Music City Grand Prix Hosting Motorsports Art Auction To Benefit Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital

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Artwork by Justin Redmon

The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix has teamed up to create the inaugural Motorsports Art Auction to benefit the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Beginning today (July 26), featured paintings from seven talented and diverse artists focused on the motorsports community can be acquired through this unique auction.

The digital online art auction will run through Sunday, Aug. 7 with all of the proceeds going directly to the Children’s Hospital. The bids will close at 10 p.m. CT that evening. Fans can view the varied motorsports art pieces online and make a bid to purchase the pieces.

There will be opportunities for fans and potential bidders to view the artwork in person leading up to the Aug. 5-7 Big Machine Music City Grand Prix around the Nissan Stadium campus as well as during the race week.

Through Aug. 3, the various artworks can be viewed in the lobby of Children’s Hospital, the Union Station Hotel, the Grand Hyatt Nashville, Pinnacle Bank – Symphony Place branch and the Margaritaville Hotel downtown. From Aug. 4-7, they will be available at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix’s Champion’s Party at AJ’s, the East Club in Nissan Stadium, Netjets Club RPM presented by Grand Hyatt Nashville and the “Artist Alley” that will be located in the FanZone on the stadium campus.

The seven participating artists are:

  • Bill Patterson (@billpattart) is an internationally acclaimed artist living in Texas with works owned by multiple celebrities and worldwide corporations such as Microsoft, FedEx, BMW, Porsche and Ferrari to name a handful. He has spent thirty-four years as a full-time artist after leaving the architecture profession behind. Although the focus is on commissioned fine art, over a million dollars have been raised by painting live at many charity galas, such as The National Guard Youth Foundation, St Jude’s Children’s Hospital and United Way. His paintings have sold for as much as $50,000. Patterson created the artwork for last year’s inaugural Big Machine Music City Grand Prix race program, which he will be donating to the auction.
  • Simon Ward (@simonward46) is a renowned motorsports artist who has had a number of paintings commissioned by numerous motorsports teams, owners and fans across the globe. He has produced an array of Formula 1-focused paintings, as well as having his artwork hanging permanently in Sebring Regional Airport, home of the first world championship endurance race and one he has been associated with for several decades. His work has been exhibited in the U.S. and the UK, including an exhibition at the historic F1 British Grand Prix.
  • Justin Redmon (@redrevoltdesign) is a resident of Franklin, Tennessee. Starting with pencil and brush works of vintage cars, his passion for design deepened through his experiences traveling across the world while serving in the U.S. Navy. Today, his chosen medium is digital illustration. Its flexibility in color and form challenges the boundaries of design and allows him to channel emotion through art.
  • Thiago Romero (@thiago_romero_fineart) is a Brazilian contemporary artist, writer, journalist and skydiver. He is most recognized for his unique and distinctive technique of “abstract expressionism,” often utilizing waves, flags, cars, racing helmets, geometric shapes, letters and numbers in his paintings. His style is characterized by a vibrant, expressive and spontaneous approach, obtained by the rapid application of different shades of acrylic paint, water and other elements.
  • Joseph Love (@joseph.love.31) wanted to be an artist growing up but after serving in the Air Force and raising a family it took him three decades to finally dedicate himself to his passion. In 2011, the dream began and after 16 months he had his debut solo art show opening at The University Club of Nashville. The show, titled “Das Rennen,” featured his oil paintings of Formula 1 race cars and drivers from past to present, vintage Mercedes Benz cars and other classic automobiles. Since then, his artwork has been exhibited at numerous prestigious venues and galleries, including Vanderbilt, TSU and Metro Public Schools.
  • Jessica Kristianna Haas (@jessicakhaas) is the first female speed painter in America and the fastest speed painter in the entertainment industry. Since her recent win of ABC’s Gong Show, Haas currently holds the records of performing the fastest painting on national television, the first female performance painter to paint on national television and the first & fastest award-winning female speed painter to win on a national television network.
  • Chuck Braud (@chuckbraud_art_) has been drawing and sketching since he was a youngster, and his love of sports led him to sports artwork. He started with acrylics and now concentrates on oil paintings in his work. He recently left the transportation business after two decades to pursue artwork full-time.

Nashville Sports Council Offers Unique Experience Through Music City Grand Prix Volunteer Program

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Though the Nashville Sports Council may not be on everyone’s radar, they are involved in almost every major sporting event in Nashville, such as the Transperfect Music City Bowl, the SEC Basketball Tournament and the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix.

