DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 30, 2023) – Multi-platinum recording artist Dierks Bentley will take the stage ahead of the 65th running of the DAYTONA 500, on Sunday, Feb. 19, Daytona International Speedway announced today.

The 14-time Grammy-nominated entertainer will perform a setlist of hit songs just before drivers take the green flag, signaling the start of the 2023 season and NASCAR’s 75th anniversary.

“I’m ready to get back to Daytona with all the biggest NASCAR fans,” Bentley said. “The energy there is unmatched and I know we will have a blast getting them ready for the race.”

A man with his own history at the World Center of Racing, Dierks Bentley has long been a favorite for NASCAR fans, previously performing at the 2011 Daytona 500 and during Speedweeks in 2009. He also most recently played before the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway in 2021.

Now, the “Somewhere on a Beach” singer returns to perform the award-winning tune and other hit songs, just a little ways down the road from the beach where NASCAR first began.

In a career spanning over two decades, Bentley has built an impressive discography, with his debut album producing an instant No. 1 single – the first of many. Since stepping onto the music scene, Bentley has had multiple chart-topping albums, resulting in 21 No. 1 hits, 8 billion streams, three CMA Awards and 14 Grammy nominations. Bentley’s success also earned him membership into the Grand Ole Opry – one of country music’s greatest honors.

Bentley is currently gearing up to release his 10th album, entitled “Gravel & Gold,” marking another milestone in his impressive career. The album is set to arrive Feb. 24 of this year – just days after his performance at Daytona International Speedway.

“We’re honored to welcome Dierks back to the World Center of Racing,” said Daytona International Speedway President Frank Kelleher. “Having an entertainer who knows how to start a party, preforming at the 65th DAYTONA 500 and kicking off NASCAR’s 75th anniversary season, is a combination fit for a fantastic Sunday.

Bentley’s concert is just one event in the multiple days of action-packed entertainment during Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth.

It all starts on Wednesday, Feb. 15, with DAYTONA 500 Qualifying Presented by Busch Light determining the front row for the DAYTONA 500. That’s followed up on Thursday, Feb. 16, with the Bluegreen Vacations Duel, where drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series battle it out for the chance to race on Sunday.

Friday sees the return of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in the Next Era Energy 250. Then, the racing continues with a double header on Saturday, Feb. 18, with the ARCA Menards Series Race, followed by the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner 300.

Then, on Sunday, directly following Bentley’s 1:15 pm performance, drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series will make their 2023 season debut in the 65th running of the DAYTONA 500.

The concert will take place on pit road, visible from the grandstands, but fans with a UNOH Fanzone Pass can watch Bentley’s set up close. A special VIP add-on is available for fans who want an exclusive view of the concert in an area next to the stage. Purchase of Fanzone passes also grants access to driver and VIP appearances, a glimpse into the NASCAR Cup Series garages, up-close access to driver introductions and more. Fans who have already purchased a ticket to The Great American Race can upgrade to include the UNOH Fanzone package to their experience.

Fans are encouraged to reserve their place in history during Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth by logging onto DAYTONA500.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. Additionally, fans can buy or sell reserved seats for the DAYTONA 500 by visiting SeatGeek, the Official Ticket Marketplace of NASCAR.

Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway via daytonainternationalspeedway.com, on TwitterFacebook and Instagram, as well as the NASCAR Tracks App, for the latest speedway news.

 

About Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a state-of-the-art motorsports facility and was awarded the SportsBusiness Journal’s prestigious Sports Business Award for Sports Facility of the Year in 2016. Daytona International Speedway is the home of The Great American Race – the DAYTONA 500. Though the season-opening NASCAR Cup Series event garners most of the attention – as well as the largest audience in motorsports – the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex, also known as the World Center of Racing, boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe. Some of the exciting racing events include January’s Rolex 24 At DAYTONA and Roar Before The Rolex 24, February’s DAYTONA 500 and Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth, March’s Bike Week At DAYTONA Presented By Monster Energy, featuring DAYTONA Supercross and the DAYTONA 200, the August Coke Zero Sugar 400 weekend, and much more. The Speedway grounds are also used extensively for other events that include concerts (Welcome to Rockville, Heroes Honor Festival, etc.), sporting events (DAYTONA Soccer Fest, CLASH DAYTONA, etc.) civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo shoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training.

 

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Sprint Race, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Pinty’s Series (Canada), NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 12 countries and more than 30 U.S. states. For more information visit http://www.nascar.com  and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

 

About Dierks Bentley

There comes a time in any climb up one of Colorado’s famous 14,000 foot peaks when, after a few hours of striving, you pause on a ledge, turn around, and marvel at the vista and the ground you’ve covered. That’s where Dierks Bentley finds himself, 20 years into an exceptional career in 21st century Country music, with plans to release his 10th studio album GRAVEL & GOLD on Feb. 24. It’s a diverse, 14-track album including his Top 10 and climbing single “Gold,” about perspective and self-awareness at many levels from the personal to the professional. It’s also a testament to the many strains of country music Bentley has mastered and cultivated in his career, from the arena shaker to the barroom weeper to the bluegrass fireballer.  The years since have revealed a rare consistency that’s fueled longevity – eight more albums that reached the top of the Country sales charts, resulting in 21 No. One songs, 8 billion streams, three CMA Awards, 14 GRAMMY® nominations and membership into the Grand Ole Opry. Trendy sounds have ebbed and flowed around him over these two decades, but fans have relied on Bentley for something more nourishing and individual. He also has created professional endeavors outside of the music with his Flag & Anthem lifestyle collection Desert Son, along with his “Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row” franchise hosting four locations. For more information and a list of upcoming tour dates, visit www.Dierks.com.