• Track build begins Sunday on Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge, grandstand construction already underway.
• Legendary Dee Jay Silver added to music lineup on Sunday, Aug. 7, prior to Grand Ole Prix.
• FanFest, Pit Stop Challenge return to kick off race week activities on Thursday, Aug. 4.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 7, 2022) – The second annual Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, set for Aug. 5-7, will be 30 days out today from the marquee NTT INDYCAR SERIES race day as the race circuit begins taking shape in downtown Nashville.

The build of the 2.17-mile temporary street circuit, which includes the Nissan Stadium campus and Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge as focal points, will be part of the various activities going on in preparation for the green flag Sunday, Aug. 7, for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES race that begins at 2 p.m. CT (TV: NBC, Radio: SiriusXM Radio, INDYCAR Radio Network, ESPN Radio-Nashville, 102.5 The Game).

Here’s what to keep an eye out for as the three-day festival of racing and music approaches:

BUILDING BLOCKS

The track build for the 11-turn, 2.17-mile layout is a 25-day project that will get underway Sunday at 8 p.m. CT on Korean War Veterans Memorial Blvd. and bridge.

The build will include temporary street closures during that period, beginning with the bridge from S. 2^nd to 1^st Ave. Sunday through Wednesday. The crews will be working from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. for the majority of the build to help alleviate traffic disruptions.

During the full build, the crews will install more than 2,000 barriers and fence panels in 12-foot sections along the course. Grandstand construction already is underway with grandstand sections No. 4, 5, 11 and 12 located on South 2^nd Street being erected.

The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix is the last of the five temporary street circuits on the 17-race NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule.

SILVER STAR

Legendary Dee Jay Silver has been added to an already stellar musical lineup for the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. Silver will be featured Sunday, Aug. 7, beginning at 5 p.m. on the ZYN Main Stage leading into the Grand Ole Prix performance starring Brantley Gilbert, Carly Pearce, Midland and Callista Clark.

As the first DJ ever signed to a major Nashville Record Label, RCA Nashville, Silver has been a top touring DJ/remixer/producer for the past 15 years, having played in premier venues in virtually every major market in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. The ground-breaking, open-format DJ/performer has thrilled millions with his unique ability to blend all types of music from hip hop and rock to house and country for crowds of all sizes as well as on mash-ups and remixes.

Silver has been traveling the world playing every kind of event and venue from the largest nightclubs, high-profile celebrity parties and exclusive private events to massive sporting events, award shows, major music festivals and arena tours and all that’s in between.

He has shared the stage with some of biggest artists in the world, including touring extensively with Jason Aldean for a decade, Chris Young, Kane Brown, Randy Houser, Florida Georgia Line, Jake Owen, Brad Paisley, Luke Bryan, Rascal Flatts, Eric Church, Cole Swindell, Tyler Farr, Thomas Rhett, Luke Combs, and many more.

When not on tour or at one of his many special appearances, the current Nashville resident also is hosting residencies in several major cities, including Zouk inside Resorts World in Las Vegas and Pool After Dark in Atlantic City.

TERRIFIC THURSDAY

The race week activities will once again kick off on Thursday, Aug. 4, with the FanFest and Pit Stop Challenge on Broadway. The free event features a pit stop competition among INDYCAR teams and prominent drivers, car displays from the various series competing in the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, sponsor displays, and much more between 1^st and 4^th streets. More details will be announced next week.

POINT OF ENTRY

The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix could see a robust entry list of 27 drivers for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES race. An addition to the full-time driver roster for this event will be Simona De Silvestro of Paretta Autosport.

The women-led organization spearheaded by Beth Paretta is running a limited three-race road/street schedule and the team’s final race will be the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. De Silvestro has competed at Road America (21^st)  and Mid-Ohio (18^th), respectively.

The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix is expected to have two female drivers in the field with the other being rookie Tatiana Calderon of AJ Foyt Racing.

TURNING ON THE LIGHTS

Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires is the new addition to this season’s Big Machine Music City Grand Prix on-track schedule. Indy Lights is the official development series of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and will offer a glimpse into some of INDYCAR’s future stars.