But the backbone for running these events are the volunteers who help them go smoothly, which is especially true for the Music City Grand Prix (MCGP) taking place Aug. 5-7 and covering the entirety of the Nissan Stadium campus.

Last year’s inaugural event was a massive weekend-long party downtown with multiple concerts, free events and of course the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix to finish

But because it was the first year and because it was something so different from what Nashville had previously hosted, the Nashville Sports Council and the people working the event had to learn on the run. Nashville has never hosted an IndyCar street race and ,for anyone who hasn’t experienced one before, it is a completely different animal compared to other sporting events.

“It was a process for sure. It definitely was some uncharted territory but it was a challenge we were really looking forward to taking on,” said Nashville Sports Council Events Coordinator Joseph Donaldson in an interview with The Sports Credential. “It’s been unique with it being a motorsport and motorsports being such a different event compared to what we’ve had in Nashville before.”

Marcus Ericsson, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda crossing the finish line at the 2021 Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. Photo: Courtesy of the Music City Grand Prix.

Donaldson and Director or Events and Operations, Rachel Schuchert, are at the forefront of recruiting organizing and working with the countless volunteers that help make the events like the MCGP happen. Schuchert, who has been on the Nashville Sports Council for six years, and Donaldson, notching nearly four years, have worked in the volunteer recruitment process for all other events the Council has hosted.

This year will be a but different for the MCGP as the Sports Council has dropped the volunteer fee to help encourage more people to be a part of the behind the scenes of race weekend. The fee usually covers transportation, parking, meals and a t-shirt but now people  can be part of the experience free of charge.

The recruitment initiative for something like the MCGP isn’t as easy as sending out a few emails. The process begins months beforehand and involves a lot of time, research and commitment. For the inaugural IndyCar race in 2021, the Nashville Sports Council, along with Donaldson and Schuchert, met with IndyCar representatives to discuss the volunteer interest before opening volunteer registration three months prior.

Both Donaldson and Schuchert spend a lot of time not only recruiting, but also training and working with the volunteers.

“We spend all summer recruiting and making sure we get people signed up,” Schuchert explained. “It’s a long process making sure people know that this is a volunteer opportunity, and then we are boots on the ground all weekend of the event. Joseph is in charge of deploying volunteers. We’ll check them in, we’ll give them their uniforms and then we connect them with a zone captain.”

Photo: Courtesy of the Music City Grand Prix

Zone captains are volunteers who take on more responsibility to make sure everything moves smoothly in their respective area on the campus. The Sports Council relies heavily on these workers for safety, efficiency and overall work.

One of the biggest differences between volunteering for the MCGP and volunteering for one of the other Nashville Sports Council events is that the volunteers really get an opportunity to soak in the festivities, concerts and the race. Like the Music City Bowl and Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, these volunteers will have time to really embrace the weekend instead of standing around, occupied with running around. There is still a lot of work and responsibilities, but it’s unlike any other event the Council hosts.

“The best way the grand prix is described is that it isn’t just a race but it’s a festival weekend,” Donaldson notes. “You can go see Tim McGraw on Saturday night (Aug. 6) if you volunteered. There are so many cool opportunities. You can come before and experience it or you can stay after your shift. That’s one of the cool parts–you get to experience the entire event, where as in other volunteer roles you’re on a tight schedule and you can’t really hang out afterwards.”

This year, Donaldson, Schuchert and their team will have a full year of experience under their belt and plan on making the jam packed weekend run more efficiently for both volunteers and patrons. By knowing what to expect, they can also plan to make sure everyone involved has the best experience possible.

“Last year there were a lot unknowns and we’ve never seen a motorsports event,” Donaldson recalls. “Knowing what we do this year and how our event looks, that’s one thing I’m super excited about. I think we can enhance the volunteer experience even more.”

Anyone interested in volunteering for the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix can head to the volunteer website to sign up. All volunteers must be 16 years of age or older and register for a minimum of two shifts throughout the event week. All volunteers will receive parking, transportation, and meals during their shifts.

Volunteer positions include: Race Day Ambassadors, Access Control, Can-Do Team, and Zone Captains.

