The 3rd Annual CARS Tour “Throwback 276 presented by Baker Distributing” at Hickory Motor Speedway on August 3rd will see six different “throwback” celebrities of the sport honored at the series’ biggest event of the season. This year’s group is an excellent mix of short track heritage, NASCAR Cup success, and local flare.
Fans will get the opportunity to meet with these six legendary figures in the world of stock car auto racing as part of the on-track Fan Fest autograph session beginning 6pm. In addition, both Super Late Models and Late Model Stock divisions, will be on hand to do the same. Once the autograph session is complete, fans will be treated to stories from the past with the “Lookback with the Legends” sessions as the group reflects on the sport’s history with announcer Tony Stevens.
-Ernie Irvan: 313 NASCAR Cup starts with 15 series wins, 57 Xfinity starts with 3 series wins. 1983 Winston Cup Champion. 1991 Daytona 500 winner. Named one of NASCAR’s top 50 best drivers of all time. Irvan has made 4 starts at Hickory Motor Speedway all coming in the Busch Series events in 1991-1993.
-Brett Bodine: 480 NASCAR Cup starts with 1 (N. Wilkesboro) series win, 77 Xfinity starts with 5 series wins. Finished 2nd in 1986 Busch Series standings. 1987 Busch Series most popular driver. Drove for NASCAR legendary owners Bud Moore, Rick Hendrick, Junior Johnson, and championship drag racer Kenny Bernstein. Bodine has made 7 starts at Hickory Motor Speedway all coming in the Busch Series events in 1985-1987. Bodine has scored 2 poles at Hickory and never finish worse than ninth at the .363 mile track.
-Dave Marcis: 883 NASCAR Cup starts with 5 series wins puts Marcis 4th on the all-time list of most NASCAR Cup starts. Marcis’ wins came at tracks around the region like Richmond, Martinsville, Talladega, and Atlanta. Marcis’ made 8 starts at Hickory from 1969-1973 over his career in the Cup, Grand National, and Grand National East divisions. The Wisconsin native, now living in Asheville, NC is famous for his Goodyear wing hat and racing in his wingtip shoes.
-Dennis Setzer: 8 NASCAR Cup starts, 159 Xfinity starts with 2 series wins, 314 NASCAR Trucks starts with 18 series wins. 7th most wins in NASCAR Truck Series history. Won one of his two Xfinity series race at Hickory in 1994. Two time (1983, 1993) Hickory Motor Speedway track champion. 2007 Martinsville 300 Late Model Stock race winner. Multiple Late Model Stock wins at various tracks across the region.
-Billy Hess: Originally from Miami, Florida; Hess was the 1980 Limited Sportsman track champion at New Asheville Speedway as a driver. 7-time Hooters Pro Cup Series championship chassis builder. Estimated 300 plus Hooters Pro Cup cars were built by Hess, with drivers like Clay Rogers, Bobby Gill, Trevor Bayne, and Benny Gordon behind the wheel of them.
-Tommy Houston: 13 NASCAR Cup starts, 417 Xfinity Starts with 24 series wins. 8 of Houston’s career Xfinity wins came at Hickory Motor Speedway. Two time (1975, 1976) Hickory Motor Speedway track champion. Houston is a native of Hickory, North Carolina.
Tickets for the Throwback 276 presented by Baker Distributing are now on sale at www.carsracingtour.com. Tickets for the biggest event of the year are $20 in advance or $25 the day of the event. The Throwback 276 Mega Pack which includes: FREE weekend pit pass, general admission ticket, Throwback 276 hat, Throwback 276 shirt, and Throwback 276 spotters guide paint scheme poster is just $76 in advance only and limited to just the first 76 fans who purchase the package.
