Kingsport Mayor Dennis Phillips will present the key to the Model City to NASCAR driver Mark Martin today – officially proclaimed “Mark Martin Day” by the Kingsport Board of Mayor and Aldermen earlier this week. The key to the city presentation will come during a larger ceremony this afternoon as Food City honors Martin, driver of Roush Racing’s #6 Ford Fusion, sponsored by AAA. It marks the first time Kingsport has given a key to the city to a NASCAR driver, said Kingsport Community Relations Officer Dave Light. Key to the city presentations are not common in Kingsport, he said. Allison David, marketing events coordinator for Food City, said the practice has been a yearly event for Family Race Night events in Bristol each August. “Both Bristol, Tennessee, and Bristol, Virginia, have done it every year for whomever we honor,” David said. “We’re excited that Kingsport is participating and that Mayor Phillips himself is going to make the presentation.” Food City suggested Martin for the honor because he is retiring this year, David said. Light said the keys given out by Kingsport are ordered special made by the city, and they are basically 6-inch metal skeleton keys with the city seal on them. “It makes a nice keepsake and memento,” Light said. “They’re normally given to non-residents who through their activities and contributions – philanthropic or business or political or whatever – have benefited the city and its citizens. Mark Martin races very cleanly and represents very good principles of good sportsmanship and good citizenship. He is well-liked and can serve as a good role model for the young people of our region.”(Kingsport Times-News)(3-23-2006)
