During the pre-race show for the Bank of America 500 on Saturday Oct. 15, fans will be treated to a concert by country music superstar Sara Evans, witness an attempt to set a Guinness World Record and can cheer on the women of NASCAR as they compete in the Better Half Dash.
The pre-race show will also feature the world premiere of country music artist Justin Moore’s “Bait A Hook” music video on the world’s largest HDTV, featuring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader Carl Edwards. The invocation will be delivered by 2011 Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne and Evans will return for the singing of the national anthem.
Spectator gates will open at 2:00 p.m. An approximate timeline of pre-race events follows:
2:30 p.m.
The guys will step aside when the ladies put on the firesuits for the inaugural Better Half Dash, a 25-lap Bandolero race on Charlotte Motor Speedway’s frontstretch quarter mile oval as a part of the Bank of America 500 pre-race activities. Participants include Angie Skinner, wife of 1995 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Mike Skinner and SPEED television personality Wendy Venturini. The charity race will support Motor Racing Outreach (MRO) and Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC). Fans can donate $10 to MRO and SCC by texting “MOTOR” to 20222.
5:15 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
The Bank of America 500 pre-race show will start off with an hour-long free concert by multi-platinum recording artist Evans. Admission to the concert is free for all fans with the purchase of a ticket to the Bank of America 500. Following the concert, human cannonball David “The Bullet” Smith will attempt to soar 70 feet in the air and set a Guinness World Record for height shot from a cannon. Smith currently holds Guinness World Record for distance shot from a cannon, at 193 feet.
6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Several special presentations will be made on the pre-race stage, including the Wounded Warrior Check Presentation, followed by “God Bless America,” sung by Anthony Fedorov, a contestant from Season Four of “American Idol.” A C-130 fly over by the Rescue Squadron from Moody Air Force Base in Georgia will take place at approximately 6:42 p.m.
Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway, will officially welcome fans to the track and a host of VIPs will grace the pre-race stage. A special recognition of five fans who have been coming to Charlotte Motor Speedway races for 50 years will be made, followed by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver introductions for the Bank of America 500.
7:00 p.m. – 7:39 p.m.
Immediately after driver introductions, in conjunction with the premiere on CMT, fans attending the Bank of America 500 will watch Moore’s new country music video at approximately 7:15 p.m. on the world’s largest HDTV. The invocation will then be given by NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Trevor Bayne and the national anthem will be sung by Evans. The command for “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines” will be given by Dr. Cindy Moss, director of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math program at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
7:48 p.m.
The green flag will drop to begin the 52nd running of the Bank of America 500.
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