Mar 16, 2014; Bristol, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones and Virginia Tech Hokies head coach Frank Beamer serve as co-grand marshals before the NASCAR Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Food City CEO Steve Smith is on the left. Tennessee and Virginia will play a football game at the speedway on September 10, 2016. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Mother nature decided to push the start time back a bit, but it didn’t stop Butch Jones — along with Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer — from giving the start command to 43 NASCAR drivers on Sunday afternoon.
This was the second time that Butch Jones served as the Grand Marshal at Bristol. He was also the Grand Marshal at the spring Bristol race last year.
Jones, whose Vols will face Beamer’s Hokies on September 10, 2016, mingled with such NASCAR stars as Dale Earnhardt JR and Jimmie Johnson, as well as up-and-comers like Austin Dillon.
Good luck from @UTCoachJones to @DaleJr before todays' #FoodCity500 - pic.twitter.com/6ahSpBC0j7
— Vol Photos (@Vol_Photos) March 16, 2014
Here’s @UTCoachJones wishing @JimmieJohnson good luck before #FoodCity500 at @BMSupdates @NASCAR pic.twitter.com/dTNkmMlFhz
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) March 16, 2014
Click next to check out the photos from Butch Jones’ day at Bristol!