With NASCAR fans in Bristol setting up their campers for this weekend's NASCAR Food City 500, about 75 people turned out for a unique memorial service for Funny Car legend Shirl Greer at Bristol Dragway.
 
Shirl Greer died March 12 after a brief illness.
   
Following a graveside service at the Mountain Home Veterans Affairs Cemetery in Johnson City, Greer's three sons Van, Rusty and Brian led a caravan to Thunder Valley, where they fired up the 1974 NHRA World Champion's vintage "Chain Lightning" Funny Car.

With NASCAR fans in Bristol setting up their campers for this weekend's NASCAR Food City 500, about 75 people turned out for a unique memorial service for Funny Car legend Shirl Greer at Bristol Dragway.
 
Shirl Greer died March 12 after a brief illness.
   
Following a graveside service at the Mountain Home Veterans Affairs Cemetery in Johnson City, Greer's three sons Van, Rusty and Brian led a caravan to Thunder Valley, where they fired up the 1974 NHRA World Champion's vintage "Chain Lightning" Funny Car.
 
It was a poignant moment when each son walked over and rapped the throttle, with their father's helmet and old-style breather mask sitting in the car's seat.
 
Greer won multiple events at his home track and was the first driver down the old Bristol drag strip when it first opened in 1965.
 
"Thank you all for coming," Brian Greer told the family, friends and fellow racers. "This is how a Greer says goodbye. You're all part of the Greer family."