Bristol Motor Speedway officials on Tuesday proudly announced Frank William “Billy” Yates-Matoy as the 2024 recipient of the BMS Neighborhood Hero award for Knoxville. Yates-Matoy lives a life of public service to the maximum wearing two amazing uniforms.
Yates-Matoy is a highly-decorated trooper in the Tennessee Highway Patrol, where for more than a decade he has worked to keep Tennessee’s highways safe. At the same time, he moonlights as a 25-year veteran of the Tennessee Army National Guard, a member of the 278th Armored Cavalry, where he is a decorated command sergeant major.
NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Chad Finchum, a Knoxville native, assisted with the presentation. Finchum is piloting the No. 14 car for SS Greenlight Racing in Friday night’s Food City 300. Members of both the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee National Guard were in attendance for the announcement.
The BMS Neighborhood Heroes selection is the most recent honor of distinction he has received. He has received other accolades for his service, including being named the DUI Trooper of the Year by the Governor’s Highway Safety Office in 2022, and he has also been honored nine times by MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) for his focus on preventing deaths due to DUIs. In his distinguished military service, he has earned a Bronze Star and a Medal of Valor for his actions in more than 200 missions overseas.
“Today we proudly get to honor a true American service member who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in two very important careers simultaneously, and is so very deserving to be named a Bristol Motor Speedway Neighborhood Hero,” said Jerry Caldwell, president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway. “No matter the uniform, Billy Yates-Matoy stands ready to assist and he performs his duties at a high level of excellence. When we created this very special program back in 2018, Billy Yates-Matoy is the exact profile of the person that we wanted to recognize and honor. We are extremely grateful for his service and we are thrilled to honor him on Saturday night during the Bass Pro Shops Night Race.”
Yates-Matoy will be officially recognized during pre-race ceremonies for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, a Round of 16 Playoff race in the NASCAR Cup Series, on Sept. 21. One of the crown jewels of the NASCAR season, the race will take place under the lights at iconic Bristol Motor Speedway starting at 7:30 p.m.
Yates-Matoy, 44, is a father of three and his wife Jill is also a fellow law enforcement officer. A native of Maryville, Tenn., he was a linebacker on his high school football team. He continues to study as he pursues a degree in Homeland Security with a focus in Anit-Terrorism from Purdue University. His hyphenated name is also unique, as he was adopted twice as a child and the Yates-Matoy name honors both adoption families. Away from work he enjoys hunting and watching and cheering on his children as they compete in various sports.
Established in 2018, the BMS Neighborhood Heroes program recognizes individuals, groups, and organizations who have gone above and beyond in their service, actions and performances to better their communities. Past honorees have included first responders, military personnel, educators, athletes, healthcare workers and other community leaders who have made a lasting impact on the state of Tennessee.
America’s Night Race weekend kicks off Thursday, Sept. 19 with Ben Rhodes and defending winner Corey Heim battling for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory in the UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics (8 p.m., FS1, MRN Radio). The rising stars in the ARCA Menards Series, including rising stars William Sawalich and Connor Zilisch and former IndyCar racer Marco Andretti, also will take on the challenging half-mile bullring in the Bush’s Beans 200 as part of a titan Thursday night doubleheader (5 p.m., FS1, MRN Radio).
On Friday, Sparks are sure to fly in the Food City 300, as NASCAR Xfinity Series favorites Justin Allgaier, Austin Hill, Cole Custer, Sheldon Creed and Riley Herbst will be fighting hard alongside Earnhardt Jr. in the Xfinity Series regular season finale (Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m., The CW, PRN Radio).
Finally, the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series will take to the track on Saturday for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race (Sept. 21, 7:30 p.m., USA Network, PRN Radio), you’ll get to see all of your favorite drivers like Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano and Tyler Reddick to name a few, racing hard in the Round of 16 to advance in the first elimination race of the Playoffs.
To purchase tickets, please visit www.bristolmotorspeedway.com or call the BMS Ticket Sales Center at (866) 415-4158. Fans can also purchase tickets at any Food City location through Sept. 13.
