NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Pre-Race Festivities to Feature Brad Paisley Music Video Premiere, Dierks Bentley Concert and World Flashlight Record
CONCORD, N.C. (May 19, 2011) – During the pre-race show for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 21, fans at Charlotte Motor Speedway will participate in a world record and watch country music star Brad Paisley’s premiere of his newest music video on the world’s largest high-definition TV, just moments after it debuts. Paisley will be at the speedway for the first public screening of the video for his newest single, “Old Alabama.” The video features NASCAR legends Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Gordon and Rick Hendrick and iconic super group Alabama. The pre-race festivities will also feature a concert by Capitol Records recording artist Dierks Bentley and the unveiling of the largest HDTV in the world. Plus fans will “Light Up the Night” with Energizer and set the world record for shining the most flashlights in a sporting arena. Gates will open at 2:00 p.m.
An approximate timeline of pre-race events follows:
3:15 p.m. – 4:25 p.m. Country music star Dierks Bentley performs a 70-minute pre-race concert in the infield between Turns 1 and 2. The Dierks Bentley All-Star Concert presented by Budweiser is free to all fans with a ticket to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. In addition to his hits “What Was I Thinkin” and “Come a Little Closer,” Bentley will perform “Sideways,” which race fans will recognize as the theme song for NASCAR’s 2011 coverage on FOX.
6:20 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. Some of the biggest names in NASCAR compete in the Pennzoil Ultra Victory Challenge, a tire-smoking competition to find which NASCAR star has the best burnout in the sport. Defending champion Joey Logano will be joined this year by 2010 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600 winner Kurt Busch, his brother Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne, Brad Keselowski and NASCAR Sprint Cup’s most recent first-time winner Regan Smith. Fans will have a more integral role in this year’s competition, as they will be able to text their votes for a winner after the judges have announced the three finalists.
6:45 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. The world’s largest high-definition television will be unveiled to the public for the first time under the lights. The 200-foot-wide, 80-foot-tall HDTV, created by Panasonic, will see its first race action. In addition, the drivers racing in the Sprint Showdown will be introduced on the frontstretch stage. Along with the drivers, the 2011 NASCAR Hall of Fame induction class will be recognized and a group of Wounded Warriors will be honored.
7:30 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. (approx.) Drivers not eligible for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race compete in the ultimate last chance qualifier. The Sprint Showdown will be run in two 20-lap segments to determine which drivers get to transfer to the main event later in the night. The winner of the race, the runner-up and one driver voted in by the Sprint Fan Vote will then have a chance to race for the $1 million prize.
8:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (approx.) The 2011 Academy of Country Music Male Vocalist of the Year, Brad Paisley, kicks-off the most interactive driver introductions of the season as the premiere of his video “Old Alabama” takes place just prior to the running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Paisley will make a special appearance in the infield to present the video, which was shot just down the road from Charlotte Motor Speedway, at the Hendrick Motorsports complex.
Fans have the opportunity to celebrate stage-side as not only the drivers, but the pit crews, are introduced as well during the high-energy driver introductions for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Energizer and Charlotte Motor Speedway will team up to “Light Up the Night” by distributing more than 66,000 of Energizer 3 LED headlights and handheld flashlights to fans in attendance and will set a second world record of the night for having the most flashlights lit simultaneously.
Just after 9:00 p.m., the green flag drops on the no-holds-barred shootout for a $1 million payday, the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. The 100-lap slugfest is broken into four segments and the winner walks away with the cash. There are no points on the line, only bragging rights.
Fans can purchase a Coca-Cola Four Pack of tickets to the 27th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, which includes four tickets, four Coca-Cola soft drinks and four hot dogs for just $29.75 per person by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267) or by going online to www.charlottemotorspeedway.com. -30-
