In response to the devastating flooding caused by Hurricane Helene, Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) has been designated as the Northeast Tennessee Disaster Relief Center. This initiative, in coordination with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), will position BMS as a critical hub for recovery efforts across the affected counties in the region.
BMS will play a crucial role as a major donation and collection site, as well as providing a central workspace for logistics and search and rescue teams. Additionally, the speedway will serve as the base for the regional disaster relief hotline, which will become active on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 8 a.m. Those in need of assistance can call the hotline at 423-830-2696 for support.
The donation center at BMS will also open on Thursday at 8 a.m. (ET), operating daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The primary collection and distribution site will be located at the BMS South Building, accessible via Entrance 2 off Volunteer Parkway. Public donations of bottled water, non-perishable food, baby supplies, and personal hygiene products are highly encouraged. An updated list of additional donation centers can be found on the TEMA website.
Jerry Caldwell, president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway, expressed solidarity with the community: “Our communities, friends, and loved ones are hurting, and we stand ready to assist in any way that we possibly can. We are proud to be a part of this relief and recovery effort and to utilize our facility as a resource and distribution center.”
In addition to its role as a donation site, several other areas of the BMS complex will be involved in recovery efforts. The BMS Hospitality Village, Medallion Campground, and BMS Helipad will be used for housing approved search and rescue units and facilitating operations.
