NASCAR has announced a multiyear partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of America, becoming the Official Youth Community Partner of the sport.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America will work with NASCAR and industry stakeholders to engage more than 4.6 million youth and teens across the country with NASCAR content and experiences.

“As a community leader, Boys & Girls Clubs of America continues to have immeasurable impact on the lives of our country’s youth, and NASCAR looks forward to engaging those efforts in meaningful ways,” says Steve Phelps, president of NASCAR in a press release. “Through this partnership and together with the NASCAR industry, we have boundless opportunities to advance the mission and objectives of Boys & Girls Clubs of America while at the same time introducing young future fans to our great sport.”

The new partnership will focus on three core areas: STEM education, career development, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives. Programming will include both virtual and at-track experiences with an emphasis on local Boys & Girls Club locations within NASCAR race markets.

“Kids and teens need safe places and caring mentors now more than ever, and local Boys & Girls Clubs around the country are doing whatever it takes to empower youth and build new opportunities so they can achieve every success in life,” says Boys & Girls Clubs of America President and CEO Jim Clark. “We are very excited to partner with NASCAR to elevate this support in communities even further, enabling more high-quality programing and experiences that will have a positive impact on kids and teens.”

NASCAR will collaborate with drivers, teams and tracks to amplify the sport’s commitment to Boys & Girls Clubs of America and deepen the engagement with club youth and teens. NASCAR partners will also have the opportunity to integrate with the new partnership, and several partners will look to build on their own longstanding relationships with Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Music City Grand Prix has announced that Big Machine will be the title sponsor for the IndyCar race this summer.

Big Machine President and CEO and lifelong racing fan Scott Borchetta joined the Nashville Grand Prix as investor in late 2020.

“Having Big Machine on board is a great alignment with our brand,” says Matt Crews, CEO of Music City Grand Prix. “Big Machine’s President and CEO Scott Borchetta is a racing enthusiast himself and has been an integral part of Music City Grand Prix as an owner. He will also provide his expertise in music – further proving this festival will be one of speed and sound.”

This multi-year commitment from Big Machine as the title sponsor of the Grand Prix shows the brand’s dedication and passion for motorsports and speaks to what Nashville is, and what this event will become this year and beyond.

“I’ve worked for decades bringing racing and music together and I can’t think of a better way to welcome the IndyCars back to Nashville than honoring them with our namesake,” says Borchetta. “My very first race was an IndyCar race, the California 500, and this brings it full circle.  I truly believe that we’ve created the most exciting new weekend in racing anywhere in the world and Nashville is going to roll out the red carpet.  This will be a party you don’t want to miss.”

Big Machine recently has ventured out into both spirits as well as racing with Big Machine Distillery and Big Machine Racing. BMLG also sponsors a car in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

“Being title sponsor of this racing and music festival weekend is the perfect way to celebrate major events returning to the world after more than a year of sheltering,” says Big Machine Distillery Executive Vice President Mark Borchetta. “Integrating Big Machine Vodka and our new Spiked Cooler vodka juice pouches into the weekend supports our optimism and excitement about the world returning to a semblance of normalcy.”

The three-day international racing festival will be on August 6-8, 2021. It 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 Veterans Memorial Bridge, making the Music City Grand Prix the only current event in motorsports to cross over a major body of water.

Single day and weekend passes are on sale now and include grandstand and reserved seating as well as VIP packages.

Motley Crue singer Vince Neil recently surprised students at Franklin’s and Nashville’s School of Rock by inviting them to perform at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix in August. The School of Rock was also announced as a sponsor of the Nashville IndyCar race.

“At the School of Rock, we believe the stage is the greatest teacher, and we love providing our students the opportunity to play high profile gigs like the Grand Prix,” says Kelly McCreight, co-owner of School of Rock Franklin/Nashville. “Having Vince Neil come and speak with the kids, listen to them play, and actually get on stage with them… priceless! At the School of Rock, our goal is to teach music through performance, but also build a community of young musicians that understand and appreciate artist and bands from every generation and genre… from The Beatles, Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones to MoTown and Funk to Van Halen and Mötley Crüe. It means so much to us when artists like Vince take the time to spend with our students and offer insight and praise.”

School of Rock will host one of three live performance stages in Cumberland Park that will include a variety of headline musical performances, interviews, community presentations, and more throughout each day. Performances and times will be announced at a later day.

“We are thrilled to partner with an organization that truly embodies Nashville’s passion for and commitment to music for all ages,” says Matt Crews, CEO of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, “School of Rock will be the perfect addition to our robust music lineup that will further enhance what this event represents. It is incredible to see and hear this group of talented young musicians, and I am excited to share this with our festival goers.”

The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix will take place from August 6-9 and will feature live music, food, entertainment, and the NTT IndyCar race on Sunday.

The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix has partnered with East Nashville nonprofit the Martha O’Bryan Center.

August’s IndyCar race will bring both national and international attention to Nashville’s racing community and everything the city has to offer. However, the event will also put a focus on the immediate communities in and around the city.

The Martha O’Bryan Center is known for their cradle-to-career investments in young people and families, and broadening college and career opportunities for youth in Nashville. One big impact piece of the new partnership will be a youth employment program that will bring young people inside the production of a first-class sporting event and the work needed to transform the stadium campus and riverfront into a new, world class racing and entertainment experience.

“We are thrilled to get to know some of the young people at the Martha O’Bryan Center and their programs, and are designing this youth program to be more than just a summer job,” says Chris Parker, president at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. “They will work in different aspects of event management, gain valuable work experience in various trade careers, and network with some of the dynamic business professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors that make up our ownership group and advisory board. We are truly invested in the goals and mission of the Martha O’Bryan Center.”

In addition to investing directly in the nonprofit, The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix is also donating unique, one-of-a-kind Music City Grand Prix prizes and experiences for a custom online auction starting May 14, with proceeds benefiting the Martha O’Bryan Center.

“The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix has already been very generous and intentional about their role as an event that is not just in Nashville, but for all Nashvillians, including the young people we serve in north and east Nashville,” says Marsha Edwards, CEO at the Martha O’Bryan Center. “I expect a lot of young people will become lifelong IndyCar fans through this partnership!”

Ticket packages are on sale now. Fans can purchase three-day ticket packages, starting at $119, as well as festival add-ons.