Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Preview: Drivers To Watch

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This NTT IndyCar Series season has been an exciting one with many young and veteran drivers fighting for the top spot. The inaugural Big Machine Music City Grand Prix will add to this season’s excitement as it will level the playing field since no one has driven on the newly designed Nashville course.

Before heading to the race, fans should know which drivers to look out for and which drivers may put on the best show.

The top drivers this season are Scott Dixon, Alex Palou, and Nashville native Josef Newgarden. Along with the top drivers in the standings, fans will get a chance to watch four-time Indianapolis 500 winner and 2021 winner Hélio Castroneves race in the streets of Nashville. Fans of Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive To Survive will also recognize fan favorite and former Haas driver Romain Grosjean in his rookie season in IndyCar. Additionally, NASCAR fans will be familiar with the No. 48 driver as seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson who will also be driving in the inaugural Grand Prix.

Now, let’s take a look at each driver, what to know about them, and how good their chances are to take the win.

Dixon is one of the most successful drivers in IndyCar history, winning 51 races, six championships, and one Indy 500. He is the reigning IndyCar champion and is currently sitting at third place in the standings with 328 points. A New Zealand native, he is in his 20th season in IndyCar and currently has the most wins among all active drivers. Since his win at the third race of the season at Texas’ Genesy’s 300, he’s finished in the top 10 six times, three of which were top five. As the most experienced and most successful driver in the series, he will likely race well in qualifiers, attempting to put himself in a great position to win.

In only his second IndyCar season, Palou, a native of Barcelona, is currently sitting in first place in the standings with 384 points. He has two wins this season–the first at Grand Prix of Alabama and the second at the REV Group Grand Prix–and finished second at the Indy 500. The 24-year-old started his racing career in Europe Formula 3 and made his open-wheel racing debut in the Euroformula Open Championship in 2014. Palou went on to win the Super Formula Championship race in 2019, and finished third in the Honda Indy 200 Mid-Ohio on July 4. He will be looking for his third win of the season in Nashville to help create some separation between him and the rest of the pack in the standings.

Josef Newgarden wins at The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio on July 4, 2021. Photo: Chris Owens/IndyCar Media

The driver set to get the most support from fans will most likely be Newgarden, a Nashville native and two-time IndyCar champion. Newgarden won the series championship in 2017 and 2019–his first year with Team Penske. He is a graduate of the Road to Indy, and he won the 2011 Indy Lights championship with five race victories. He’s won 19 races over his career and won his first race of the season on July 4 at the Mid-Ohio. He is currently sitting in fourth place in the standings with 315 points and will have the edge in the Grand Prix after coming off of a win and having the support and attention of his hometown crowd.

Hélio Castroneves after winning the Indy 500 on May 30, 2021. Photo Courtesy of IndyCar.

One of the most exciting drivers to watch will be Castroneves who has officially paved his way to racing immortality, winning the Indy 500 for his fourth win. The Brazilian has won 31 wins in his IndyCar career and is one of the most experienced drivers in the series alongside Dixon. Castroneves is sitting at 22nd in the standings, but he is the reigning Indy 500 winner so you can’t count him out just yet. With the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix being the most anticipated race of the year, he will be an exciting driver to watch on this newly designed track.

In his first season in IndyCar, Swiss born Grosjean has put up some great performances, picking up his first IndyCar pole in May at the Indianapolis Road Course. So far this season, he has had four top 10 finishes, including a podium at the GMR Grand prix where he finished second. Grosjean spent 10 years in Formula 1, five of them with Haas F1 team where he saw success and struggles. In his last year in F1, Grosjean suffered severe burns to his hands and feet after a devastating accident in the Bahrain Grand Prix where his car crashed into the dividers, split in half, and was engulfed in flames. He has had some success this season, but is due for another podium and even a win.

One name that will definitely stand out to NASCAR fans in this IndyCar season is Jimmie Johnson. Johnson has solidified himself as one of the greatest NASCAR drivers ever, winning seven cup championships–the most ever tied with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. He is in his first year in IndyCar after retiring from NASCAR in 2020, and is driving only road courses. Johnson has only one top 20 finish so far this season, finishing 19th at the Grand Prix of Alabama. He hasn’t had the most impressive rookie season, but he will be welcomed with a warm embrace in Nashville as a NASCAR legend.

