If you don’t already have tickets for the event tonight, you may want to consider the deal offered here: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/cin/ticketing/racing_night.jsp

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What exactly HAPPENS at Reds Racing Night?  Well, a year ago (2012), NASCAR legend (as well as inaugural Hall of Fame member) and 7-time Cup Champion Richard Petty came to GABP and threw out a ceremonial first pitch in the ballpark.  Earlier this 2013 season, reigning (2012) NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski (@Keselowski) came to GABP just a couple of weeks ago to also throw out a ceremonial first pitch that evening.

(See the entire Reds / MLB Press Release here)

REDS PRESS RELEASE:

CINCINNATI (June 14, 2013) - Reds fans and racing enthusiasts should come to the ballpark on Monday, June 17 for an evening of excitement at the second annual Reds Racing Night presented by Kroger. 

NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick (@KevinHarvick) will throw a ceremonial first pitch and the Kroger Fan Zone will be packed with a collection of racing showcars, simulators and interactives.

Harvick is currently 5th in Sprint Cup Series with two wins this season, drives the #29 Budweiser NASCAR racecar for Richard Childress Racing and is scheduled to race in the Quaker State 400 at the Kentucky Speedway on Saturday, June 29.

Reds Racing Night schedule of events:

• 5:40 pm: Ballpark gates open and fans can experience the Kroger Fan Fest showcars, racing games and driving simulators in the Kroger Fan Zone.

• 7:00 pm: Kevin Harvick throws out ceremonial first pitch

• 7:10 pm: Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

• End of the 5th Inning: Kevin Harvick guest bartending at the Budwesier Bowtie Bar (open to the public)

Discount tickets for Reds Racing Night are available at reds.com/racing or at any Kroger Ticketmaster outlet.

Reds Racing Night tickets include a game ticket in the Field Box ($23), Mezzanine ($17) or View Level ($11) sections and a concession credit on your ticket barcode for a Kroger Meal Deal.

The Kroger Meal Deal for this homestand includes a hot dog, 16oz Coke product, bag of chili cheese flavored Wheat Thins and pack of Oreo cookies. Redeeming your concession credit is easy! Visit any concession stand where the Kroger Meal Deal Logo is displayed and simply scan your game ticket bar code at the register.

Additionally, fans that attend Reds Racing Night can use their Reds ticket stub to get $10 off any ticket for the June 29th Quaker State 400 race or Fan Zone pass. Please call the Kentucky Speedway for details: (859) 578-2300.

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Continue the conversation with me on Twitter @JDRentz

“It is a hard-fought battle,” Biffle said. “It wasn’t easy. “I kept working on this car and working on this car. The guys did a great job. The pit stops were flawless.”

Kevin Harvick finished second, inheriting the position with three laps to go when then-second-place driver Jimmie Johnson had a tire go down and made contact with the wall.

Martin Truex Jr. finished third, Kyle Busch was fourth, and Tony Stewart rounded out the top-five.

Johnson wasn’t the only Hendrick driver to have trouble while running up front. All four Hendrick cars had some kind of trouble. Jeff Gordon was part of the first caution of the race on lap five when he was unable to avoid a spinning Bobby Labonte.

The other two Hendrick drivers, Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt Jr., like Johnson, also had trouble while leading. Kahne was up front, having taken the lead from Earnhardt on lap 90, when Kahne made hard contact with the while after either a tire issue or a part failure.

Kahne’s problem handed the lead back over the Earnhardt, who pulled out to a four-second lead by lap 123. But a few laps later his engine failed, and Johnson moved into the lead.

After the caution for Earnhardt’s engine, Carl Edwards restarted first and Joey Logano second. Soon after the restart, Biffle took the second spot from Logano and then, several laps later, took the lead from Edwards.

Both Biffle and Edwards hit pit road under green around lap 164. The yellow flag waved a lap later, allowing those who didn’t pit under green to make their final stops of the race under caution. Biffle stayed on the lead lap after his green-flag stop and moved into the lead when drivers who pitted under caution headed down pit road.

“I was nervous I wasn’t going to be the leader, but I was excited when they told me I was the leader, still, and the 48 (Johnson) was in 10th. I knew he had his work cut out for him, and we were able to beat him that way.”

Edwards, though, wasn’t able to stay on the lead lap, and took the wave around to get back on the lead lap under the yellow. As a result, he wound up restarting outside the top-20. By the end of the race, though, Edwards was able to work his way back into the top-10 to finish eighth.

With Biffle leading, Harvick moved up to second on the restart. But with 10 laps to go, Harvick gave up second to Johnson. Johnson was gaining on Biffle in the closing laps before his tire issue. But with the tire and contact with the wall, Johnson fell back, and Harvick reclaimed second.

Matt Kenseth finished sixth, Clint Bowyer was seventh, Edwards eighth, Logano ninth, and Jeff Burton 10th.

– Photo courtesy of Getty Images for NASCAR

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