Motorsports Venues - Rachel Gilbert Named F.W. Webb 100 Grand Marshal

LOUDON, June 30, 2011: Rachel Gilbert of Laconia, N.H., is continuing her life in the fast lane at New Hampshire Motor Speedway by serving as Grand Marshal for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour F.W. Webb 100 on Saturday, July 16.

Gilbert made national headlines when she celebrated her centennial birthday at "The Magic Mile" in April by driving the track's Toyota Camry pace car around the 1.058 mile oval.

To conclude her 100th birthday celebration, this lifelong NASCAR fan will say the most famous words in motorsports, "Gentlemen start your engines" for the mighty Whelen Modified Tour 100-lap event.

"We are excited to have Rachel help us start the F.W. Webb 100," said Jeff Pope, president of the F.W. Webb Company. "The NASCAR Whelen Modified drivers will race a lap for every year of Rachel's 100-year long life. It's the ideal partnership."

Rachel Gilbert's life accelerated as early as 1960 when she followed her husband and "the good ole' boys" to Loudon, N.H.'s, Bryar Motorsports Park. Nearly two decades later, while Gilbert's family was vacationing in Florida, they attended the Daytona 500 where she saw stock car legends Richard Petty and Bobby Allison fight to the finish. From then on, she was hooked.

Gilbert and her family will attend the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 weekend as part of her birthday gift from the speedway.

Great seats are still available for the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 weekend which includes the NASCAR Nationwide Series New England 200, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East New England 125 and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour F.W. Webb 100. Purchase them now by calling the NHMS ticket hotline at (603) 783-4931