IndyCar Driver Josef Newgarden To Host Celebrity Pong Pong Challenge

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IndyCar champion and Hendersonville, Tennessee native Josef Newgarden is hosting his third annual Celebrity Ping Pong Challenge on Aug. 5 and, for the first time, the event will be open to the public.

Newgarden is a two-time IndyCar Series Champion coming off of his most recent win at Road America in Ohio. He and the rest of the series will be heading to Nashville for the inaugural Big Machine Music City Grand Prix from Aug. 6-8, but not before the driver gets his shot to compete in the ping pong action. One-hundred percent of ticket proceeds from the ping pong challenge will be donated to SeriousFun Children’s Network.

In 2019’s event, Newgarden was joined alongside other IndyCar stars and celebrities like Hélio Castroneves, Simon Pagenaud, Tony Kanaan, Scott Dixon, Alexander Rossi, James Hinchcliffe, Conor Daly, Kyle Kaiser, Colton Herta, Matheus Leist, Spencer Pigot, Charlie Kimball, Jack Harvey and special guest the then Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. At the 2019 ping pong challenge, Newgarden raised a total of $85,000 in donations from sponsors, including Shell, Firestone, DEEM/CSC, MillerCoors and Big Machine Vodka.

Fans can purchase tickets to watch the celebrity ping pong challenge between the stars of the NTT IndyCar Series and the NFL, NASCAR, and more in a doubles ping-pong tournament. It will take place at Pins Mechanical Co. at 1102 Grundy Street in Nashville. The event will take place on Aug. 5 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. CT.

Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Announces Exclusive Sponsorships

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The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix has announced a group of exclusive and official sponsors for the inaugural event, including Big Machine Vodka as the exclusive Vodka partner and Coca-Cola providing carbonated beverages and bottled water along with Anheuser-Busch, the cross-category beer partner.

The weekend of music and racing will also be sponsored by Chevrolet as the official automotive partner putting pure power on display with the mid-engine Corvette Stingray slated to pace the inaugural NTT IndyCar Series event. Firestone is onboard as the exclusive tire partner of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix and is the sole supplier of the NTT IndyCar Series. Exclusive emergency medical and on-track services will be provided by Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s LifeFlight. As previously announced, Wesley Financial Group serves as the sponsor of the Freedom Friday initiatives and Tribute Concert while Pinnacle Financial Partners will be the official retail banking partner.

Additional official sponsors include: Action 247, Brand Visual Group, Comcast/Xfinity, Flight Solutions, Grand Hyatt Nashville, Grand Ole Opry, Hunt Brothers Pizza, Middle Tennessee State University, NTT DATA, NetJets, Nurtec, Oak Grove Racing Gaming and Hotel, RJ Young, South College, Tennessee Highway Safety Office, ThompsonCAT / CAT Rental Store, Twice Daily, Visit Music City, Zaxby’s, and Zyn.

The race will will be staged on a temporary 2.17-mile grand prix circuit in Nashville and around the Nissan Stadium campus. The course will cross the Cumberland River via the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge, making the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix the only current event in motorsports to cross over a major body of water. For more information, click here.

Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Kicks Off Race Weekend With Free Fan Fest

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The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Fan Fest is set to start on Thursday, Aug. 5 and will be free to the public. Located on Broadway between 1st and 2nd Avenue, this will be the only official Big Machine Music City Grand Prix event to take place on Broadway.

Fans will have the chance to meet several NTT IndyCar Series drivers during an autograph session and pose for photos with over 15 race cars that will be on display, including IndyCar, GT America, Trans Am, Stadium SUPER Trucks and the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix show car. Among the IndyCar team cars on display will be the No. 2 of Nashville’s Josef Newgarden and No. 12 of Will Power from Team Penske; No. 26 of Colton Herta from Andretti Autosport with Curb Agajanian; Romain Grosjean‘s No. 51 from Dale Coyne Racing with RWR; Ed Jones‘ No. 18 from Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan; and No. 06 of Hélio Castroneves from Meyer Shank Racing.

“We are thrilled to be able to kick off the weekend with this free and inclusive experience for racing fans in downtown Nashville,” says Big Machine Music City Grand Prix President Chris Parker. “The chance to get up close with the drivers and cars before the big race will be an unforgettable chance of a lifetime.”

