Few activities bring families and friends together like the thrill of racing and the sensation of hearing their favorite artists play music live. At this year’s Big Machine Music City Grand Prix presented by Gainbridge, attendees experienced it all: last-second passes to decide the race, incredible music, and the feel of adrenaline racing through their veins as marvels of engineering sprinted around the track 206 times. Below, we’ve written about the most unforgettable moments that made this weekend one for the history books.
Music:
Racing:
Next Year:
On Freedom Friday, Brantley Gilbert took the stage to play his new album “Tattoos” live for the first time. 118,000 people showed up, making it the largest album release party in the world. He played the full album, with Gary LeVox appearing for “God Isn’t Country”, a melodic masterpiece about times that have passed us by, and the small joys of life that we take for granted. Colt Ford joined Brantley for “Dirt Road Anthem”, taking the crowd back to an age of country music that many believe has passed us by.
Brantley also performed chart-topping hits like “Bottoms Up” and “One Hell of an Amen”, giving the crowd a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the evening before heading into the race weekend.
Since Rascal Flatts stopped touring for good in October of 2021, the opportunity to hear their greatest hits like “What Hurts the Most” and “Life is a Highway” went away with them, except for rare appearances by lead singer Gary LeVox. At this year’s grand prix, he serenaded the fans with the greatest hits of Rascal Flatts making for an unforgettable concert experience. As fans who grew up watching racing movies like “Cars” made their way to the Grand Prix with their own children, it created a particularly nostalgic moment that will not soon be forgotten.
On Sunday morning before the race kicked off, the American Idol finalist put the crowd in the right mood for the big race. He sang memorable hits like “Home” and gave an up close and personal concert experience to those lucky enough to see the show. Immediately following the performance, fans were greeted by Grand Marshall Diplo for driver introductions before heading to the stands to watch not one, but two American flags fly through the sky during our Nation’s anthem.
Many fans were initially skeptical of moving the race out of downtown but were quickly wowed at seeing some of the fastest cars in the world stacked in lines of three move at 200 mph just inches away from each other around the oval track. The Nashville Superspeedway’s grandstand allowed the entire track to be in full view, so each of the race’s most exciting moments were seen – not on a screen – but in person.
There were 653 on-track passes during the race this year, a feat only made possible by the oval track at the Nashville Superspeedway. For reference, through 2022, there were only 785 on-track passes in the entirety of Formula One’s 22 races, or an average of 35.68 overtakes per race. The NTT Indycar Series gives fans more speed, more passes, and more action. We are true believers in racing in its purest form – where the race is decided by the drivers on the track – not just engineers in the racing centers.
Leading into this race, fans were ready to see who would take home the title: Alex Palou or Will Power. After an early bow out from Will Power due to an issue with his lap belt, crowds wondered whether the race could live up to the hype surrounding it. They were not wondering for long, as throughout the thunderous 206 laps, they experienced 653 takeovers in the race, with each driver fighting hard to end the season with a win.
Colton Herta made a pass in the third turn in the last moments of the race to win his first oval race, and more importantly, his hometown race. Colton’s home track is the Nashville Superspeedway, making it an especially emotional win. The energy in the crowd as the smell of rubber filled the air was palpable, and the roar when Colton’s two fists were lifted into the air was deafening.
Riley Green closed out the weekend with an intimate concert mere feet from the track where he serenaded the audience with hits such as “I Wish Grandpa’s Never Died” and “There Was This Girl”. Being in Nashville, the iconic line from “Hell of a Way to Go” where Riley sings “Watchin’ Alabama whoop up on Tennessee” was quick to draw boos from the crowd. Those boos were quickly replaced with cheers as he ended the show with “Dixieland Delight” by Alabama, a song which (everyone knows) is about Tenessee.
For most people in the crowd, the race doesn’t simply represent a day out, and concerts by artists like Riley Green aren’t just an excuse to listen to music. The racing and the music are a part of who they are. The cars speeding past sparks a mirage, sending them back to the living room on Sunday afternoon watching the big race with their loved ones. The music floods memories from the past of friends, family, and racing.
There is a burning nostalgia for the Indycar of old when drivers like Al Unser Jr. and Mario Andretti graced the track with their unforgettable racing. What we witnessed on Sunday was a return to that and a glimpse into the future of the sport. The emotions were high, family bonds were strong, and the smiles were radiant. The future of racing is bright, and the NTT Indycar Series is leading the way.
This year’s race was bigger than ever, but won’t touch the excitement being planned for next year’s race and music festival. Next year, the race will take place on Labor Day weekend, and festivities will be off the charts.
For a limited time, renew your pass for next year for as low as $34.00. Click here to learn more.
Sources:
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