18-year-old Sanford Native Will Sing National Anthem Ahead of Exhilarating Michelin GT Challenge
Danville, Virginia – Aug. 3, 2018 – VIRginia International Raceway is thrilled to announce Britton Buchanan, who was the runner-up on the 14th season of NBC’s hit singing competition show, “The Voice,” will deliver the National Anthem at the Michelin GT Challenge Sunday, Aug. 19. The event is a part of the premier North American sports car racing series, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, that’s speeding into VIR’s 3.27-mile course for an action-packed weekend Aug. 17-19.
Britton Buchanan made it to the finals of “The Voice” on pop star Alicia Keys’ team. He captured hearts across America with his kind-hearted personality, love for Bruce Springsteen and the original song that he debuted on “The Voice” called “Where You Come From.” He is now pursuing a solo music career and is currently working on recording his first album.
“I am honored to perform the National Anthem ahead of the Michelin GT Challenge at VIR,” said Britton Buchanan, “The Voice” runner-up. “The event draws crowds from across the country and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to perform for excited race enthusiasts before the action heats up on the track. It is sure to be an unforgettable event full of top-notch racing and talent.”
VIR is the only Mid-Atlantic track to the host the renowned IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2018. The action kicks off Friday, Aug. 17 with qualifying and support series races and continues Saturday with the Biscuitville Grand Prix IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, and all culminates with the thrilling Michelin GT Challenge Sunday. The nearly three-hour race will have drivers reaching top speeds of 190 miles per hour around VIR’s 17 turns and drastic elevation changes.
Advanced tickets for the Michelin GT Challenge race weekend are $45 for Friday-only, $50 for Saturday-only, $55 for Sunday-only, $65 for a two-day Saturday and Sunday ticket, and $75 for a three-day ticket. All tickets will be an additional $10 if purchased at the gate. Children 16 and under are admitted free of charge with a paying adult and parking is also free. Active military are admitted free of charge and veterans receive a 50 percent discount with valid military ID. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.virnow.com or call (434) 822-TIKS.
About VIRginia International Raceway
VIRginia International Raceway is one of America’s premier road courses, offering professional and amateur racing for modern and vintage classes while providing contemporary resort amenities. A prominent test facility for the automotive industry, VIR has the distinction of being named one of the top six courses in North America by Car and Driver Magazine, and southern roots and hospitality make it one of the friendliest. Conveniently located at the Virginia/North Carolina border, VIR is just a short two-hour trip from Richmond and about an hour and 15 minutes from both the Piedmont-Triad and Raleigh-Durham International Airports.
VIR offers amenities such as lodging, dining, a spa, an exclusive driver’s club, karting, off-road racing, shooting sports, skid pad and more. VIR’s hospitality features also make the property an unparalleled venue for corporate retreats, team building, special events and other group experiences. For more information, visit www.VIRnow.com, Facebook or Twitter.
About IMSA
The International Motor Sports Association, LLC (IMSA) was originally founded in 1969 and owns a long and rich history in sports car racing. Today, IMSA is the sanctioning body of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the premier sports car racing series in North America. IMSA also sanctions the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge and the IMSA Prototype Challenge Presented by Mazda, as well as four one-make series: Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama; Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama; Ferrari Challenge North America; and Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America. IMSA – a company within the NASCAR family – is the exclusive strategic partner in North America with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) which operates the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The partnership enables selected IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competitors to earn automatic entries into the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. For more information, visit www.IMSA.com, www.twitter.com/IMSA or www.facebook.com/IMSA.
About Michelin North America
Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, Earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles, and check in www.motocentral.co.uk/motorcycle-boots.html for the latest accessories and products for your riding skills . The company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelinman.com) employs more than 22,650 and operates 20 major manufacturing plants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
About Biscuitville FRESH SOUTHERN®
Headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, Biscuitville FRESH SOUTHERN® is a family-owned company that offers guests an authentic Southern-inspired dining experience. Known for making food the old-fashioned way, Biscuitville uses fresh, authentic ingredients, sourced locally whenever possible, and is known for its genuine Southern hospitality. The company was founded in 1966 when owner Maurice Jennings opened two pizza restaurants in Burlington. After several years, the company added signature, made-from-scratch biscuits to its menu that were so well received, business boomed and the Biscuitville brand evolved. In 2014, the company expanded its lunch menu to include fresh-made sandwiches and sides. Today, Biscuitville employs over 900 people and operates 55 restaurants in North Carolina and Virginia. Biscuitville serves breakfast all day from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and offers a lunch menu from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at all Triad locations. For more information, visit www.biscuitville.com.