The 30-minute autograph session, which begins at 5:30 p.m., will feature Alex Palou and Marcus Ericsson of Chip Ganassi Racing; Alexander Rossi of Andretti Autosport; Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport’s James Hinchcliffe; Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist of Arrow McLaren SP; Carlin’s Max Chilton; Jones of Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan; Dalton Kellett of A.J. Foyt Enterprises;  Rahal Letterman and Lanigan Racing’s Santino Ferrucci; and Cody Ware of Dale Coyne Racing with RWR.

The festival opens at 4:30 p.m. with the Music City MINI Grand Prix, a pedal car race for kids. All proceeds from the MINI Grand Prix will benefit the youth at Rocketown, a drop-in student center for marginalized teens and young people from low-income communities. The three-hour fan event will be highlighted by a live pit stop challenge at 6:30 p.m. with Chip Ganassi Racing and six-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon taking on A.J. Foyt Enterprises and four-time series champ Sebastien Bourdais in side-by-side competition.

Here’s a list of Thursday’s schedule:
4:30-5:30pm – Music City MINI Grand Prix
5:30-6:00pm – Autograph Session with NTT IndyCar Series drivers
5:30-7:30pm – FanFest Car Display
6:30-7:30pm – Pit Stop Challenge

Brad Keselowski Joins Roush Fenway Racing As Driver, Part Owner

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Jack Roush with Brad Keselowski. Photo: Courtesy of Roush Fenway Racing

NASCAR champion Brad Keselowski will start a new chapter in 2022 as he has officially joined Roush Fenway Racing to drive the No. 6 car and as a part owner. Keselowski will also serve as head of the team’s competition committee.

“I’m truly excited about this partnership with Brad,” says team owner and NASCAR legend Jack Roush. “I think it will bring a lot to the organization, from not only Brad’s ability behind the wheel, but a rejuvenation and fresh perspective across our teams. I’ve had the opportunity to watch Brad for a number of years, as he has fought and clawed his way up the ladder, molding himself into a champion and one of the top drivers in our sport. I’ve always admired his resolve and determination. I’m very pleased that he has chosen to be a part of our organization and I’m proud to partner with him moving into the future.”

Keselowski has been one of the top contenders at NASCAR’s highest level for the past decade, having tallied 35 wins in NASCAR Cup Series competition while qualifying for the NASCAR Playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons. He led Team Penske to its first NASCAR Cup Series Championship in 2012 and has finished inside the top 10 in eight of the last 10 seasons, including a runner-up finish in 2020. Keselowski as accumulated 75 NASCAR wins and has led more than 14,000 laps.

Roush founded the team in 1988 and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. One of the pioneers in driver development, Roush initially teamed with future Hall of Famer Mark Martin, forming what would grow into one of the most formidable duos in NASCAR history. In addition, he was responsible for launching the careers of NASCAR Champions Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chris Buescher, and many others. Currently, Roush’s Fords have driven to victory lane on 325 occasions, while leading over 68,000 laps in NASCAR action.

“I am thrilled to be able to share the news about this next venture with my fans, peers, and the industry,” says Keselowski. “This presents an opportunity to continue my on-track success with a strong team and a long-term commitment, but also dive into my passion of team ownership where I know I can be an asset to the future of the team. I am optimistic about what Jack, John [Henry] and I can accomplish together, especially with a new era for our sport on the horizon [with the Next Gen car]. Our goal is to win races and compete for championships at NASCAR’s top level, and we plan to do just that.”

This marks the second major ownership addition to the team since its inception. In 2007, Roush partnered with Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox and English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., to form Roush Fenway Racing.

IndyCar, NBC Sports Agree To Multi-Year Rights Extension

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IndyCar and NBC Sports have agreed to a multi-year media rights contract extension for races, qualifying and the Indianapolis 500. NBC Sports will continue to be the exclusive home of the Inianapolis 500, as well as provide coverage for all races, qualifying, practices and Indy Lights races across its many platforms.

IndyCar will see a significant increase in network exposure in 2022, with 13 races now set to be broadcast on NBC. USA Network and Peacock Premium will show the remaining races, and Telemundo Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage of the season-opening race, the Indianapolis 500 and the season finale. The streaming service Peacock is also scheduled to exclusively stream two races, which will be announced at a later date.

