The rain did not dampen Lindsay Bowman’s spirits.  As she looked at the schedule for the day and saw her name in print, she knew it wasn’t a dream.  She was on cloud nine as she sat in the Martinsville Speedway Suite high above the track watching as the rain delayed the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race on Saturday, October 24, 2009. 

Lindsay has sung the National Anthem at numerous events, to include Virginia International Raceway, South Boston Speedway, Langley Speedway, and the Danville Braves.  But her dream has been to sing at a NASCAR event and when she learned of a competition to do just that, she sent in an audition tape to WSET TV in Lynchburg.  The winner of the contest would sing the National Anthem at the Kroger 200 in Martinsville.

“Kroger Idle” was sponsored by Kroger, and WSET TV.

Lindsay was notified that she was one of six finalists selected and she was to appear weekly on “Living in the Heart of Virginia” and perform through a series of elimination while viewers voted for their favorite.  From six, she advanced to three, and then to two, and on a taping on October 21^st, she learned she had won.  It was hard keeping the news because it could not be officially revealed until the airing of “Living in the Heart of Virginia” on Friday, October 23^rd, which gave her one day to notify family and friends through emails, Facebook and many phone calls.

Lindsay’s prize earned her four tickets to the race, parking pass, a $250 gift certificate to Kroger, and the royal treatment in the Martinsville Speedway suite.  The race was to start at 1:00 p.m., but the heavy downpour lasted all morning and into the early afternoon.  Lindsay, along with her parents, Ken and Brenda Bowman, and fiancé Travis Poteat, patiently waited while enjoying barbeque, hot dogs, and meeting Clay Campbell and his staff.

At 2:00, the rain stopped and everything started jumping. It didn’t take long for the equipment to dry the track and the action began at 2:45.  Lindsay was whisked down to the track, the drivers were introduced, and her dream was realized.  She sang the National Anthem, not only before thousands of NASCAR fans in the stands, but before a national audience on SPEED TV.  The day was capped off by having local driver, Timothy Peters, win the truck race.  Lindsay felt honored to share this day with both Timothy and Peyton Sellers, two local race drivers.