Big Machine Music City Grand Prix To Take Over Broadway With 2nd Annual FanFest

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MCGP Fan Fest pit stop competition 2021. Photo: Courtesy of the Music City Grand Prix

The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix festivities will officially kick off Thursday, Aug. 4, with the return of FanFest on Broadway featuring a Pit Stop Challenge with some of the biggest names in the NTT IndyCar Series.

FanFest, which is free and open to the public, will be held on Broadway from 1st through 4th streets and include show cars, sponsor displays, a Mini Grand Prix and a Stadium SUPER Trucks exhibition, along with the heightened pit stop competition.

The Pit Stop Challenge has been expanded from last year’s best-of-three, two-car competition to a single-elimination, six-driver event with:

  • Six-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing
  • Former seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson of Chip Ganassi Racing
  • Seven-time race winner Colton Herta of Andretti Autosport with Curb-Agajanian
  • Three-time race winner Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren SP
  • 2021 IndyCar Rookie of the Year Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske
  • 2019 Rookie of the Year Felix Rosenqvist of Arrow McLaren SP

The Pit Stop Challenge will be held on Broadway between 1st and 2nd streets and begin at 6 p.m. The opening-draw will be announced just prior to the start of the competition and the teams will vie for $10,000 in prize money.

Following the conclusion of the Pit Stop Challenge, Robby Gordon’s Stadium SUPER Trucks will put on an exhibition as a preview of one of the series competing in the Aug. 5-7 Big Machine Music City Grand Prix around the Nissan Stadium campus. SST stars expected to be on hand are Gordon, Greg Biffle, Gavin Harlien and Robby’s son, Max Gordon.

That area also will serve as the layout for Rocketown’s second annual Mini Grand Prix that begins at 5 p.m. Children will compete in mini Indy pedal karts in three age classes (4-5 years old, 6-7 and 8-9). Tony Kanaan, an Indy 500 winner and series champion, will be calling the action.

Nashville Superspeedway Welcomes Fans To ‘A Day At The Track’ On July 16

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NASCAR weekend at the Nashville Superspeedway may be over, but fans can head back to the track on Saturday, July 16 to take their turn behind the wheel of their personal vehicles to drive around the track.

This event will celebrate Wilson Bank & Trust Track Day, a partner of the Nashville Superspeedway, and will benefit Easterseals Tennessee. Fans will have the opportunity to take their own cars around the track which features 14-degree banking in the turns, 9 degrees on the front stretch, 6 degrees on the back stretch, and that has challenged America’s best drivers since 2001.

“As Wilson Bank & Trust celebrates our 35th anniversary this year, we are honored to come together through the bank’s community partnership with the Nashville Superspeedway to raise awareness and support an organization that means so much to our communities,” says Scott Jasper, EVP, Chief Retail Officer. “Through our partnership, we are thrilled to offer this unique experience and benefit a great cause.”

Like the top NASCAR drivers, fans will can take three paced laps around Nashville Superspeedway, following the official pace car. At the end of their laps, they will receive a digital photo of their vehicle in Victory Lane where Chase Elliott celebrated his Ally 400 win this past June.

“As Middle Tennessee’s home for racing and entertainment, we always welcome the chance to open the track for a fantastic cause,” says Erik Moses, Nashville Superspeedway’s President and GM. “We look forward to seeing #NASHCAR fans take their laps on the same track that just tested NASCAR’s top talents last month.”

The event costs $60 to participate and will take place at the superspeedway from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fans can register online at Easterseals.com.

Aaron Lewis To Headline Wesley Mortgage Freedom Friday Tribute Concert At Grand Prix

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Aaron Lewis. Photo: Eric England

For the second consecutive year, the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix will host the Freedom Friday Tribute Concert presented by Wesley Mortgage on Aug. 5. This year’s show will be headlined by multi-Platinum entertainer Aaron Lewis, along with performances from Deana Carter, Abby Anderson and Jackson Dean at the Nissan Stadium campus.

Lewis’ latest album Frayed At Both Ends (The Valory Music Co.) was the No. 1 selling country album upon its release earlier this year. The project featured the hit lead single, “Am I The Only One,” which debuted atop the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, marking Lewis’ highest debut as a solo country artist.

“The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix is quickly becoming an established Nashville tradition,” says Steve Medes, President of Wesley Mortgage. “We appreciate the opportunity to attach our company to such a great event. We look forward to celebrating Freedom Friday and a great weekend of racing.”

