Kristen Alpern has been selected from nearly 25,000 entries as the winner of the WIX Filters “Fast Cars and Country Stars” sweepstakes, winning a trip for two to the capital of country music, Nashville, TN, and Bristol Motor Speedway for the Aug. 25 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race.

Alpern, a self-described “up-and-coming NASCAR fan,” said she entered the contest at WIX Filters’ Facebook page at the urging of her best friend since childhood, Jamie Schuttler, who will join her for the experience.

 “Our trip will be the dream of a lifetime for us both,” said Alpern, a 34-year-old native of Chicago and mother of four. “Jamie and I are sports fanatics and have attended football, baseball, basketball and hockey games together for more than 20 years, but this will be our first NASCAR race.”

WIX Filters, a member of the Affinia Group family of brands, through a partnership with the Performance Racing Network, announced the unique promotion last spring at www.facebook.com/wixfilters and www.goprn.com.  The contest ended Dec. 31, 2011.

Alpern will receive airfare and deluxe hotel accommodations for two for two nights in Nashville, a tour of the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame and a dinner show on the General Jackson Showboat.  She will then be flown to Bristol, where she will stay in a luxury RV at Bristol Motor Speedway and will receive two premium tickets to the Irwin Tools Night Race, cold garage and pit passes, and $5,000 cash.

“WIX Filters and the Performance Racing Network have a rich history of developing unique sweepstakes that connect fans of America’s fastest-growing sport with an at-track experience like no other,” said Mike Harvey, brand manager for WIX Filters.  “There is perhaps no better way to experience your first NASCAR race than by the near-unlimited access Kristen will have at Bristol Motor Speedway.”