Country artist Rodney Atkins to perform Food City 500 pre-race concert
Today at 01:44 PM
One of East Tennessee‘s most successful country music artists, Rodney Atkins, will perform the pre-race concert on Sunday, April 13, before the green flag drops for the tradition-rich Food City 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at iconic Bristol Motor Speedway.
Born in Knoxville and raised in Cumberland Gap, Atkins will be a perfect fit for the Food City 500 as well as the natural tie-in to the city that‘s designated as the Birthplace of Country Music. One of the most recognized and powerful voices in Country Music, Atkins has eight top-five singles, more than 14 million records sold and over 4 billon on-demand global streams.
Atkins, who has charted at least one radio single on Country Radio in three different decades, will take the big stage in the infield of Bristol Motor Speedway at 12:45 p.m., and lead straight into BMS‘ popular driver introductions. The start of the NASCAR Cup Series race is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
"I can‘t wait to hit the Bristol Motor Speedway for the pre-race concert on April 13," Atkins said. "NASCAR fans know how to rock, and there ain‘t a better place to play than a track with this much history. Country music and Bristol go way back, so I know it‘s gonna be one heck of a show with a crowd that‘s ready to get loud. I‘m fired up for this one!"
Ticketed guests are able to get closer to the music by adding on a Pre-Race Infield Experience upgrade to move to the front of the stage. To purchase this upgrade, please click here.
Atkins has many chart-topping hits from several certified platinum albums, including, "If You‘re Going Through Hell," "Watching You," "These are my People," "Cleaning this Gun," and "Take a Back Road."
"We are so blessed to have one of our own, Rodney Atkins, to perform the pre-race concert for the Food City 500 in April," said Bristol Motor Speedway President and General Manager Jerry Caldwell. "Rodney is a lifelong proud East Tennessean who has done amazing things in the world of country music during the past three decades. You know all of his hit songs, so we hope you will join us to sing along as we welcome him to the Birthplace of Country Music to perform on Bristol Motor Speedway‘s big stage."
The highly-anticipated weekend opens with the WEATHER GUARD Truck Race, a 250-lap race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series under the lights on Friday, April 11 (7:30 p.m., FS1 and PRN Radio), and continues Saturday afternoon on April 12 with the SciAps 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race (5 p.m., The CW, PRN Radio). Bush‘s Beans Practice and Bush‘s Beans Qualifying will be held for all three series both Friday and Saturday. The weekend culminates Sunday afternoon with the running of the historic Food City 500 NASCAR Cup Series race (April 13, 3 p.m., FS1 and PRN Radio).
In addition to cheering on their favorite drivers on the track, Bristol Motor Speedway fans will definitely want to take advantage of so many activities to make a complete weekend of family fun. There will be great video entertainment provided by Colossus TV, the world’s largest center-hung video screen, premium VIP experiences, tailgating, on-site camping, concerts and other entertainment at the Food City Fan Zone Stage headlined by Trackside Live with Kenny Wallace and John Roberts, great food and beverages in the concession stands throughout the property, and so much more.
Single-day tickets for the Food City 500 weekend start as low as $69 for Sunday‘s Food City 500 and $46 for Saturday‘s SciAps 300 Xfinity Series race. To purchase tickets, please visit www.bristolmotorspeedway.com or call the BMS ticket sales center at (866) 415-4158. You can also purchase tickets at your neighborhood Food City store until Wednesday, April 4.
— Bristol Motor Speedway —