The concert is included for Friday individual and three-day ticket holders and begins at 7 p.m. CT at the ZYN Main Stage located in the Fan Zone. In addition to the musical acts, there will be several tributes to military and first responders.

In addition to the Freedom Friday Tribute Concert, superstar Tim McGraw will perform Saturday, Aug. 6, and a live Grand Ole Prix show will be held Sunday, Aug. 7, with headliners Brantley Gilbert and Carly Pearce alongside Midland and Callista Clark.

Friday single-day tickets begin as low as $39 for general admission and $49 for reserved grandstand. Both provide admission to the on-track activity, as well as the concert.

Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Is 30 Days Away: What To Expect During Race Weekend

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Photo: Courtesy of the Music City Grand Prix

Nashville is just 30 days away from hosting the second Big Machine Music City Grand Prix in the streets of downtown Nashville and around Nissan Stadium from Aug. 5-7.

Last year’s NTT IndyCar Series 2.17-mile temporary street circuit was built around the Nissan Stadium campus and Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge. But the weekend-long festival featured different festivities such as music, food trucks and other race series.

The track construction will begin on Sunday, July 10 at 8 p.m. CT on Korean War Veterans Memorial Blvd. and bridge. The build will include temporary street closures during that period, beginning with the bridge from S. 2nd to 1st Ave. from Sunday through Wednesday. The crews will be working from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. for the majority of the build to help alleviate traffic disruptions.

During the full build, the crews will install more than 2,000 barriers and fence panels in 12-foot sections along the course. Grandstand construction is already underway with grandstand sections No. 4, 5, 11 and 12 located on South 2nd Street currently being erected. The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix is the last of the five temporary street circuits on the 17-race NTT IndyCar Series schedule.

Dee Jay Silver. Photo: Courtesy of the MCGP

Country DJ Dee Jay Silver has been added to an already packed concert lineup for the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. Silver will be featured on Sunday, Aug. 7, beginning at 5 p.m. on the ZYN Main Stage leading into the Grand Ole Prix performance starring Brantley Gilbert, Carly Pearce, Midland and Callista Clark.

The 2022 MCGP will once again have areas open to the public for those who don’t have tickets for the weekend. The race week activities will kick off on Thursday, Aug. 4, with the FanFest and Pit Stop Challenge on Broadway. The free event features a pit stop competition among IndyCar teams and prominent drivers, car displays from the various series competing in the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, sponsor displays, and much more between 1st and 4th streets. More details will be announced next week.

The race could see a robust entry list of 27 drivers. An addition to the full-time driver roster for this event will be Simona De Silvestro of Paretta Autosport. The women-led organization, spearheaded by Beth Paretta, is running a limited three-race road/street schedule and the team’s final race will be the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix.

Pictured (L-R): IndyCar driver Simona De Silvestro and Paretta Autosports CEO & Team Principal Beth Paretta

Fans returning from last year’s race weekend will be welcomed by the introduction of Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires as the newest addition to this season’s on-track schedule. Indy Lights is the official development series of the NTT IndyCar Series and will offer a glimpse into some of IndyCar’s future stars.

This year’s race will feature Rick Benjamin as the official voice of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. Benjamin is one of the most legendary American motorsports broadcasters and will be the lead Public Address announcer for the weekend’s activities.

With a career that has spanned three decades, Benjamin has covered nearly every discipline of motorsports, including serving as the lead broadcaster for television coverage of IndyCar on ESPN, ABC, CBS and NBC; NASCAR Cup Series races on TBS, Speedvision and TNN; and the lead broadcaster for IMSA/American Le Mans Series racing on SPEED and NBC.

The MCGP is offering a budget-friendly ticket offer to all college students for any of the three days of the event. College students can purchase a single-day, general admission ticket for $30 with a maximum of two per event day per email address.

Single-day tickets for all three days recently went on sale and begin as low as $39 for general admission and $49 for reserved grandstand for Wesley Mortgage Freedom Friday on Aug. 5. Single-day tickets include admission to all on-track activities as well as that evening’s featured concert. The three-day ticket remains the best value with general admission starting at $129 and reserved grandstand at $209 and $219.

Music City Grand Prix Announces Brantley Gilbert, Carly Pearce As Grand Ole Prix Headliners

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Pictured (L-R, top row): Brantley Gilbert & Carly Pearce; (L-R, bottom row): Midland & Callista Clark

The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix has announced country music artists Brantley Gilbert and Carly Pearce as the headliners for the Grand Ole Prix concert, set for Aug, 7. Midland and Callista Clark will also be joining the lineup.