Past champions include INDYCAR SERIES champions Tony Kanaan, Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Paul Tracy and Cristiano da Matta. In 2021, 20 drivers in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES were Indy Lights graduates, including Colton Herta, Pato O’Ward and Rinus VeeKay. 

Linus Lundqvist of HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing is the current Indy Lights championship standings leader on the strength of a series-high four wins.

Indy Lights joins a line-up that includes the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, SRO GT America powered by AWS, Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli, Robby Gordon’s SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks and Vintage Indy.

VOICE OF CHOICE

Rick Benjamin, one of America’s most noted and decorated motorsports broadcasters, will be the official voice of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix as the lead Public Address announcer for the weekend’s activities.

With an esteemed career that has spanned three decades, Benjamin has covered nearly every discipline of motorsports, including being the lead broadcaster for television coverage of INDYCAR on ESPN, ABC, CBS and NBC; NASCAR Cup Series races on TBS, Speedvision and TNN; and the lead broadcaster for IMSA/American Le Mans Series racing on SPEED and NBC. He also served as the host of the ever-popular motorsports news shows, “Raceday” on TNN and “SPEED News” on the SPEED Channel.

In addition to his extensive television career, Benjamin spent more than 15 seasons as the lead announcer for network radio broadcasts of NASCAR events (MRN Radio) and NFL coverage (Carolina Panthers Radio Network), and seven seasons as the host of top-rated programming on SiriusXM Radio’s NASCAR Channel.

GREEN, GREEN, GREEN

Knauf Insulation, Inc., the Official Glass Recycling Partner of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, officially kicked off its sustainability initiative July 1 in Nashville’s entertainment districts.

Through Aug. 8, Knauf Insulation, a leading manufacturer of thermal and acoustical fiberglass insulation for residential, commercial, industrial, OEM and metal building applications, will collect glass from Big Machine Brewery & Distillery, Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk and Steakhouse, Luke’s 32 Bridge, Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar, and Losers Bar & Grill on Broadway as well as Winners Bar & Grill and Losers in Midtown.

The initiative also will extend on site for the three-day Big Machine Music City Grand Prix race weekend, which attracted more than 110,000 fans last year.

Recycled glass will be picked up from each location and delivered to Knauf’s local recycling partner, Strategic Materials, Inc., daily with the goal of collecting 150,000 glass bottles throughout the month.

COLLEGE OFFERS

The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix is offering a budget friendly ticket offer to all college students for any of the three days of the event. College students can purchase a single-day, general admission ticket for $30 with a maximum of two per event day per email address.

To be eligible, purchasers are required to have and use a college-issued email (.edu) for these ticket orders. The GA tickets provide admission to all daily on-track activities as well as that evening’s concert. College students can purchase today by clicking here.  

DAILY DOUBLE

Single-day tickets for all three days recently went on sale and begin as low as $39 for general admission and $49 for reserved grandstand for Wesley Mortgage Freedom Friday on Aug. 5.

Single-day tickets include admission to all on-track activities as well as that evening’s featured concert. The three-day ticket remains the best value with general admission starting at $129 and reserved grandstand at $209 and $219.

For those looking for more exclusive VIP options, there are several to choose from including the East Club. All tickets will be digital with scan in-and-out privileges to visit all Nashville has to offer. The venue grounds will be a cashless environment with the NFL clear bag policy in effect at entry. For ticket information, please visit https://musiccitygp.com/tickets.

About the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix:

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES will visit Nashville Aug. 5-7 for the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, Round 14 of the 17-race season. The three-day festival of racing and music also will include Indy Lights, GT America, Trans Am, Stadium SUPER Trucks and Vintage Indy. The musical entertainment is highlighted by nightly on-site concerts featuring prominent artists led by Tim McGraw on Saturday, Aug. 6, and Carly Pearce and Brantley Gilbert for the Grand Ole Prix show on Sunday, Aug. 7.  For ticket and event information, please visit www.musiccitygp.com.