Country Meets NASCAR At Indy
NASCAR is racing at the Brickyard this weekend and several country stars are taking center stage.
This is the third year in a row that the big NASCAR racing weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway has featured major country music stars.
ACM Vocal Group of the Year The Band Perry and ACM New Artist of the Year Justin Moore will perform today following the Lilly Diabetes 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race. The music will continue Sunday morning featuring artists on the Big Machine Label Group including headliner Brantley Gilbert. They will take the stage prior to the stars of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series battling on the famed 2.5-mile Indianapolis oval in the 21st annual 400 at the Brickyard.
NASCAR's Ford drivers are trying to do something that has not been done at Indy in 15 years and that is win the Brickyard 400. Chevrolet drivers including last year's winner Ryan Newman have won the last 11 Brickyard 400s.
This year may be one of Ford's best chances. Team Penske Ford driver Brad Keselowski has won two of his last three races and was second fastest in this morning's "Happy Hour" practice session. Six-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson who has four of the Chevrolet wins at Indy was fastest in that final practice session. In addition to Penske teammate Joey Logano, Juan Pablo Montoya is looking to make his second Cup Series start for Team Penske this weekend at the Brickyard.
Toyota has never won the Brickyard 400.
In local racing Friday night, Pennsylvanian Jeff Strunk picked up his first career win in the modified feature at Albany-Saratoga Speedway over Marc Johnson. Ronnie Johnson was third followed by Jeremy Wilder and Elmo Reckner. Connor Cleveland and Robbie Speed won the Sportsman and Pro Stock features. Josh Hohenforst won the modified feature at the Glen Ridge Motorsports Park.