The artists, who are all signed with Big Machine Label Group, will perform outdoors in downtown Nashville as part of a second consecutive year merging racing and music. The live, 90-minute show will begin at 5:45 p.m. CT on the ZYN Main Stage. The Grand Ole Prix will follow the conclusion of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix NTT IndyCar Series race and culminates the Aug. 5-7 festivities in the heart of Music City.

Gilbert, who was named ACM New Male Vocalist of the Year in 2012 and Top New Male Artist in 2013, is a multi-Platinum Georgia native. Seven No. 1 hits punctuate his career: “Country Must be Country Wide,” “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do,” CMA Song of the Year nominee “Dirt Road Anthem,” “My Kinda Party,” RIAA 5x Platinum-certified “Bottoms Up,” and “One Hell of an Amen.”

Reigning ACM/CMA Female Artist/Vocalist of the Year Pearce has enjoyed a recent wave of significant accolades as her “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” duet with Ashley McBryde became her second consecutive ACM Awards Music Event of the Year win and 29: Written in Stone was nominated for Album of the Year. The song also marked Pearce’s third No. 1 hit and they became only the third duet between two solo women to top Country Airplay since the Billboard chart’s 1990 inception. The Grand Ole Opry member will headline her first shows at the Ryman Auditorium on Oct. 26-27 after a summer touring with Kenny Chesney.

Midland has grown from a bar band to an in-demand headliner, selling out tours from coast to coast as well as supporting some of country music’s biggest stars, such as George Strait, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw and Little Big Town. Lead vocalist Mark Wystrach fronts their rich sound rounded out with lead guitarist/vocalist Jess Carson and bass player/vocalist Cameron Duddy. Following their Gold-certified debut album On the Rocks, Midland’s follow-up record Let it Roll reached the top of the charts.

Clark’s Real To Me produced top 20 hit “It’s ‘Cause I Am,” and became country radio’s most successful new artist debut of 2021. Her latest single, “Gave It Back Broken,” is featured on her forthcoming debut album Real To Me: The Way I Feel, arriving Oct. 14.

Music City Grand Prix Single-Day Tickets Go On Sale June 29

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Photo: Courtesy of the Music City Grand Prix

With the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix just over a month away, single-day tickets will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, June 29 at 10 a.m. CT.

The weekend of racing, music and food will take place in and around Nissan Stadium from Aug. 5-7. Fans will have the opportunity to catch concerts and the IndyCar grand prix on Sunday.

The individual-day tickets start as low as $39 for general admission and $49 for reserved grandstand for the second annual Big Machine Music City Grand Prix street circuit race. Single-day ticket purchases, along with a variety of other options, are available through www.musiccitygp.com or ticketmaster.com.

The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix NTT IndyCar Series race, the centerpiece event of the weekend on Sunday, Aug. 7, will have general admission tickets available at $89 and reserved grandstand at $119. The day’s activities will also include races in Indy Lights, GT America and Stadium SUPER Trucks; lapping session by the Vintage Indy cars; and the Grand Ole Prix concert featuring prominent names in country music following the IndyCar race.

NTT IndyCar Series qualifying and a concert by country superstar Tim McGraw will highlight the schedule for Saturday, Aug. 6. The day also will include IndyCar practice, Indy Lights qualifying, qualifying and races in GT America and Trans Am, a Stadium SUPER Trucks race and Vintage Indy lapping session. Single-day general admission are $69 and reserved grandstand are $89.

Wesley Mortgage Freedom Friday on Aug. 5 offers the least expensive weekend option at $39 for general admission and $49 for reserved grandstand. Friday’s schedule includes IndyCar practice sessions, Indy Lights, GT America, Trans Am along with Stadium SUPER Trucks practice and qualifying. The day also will feature the Freedom Friday Tribute Concert presented by Wesley Mortgage with a soon-to-be-announced line-up of musical performers.

Also available beginning Wednesday will be a limited Gold Circle add-on option for ticket holders interested in an upgrade for the Tim McGraw concert. Gold Circle purchasers will have a designated VIP area adjacent to the ZYN Main Stage that will include private restrooms and a cash bar. A Gold Circle upgrade must be accompanied by a Saturday Grand Prix ticket.