TALLADEGA, Ala. (Sept. 30, 2024) – Talladega Superspeedway announced today that country music star and Army Reserve soldier Craig Morgan will perform the National Anthem alongside the 313th U.S. Army Band prior to the start of the NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 Playoff race on Sunday, Oct. 6. The patriotic collaboration between Morgan and the 313th U.S. Army Band will be an incredibly powerful performance and inspiration to all.
Prior to becoming a country music star, Morgan spent seventeen years serving our country in the Army and Army Reserve and enlisted again in 2023, continuing his military career as a Warrant Officer in the Army Reserve with the 313th U.S. Army Band.
“It’s an honor to have Craig Morgan perform the National Anthem with the 313th U.S. Army Band for the NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500,” said Talladega Superspeedway President Brian Crichton. “Craig defines what it means to be a patriot for our country, and we thank him for his service. His extraordinary musical talent is sure to deliver a powerful National Anthem that will be a special moment for all our fans.”
Morgan remains an avid supporter of America’s military personnel and has made more than sixteen overseas trips to perform for our troops. He is a member of the U.S. Field Artillery Hall of Fame and recipient of the USO Merit Award. In 2018, he was awarded the Army’s Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, one of the highest awards the Department of the Army can bestow upon a civilian, in recognition of his significant dedication to our military men and women around the world. He remains committed to supporting active duty and veteran members of our military through work with Operation Finally Home, the USO and more.
“It’s an honor to represent my country and perform with my fellow soldiers in the 313th U.S. Army Band – and there’s no place better to do it than in front of thousands of NASCAR fans at the start of Sunday’s Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway,” said Morgan.
A multi-faceted entertainer, Morgan is one of country music’s best-loved artists, having amassed nearly 2.5 billion career streams and charted over 25 songs on Billboard, thrilling massive crowds with signature hits including “Bonfire,” “Almost Home,” “Redneck Yacht Club,” “International Harvester,” “This Ole Boy,” “Soldier,” and the multi-week No. 1, “That’s What I Love About Sunday.” In late 2023, Craig released his newest project Enlisted, a six-song collection of reimagined hits and brand-new songs featuring collaborations with Trace Adkins, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Gary LeVox, Blake Shelton, and Lainey Wilson.
There is plenty of exciting NASCAR Playoff action at Talladega Superspeedway, kicking off Friday, Oct. 4, with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Love’s RV Stop 225 during the Round of 8, followed by the NASCAR Xfinity Series United Rentals 250 on Saturday, Oct. 5, in the Round of 12.
The excitement continues into Sunday, Oct. 6, with the return of the YellaWood 500 during the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 12 at Talladega Superspeedway, as drivers prepare to tackle the iconic 33-degree banking.
For ticketing information and more details about upcoming events, including the fall 2024 Playoff weekend, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com
Fans are also encouraged to keep up with all the happenings at Talladega Superspeedway by following along on Twitter, Facebook and Insta
About Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is the most competitive racetrack on the NASCAR schedule (record 88 lead changes in 188 laps), the highest-banked (33 degrees) and the longest (2.66 miles), as well as the most fun and fan-friendly. Three-and four-wide racing at 200 mph are a norm at Talladega Superspeedway, along with nail-biting, photo finishes. For information, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com
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 14 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 Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Mexico Series, 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 five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.
For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X and Snapchat.
About Craig Morgan
A multi-faceted entertainer, Craig Morgan has made a name for himself as a country music icon, TV personality, author, celebrated outdoorsman and patriotic Army veteran. One of country music’s best-loved artists, Morgan has amassed nearly 2.5 billion career streams and charted over 25 songs on Billboard, thrilling massive crowds with signature hits including “Bonfire,” “Almost Home,” “Redneck Yacht Club,” “International Harvester,” “This Ole Boy,” “Soldier,” and the multi-week No. 1, “That’s What I Love About Sunday.” In late 2023, Craig released his newest project Enlisted, a six-song collection of reimagined hits and brand-new songs featuring collaborations with Trace Adkins, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Gary LeVox, Blake Shelton, and Lainey Wilson.
Craig received one of country music’s highest honors when he was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Prior to becoming a country music star and TV sensation, Morgan served seventeen years serving our country in the Army and Army Reserve and last year enlisted in the Army Reserve, continuing his military career as a Warrant Officer. Morgan remains an avid supporter of America’s military personnel and has made more than sixteen overseas trips to perform for our troops. He is a member of the U.S. Field Artillery Hall of Fame and recipient of the USO Merit Award. In 2018, he was awarded the Army’s Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, one of the highest awards the Department of the Army can bestow upon a civilian, in recognition of his significant dedication to our military men and women around the world. He remains committed to supporting active duty and veteran members of our military through work with Operation Finally Home, the USO and more.
His emotional and inspiring memoir – God, Family, Country – is available now. In the book, Craig details all aspects from his inspiring life, revealing never-before-heard stories including the impetus behind his recent enlistment in the Army Reserve, how he worked alongside the CIA as a soldier in Panama, fought sex traffickers as an undercover agent in Thailand, forged his own path to country music stardom, and lives his life by the deepest values: God, family, country.
With touring season in full swing, Craig has a busy global concert schedule for 2024, with over 50 shows including two dates in South Africa and 6 stops on his inaugural “Redneck Yacht Club Tour.” In 2025 he’ll join Blake Shelton for his Friends & Heroes Tour with 12 shows in February and March. Find tickets to see Craig on tour at craigmorgan.com.
