BYRON, MI – Rain or shine, residents of the small village of Byron will bid farewell to their NASCAR driver on Sunday, August 18, before his big race.

Byron, population 545, is the hometown of NASCAR driver Erik Jones. While he spends most of the year in North Carolina – where his racing team is based – Jones spends the week before his race at Michigan International Speedway in his hometown each year.

For the third year in a row, fans will line the streets to wish him luck on Sunday morning as he heads to the race track.

“We have a lady in town who set it up and running a few years ago,” Jones said. “It’s really great.”

The Burns Township Fire Department will block off South Saginaw Street in town, and Jones will drive through and get out to greet fans. This year’s event will begin around 7:30 a.m. Fans can park at the post office, 203 S. Saginaw St. in Byron — which is about 25 miles southwest of Flint.

A special treat this year: Jones’ team will be handing out gift bags filled with items from Dollar Tree/Family Dollar, as it is their sponsor for the FireKeepers Casino 400.

Last year’s send-off was unique because Jones had been married in Michigan just days before. Fans’ signs were a mix of “congratulations” and “good luck,” while local residents stood in the rain to greet Jones.

“It makes you feel good and gives you that extra incentive to go out there and actually do something,” Jones said.

Jones (No. 43 Toyota) is one of three Michigan drivers in Sunday’s Cup Series field, along with Brad Keselowski (No. 6 Ford) of Rochester Hills and Portage rookie Carson Hocevar (No. 77 Chevrolet), all seeking to become the first Michigan-born driver to win a Cup race at MIS.

The send-off isn’t the only part of MIS race day that’s special for Jones. There’s also the “Erik Jones Experience,” an add-on for ticket buyers. It costs $15 to add to an existing ticket and allows people a Sunday morning party with a DJ, games and a visit from Jones and his team owner Richard Petty – a seven-time NASCAR champion.

For every ticket sold, $5 goes to the Erik Jones Foundation.

The tailgate party is expected to be attended by a mix of Jones’ friends and family, as well as some fans from Byron and strangers from elsewhere who want to meet Jones.

“It’s fun to see the familiar faces and also have a chance to meet some people,” Jones said.

The FireKeepers Casino 400 takes place on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. and will be televised on the USA Network.