. (Photo by Kristian Dowling/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** John Cena

    Getty Images

    MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 11: WWE wrestler John Cena poses with the award for Fave Sports Star backstage at the Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards 2008 at the Hisense Arena on October 11, 2008 in Melbourne, Australia. This year's event, now in its sixth year, was held in Melbourne for the first time in its history. (Photo by Kristian Dowling/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** John Cena

    Getty Images

    MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 11: WWE wrestler John Cena poses with the award for Fave Sports Star backstage at the Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards 2008 at the Hisense Arena on October 11, 2008 in Melbourne, Australia. This year's event, now in its sixth year, was held in Melbourne for the first time in its history. (Photo by Kristian Dowling/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** John Cena

    Getty Images

    MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 11: WWE wrestler John Cena poses with the award for Fave Sports Star backstage at the Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards 2008 at the Hisense Arena on October 11, 2008 in Melbourne, Australia. This year's event, now in its sixth year, was held in Melbourne for the first time in its history. (Photo by Kristian Dowling/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** John Cena

    Getty Images


After all, (start sarcasm) it's quite easy to coordinate 43 cars, drivers and pit crews and know that a tire, radiator or any $4 part will stay intact for the length of a Sprint Cup race, right? (end sarcasm)

Back on the All-Star Race side of things, you've got to admit that LMS is tossing in some pretty amusing marketing ploys thanks to Flair's appearance. In the press release from the speedway, track president Marcus Smith even said "I have to admit, none have been stylin' and profilin' like the 'Nature Boy' will be at the 25th NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race."

The track also had a poster drawn up for the race in typical wrestling style, but with NASCAR drivers as the guys to fit the bill. Included were Dale "The People's Champ" Earnhardt Jr., Kurt "Vegas Violator" Busch and "Marvelous" Mark Martin among other drivers with nicknames you've already heard. The track even pitted Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards in a mock matchup (remember October?) and stated that Kyle "Rowdy" Busch was against "just about everybody".

You can check out a photo of the poster from the track's Web site down below, but I think the track is missing out on a cool "bobblehead night"-style of promotion by giving the poster -- with the simulated wrestling body of Tony Stewart and all -- to the first 20,000 people through the track's gates for the All-Star Race.

Or better yet, just ship one out to me.

Go ahead, take a look at the poster -- I promise you'll laugh -- and if you're in the Charlotte region for the race in May, make your way over. It should be a good time for all, even with those darned black helicopters roving the place.

Tags: Lowes+Motor+Speedway, LowesMotorSpeedway, Sprint+All+Star+Race, Sprint+Cup, SprintAllStarRace, SprintCup

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