“NBC Sports is proud to extend its partnership with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and continue to serve as the exclusive home of the most competitive open-wheel racing series in the world and ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,’” says Jon Miller, NBC Sports. “We have demonstrated NBCUniversal’s ability to make big events bigger with our presentations of the Indianapolis 500, we have worked closely with Roger Penske, Mark Miles and the entire team to expand INDYCAR’s reach across the U.S, and we are thrilled to build upon our collaborative successes of the past few years.”

“NBC Sports has been the ideal partner for the NTT IndyCar Series, bringing our bold and audacious style of racing to a significantly larger domestic audience and fully leveraging the power and scale of the Indianapolis 500,” says Mark Miles, President and CEO, Penske Entertainment Corp. “This new deal represents a significant expansion of our network TV exposure and sets us up for continued growth and success alongside a committed, innovative and world-class broadcast partner.”

The partnership between NBC Sports and IndyCar dates back to 2009, when NBCSN (originally VERSUS) became the cable home of the series and televised the majority of its races each season. NBC Sports became the exclusive home of IndyCar in 2019, which also marked the year of NBC’s inaugural Indianapolis 500 broadcast.

The IndyCar season is currently on break and will resume on Aug. 8 when the streets of Nashville will make their IndyCar debut in the highly anticipated Big Machine Music City Grand Prix.

Dario Franchitti Named Grand Marshall For Big Machine Music City Grand Prix

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Dario Franchitti. Photo: Courtesy of IndyCar

IndyCar legend Dario Franchitti will be saying the most famous words in motorsports as the Grand Marshall for the inaugural Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. The grand prix, set for Aug. 8, will be raced in the streets of Nashville for the city’s first ever street-course.

“Taking a sport that I love to a wonderful city and area that I called home for over a decade is a perfect match and I’m honored to be the Grand Marshal for the inaugural Big Machine Music City Grand Prix,” says Franchitti, who lived in the Nashville suburb of Franklin. “The NTT IndyCar Series drivers and teams will put on a cracking show and with my friend, Scott Borchetta, involved as the title sponsor I’m sure this event will be a huge success.”

Franchitti, a native of Scotland, was inducted into the Auto Racing Hall of Fame at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in 2017 and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2019 after a successful 17-year career, winning the IndyCar championship four times (2007, 2009-2011) and winning three Indianapolis 500 race (2007, 2010, 2012). Franchitti recorded 31 wins and 33 poles in 265 career starts and ranks among the top 10 in the sport’s history in wins (10th-tie), poles (8th), and laps led (8th with 4,579).

He remains active in the NTT IndyCar Series as a team advisor for Chip Ganassi Racing working with drivers like IndyCar veteran Scott Dixon, newcomers Alex Palou and Marcus Ericsson and NASCAR legend and IndyCar rookie Jimmie Johnson.

Chase Elliott Wins SRX Race At Sold-Out Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway

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Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway

2020 NASCAR champion Chase Elliott took the win at Saturday’s SRX Series finale in front of a sold-out crowd at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. His father, Bill Elliot finished in third, while NASCAR legend and SRX co-founder Tony Stewart finished in second, winning the inaugural season.

This is Elliott’s first race and win at the Fairgrounds since he took home the guitar trophy back in 2013. The race marked his second opportunity to compete with his father who was crowned the 1988 NASCAR Cup champion. Bill won the first heat with Chase coming in second, but after 70 laps and some close racing, it was the 24-year-old Elliott who won it all.

“I got to race against two of my heroes, I got to race against [my] dad at the end and throughout the race and those are moments I’ll cherish forever,” shared Chase. “I don’t know what lit a fire under him tonight, but he was as aggressive as I’ve seen him in years.”

Behind Bill Elliott were Bobby Labonte, Paul Tracy, Michael Waltrip, Tony Kanaan, Hélio Castroneves, Hailie Deegan, Marco Andretti, and Willy T. Ribbs, who did not finish.

“How could you ask for more than to finish between two Elliotts?” said Stewart. “That’s pretty badass in itself, and we really appreciate NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports for letting Chase come run with us. It means a lot to us, and it means a lot to Bill.”

Chase Elliott expressed his excitement about racing with his dad and his desire to return to the Fairgrounds Speedway in a pre-race interview. “I’m checking off two boxes this weekend,” Chase explained. “Being able to race with dad and being back at the Nashville Fairgrounds, I hope this is a sign of great things to come.”

In June, NASCAR made its return to the Nashville Superspeedway after 37 years of not racing in the city. NASCAR has not been to Nashville’s fairgrounds since 1984.