Deuces were wild, and so was the racing in the streets as the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix returned over the weekend for a second big year of action.
As we strolled through the downtown on Friday, August 5, on our way to a concert by legendary rock outfit Grand Funk Railroad – coincidentally hailing from Motor City – we observed a flurry of activity as pit crews decked out in colorful shirts and most wearing heavy backpacks made their way from the pedestrian bridge to the paddocks on Korean Veterans Boulevard. That area served as a transitional hub for the course that runs back over the Cumberland River to the starting line at Nissan Stadium. Some were even rolling tires across Demonbreun Street in front of the Country Music Hall of Fame, which is something you don’t see every day.
Courtesy Music City Nashville
The multi-day event also provided noises you don’t hear every day. Big City Machine has dubbed the race weekend “The New Sound of Nashville.” We certainly listened to the hum and buzz of revving engines as the G.T. America drivers conducted their practice runs in Music City. Also on the schedule was the big race on Sunday courtesy of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, plus competition in the Indy Lights, G.T. America, Trans Am, Stadium SUPER Trucks, and Vintage Indy categories.
Still, it is Music City, so there was some of the old Nashville sound offered up as the soundtrack to the party with special concerts throughout the weekend accessible to ticket holders provided by Aaron Lewis, Tim McGraw, Brantley Gilbert, and Carly Pearce. Attendees at the O.A.R./Dispatch pairing at the Ascend Amphitheater on Saturday night also had the bonus of being able to watch and hear the Grand Prix qualifying race as it looped around the venue. Talk about sensory overload!
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is held across the U.S. and Canada. While INDYCAR is the governing body for the sport, each race is operated by its ownership group. In Nashville, organizers promise to combine all that Music City does best by hosting a festival-like series of events focused on music, celebrity, food, and racing to create a best-in-class annual event on the IndyCar schedule that benefits the city, the fans, and the racing community alike.
With year two under their belt, they are well on the way to delivering on their lofty promises with speed and precision.
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Co-authored with Laura Lynch and published in Music City Nashville.
