With frozen T-shirts, huge grand prizes and even a jet-powered outhouse, Bristol Dragway officials have "suped-up" promotions and contests at Sunoco Thunder Valley Shootouts races to make the events even more exciting, and a little wacky, for those in attendance.

Officials also have added a new racing class, the Charter Communications Bristol Bandits, to the line-up of events in Thunder Valley.

Several new promotions offer fans the opportunity to compete for prizes ranging from free food to cold, hard cash. One lucky fan even will take home the same award the race winners receive.

For those fans who believe they have seen everything, a trip to Ferguson Enterprises Contractor Night on Sept. 15 may be in order. Spectators will see two of the wildest exhibition vehicles on the planet, a jet-powered barstool and jet-powered outhouse, make passes down the famed quarter-mile. These two vehicles will prove that anything can race as long as it has wheels and a jet engine.

Racing eliminations begin at 1 p.m. and will continue until "Showtime" at 5 p.m. At "Showtime," the Bristol Bandits will make an electrifying entrance sure to bring the crowd to its feet. The Bristol Bandits will compete using a heads-up format, with the first driver to the line declared the winner. The winning driver will take home $500 and a Mac Tools toolbox valued at over $7,000. The excitement carries over to the grandstand, as one person in attendance will win a matching Mac Tools toolbox. To be eligible, spectators must register during the day. Names will be drawn and one person will be paired with each Bristol Bandits driver. The fan matched with the winning driver will receive the toolbox. Eliminations will continue for all divisions during "Showtime."

Throughout the evening, fans may compete for prizes in a variety of games, including the frozen T-shirt contest. The object sounds simple enough, put on a T-shirt faster than the competition. When that T-shirt is frozen solid, it makes the task a little more difficult, adding to the excitement.

Another new promotion during the Showtime portion of the evening will give fans the chance to win up to $100. One person in the stands will be asked to come to the starting line and place their foot in the staging beam. When the light turns green on the Christmas tree, they must remove their foot from the beam. Their reaction time will flash on the scoreboard. If the reaction time is quicker than a pre-determined time, they will win $20. The reaction times must get progressively better to earn more money. The contestants may quit at any time and will risk losing it all on each attempt.

All of these off the wall promotions and many others can be seen during the Sunoco Thunder Valley Shootouts races held Sept. 15 and Oct. 6.

For more information about the Sunoco Thunder Valley Shootouts or Bristol Dragway, please call 423.764.DRAG.