Performance set for November 20 before the Ford EcoBoost 400
MIAMI- The stage is almost set both on and off the track for 2016 Ford Championship Weekend, as Miami Native Jencarlos Canela will sing the National Anthem prior to NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 championship race on November 20 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Canela has recorded three studio albums— Un Nuevo Dia, Jen and Buscame, which entered the Latin album charts at #1 and was certified gold within weeks of its release. Canela’s impressive singing career also includes the highly anticipated single “Baby,” which reached platinum in 2016, and his previous diamond single “Bajito” that reached #1 on the radio in Puerto Rico and landed in the top 10 of Billboard’s Latin Pop charts in the United States and Mexico. In addition, Canela recently released his newest hit “Pa’que Me Invitan,” which has more than 15 million views on YouTube. Currently, Canela is working on his English album debut for Universal and Republic Records.
“Miami is my birthplace, my city, which makes performing the National Anthem at NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway so incredibly special. I am honored and grateful to have the opportunity,” said Canela.
The Latin pop singer has also starred in multiple television productions, including leading roles in five Telenovelas, two Feature Films and the lead role of ‘Jesus Christ’ in the two-hour musical event, “The Passion.” Most recently, Canela has acted alongside Eva Longoria in the high-profile comedy series “Telenovela” where Canela starred as “Xavier Castillo.” In 2008, the New World School of Arts graduate debuted as a theater actor and singer in the stage musical “Miami Libre,” which was held at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami. In 2014, Canela became the first Latin artist to press the famous New Year’s Eve ball button for the final 60 second countdown to ring New Year in Time Square.
Canela is involved with various charitable causes, including the Department of Families in Puerto Rico, Children’s Miracle Hospital Network, League Against Cancer, The Christopher and Dana Reeve foundation and becoming the first Latin artist to represent the IRC (International Rescue Committee) internationally.
“It is exciting to have the multi-talented artist Jencarlos Canela, who is born and raised in Miami, perform our country’s National Anthem,” said Homestead-Miami Speedway President Matthew Becherer. “Canela adds yet another championship highlight to this year’s pre-race festivities, which also includes The Band Perry’s performance in Sunday’s pre-race concert.”
Tickets for NASCAR’s 2016 Ford Championship Weekend, which will be held November 18-20 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, are now available and can be purchased by calling (866) 409-RACE (7223) or visiting www.HomesteadMiamiSpeedway.com.
About Homestead-Miami Speedway
The Speedway has been open since 1995 following an initiative to spur economic recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. The track, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2015, is a 650-acre facility that features a 1.5-mile oval and 2.21-mile road course. The track is active nearly 300 days per year and generates more than $301 million annually for the region. NASCAR has crowned its champions in all three of its premier series at Homestead-Miami Speedway each of the past 14 years (2002-15) at Ford Championship Weekend. Champions crowned at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2015 were Kyle Busch (Sprint Cup Series), Chris Buescher (XFINITY Series) and Erik Jones (Camping World Truck Series). The 2016 Ford Championship Weekend will be held November 18-20.
About “Driving for a Cause”
“Driving for a Cause,” the charitable arm of Homestead-Miami Speedway, operates under the auspices of the NASCAR Foundation as a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. Homestead-Miami Speedway will continue each of its charitable activities, including its in-kind donations to local groups, support of Homestead Hospital’s Speediatrics unit, and its program where organizations can work track events in exchange for a donation to their group or cause.
