Edwardsburg couple headed to NASCAR banquet

Published 9:48 am Tuesday, November 24, 2009

BRISTOL, Tenn.  –  Jim and Linda Teske have been coming to races at Bristol Motor Speedway for years. Now, the couple is going to Las Vegas because of it.

Natives of Edwardsburg and season ticket holders for more than a decade at BMS, the Teskes are winners of a free trip to Las Vegas and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Awards courtesy of Bristol Motor Speedway.

“We can’t believe it,” Jim said. “We’ve been coming to Bristol two times a year since 1998. In August, we get there a week or so early and get our (camping) spot and then ride around and see the sights. We put a lot of miles on the car.”

They put a lot of miles on the RV too. It’s more than 1,200 miles round trip from their hometown in southwest Michigan to the hills of Northeast Tennessee;a trip they say is worth it.

In addition to air fare to Las Vegas, the Teskes will receive three night’s lodging at Wynn Las Vegas and $1,066 spending money.

That’s $533 each – in honor of the world famous .533-mile Bristol Motor Speedway. And they’re not just going to the ceremony; they are sitting with Byrd to enjoy the night’s festivities as NASCAR crowns its Sprint Cup Champion.

Second prize goes to Gene Bailey of Knoxville, Tenn., who has been coming to Bristol for about 20 years. Bailey will receive two of his tickets for all 2010 races free.