He is a beloved St. Louis icon. He sang the National Anthem prior to the opening puck drop at St. Louis Blues home games for 19 years. And now Charles Glenn is coming to World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, on August 24 to sing “The Star Spangled Banner” before the start of the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 INDYCAR race.
Glenn, 64, retired from singing the National Anthem at St. Louis NHL games at the end of the 2018-2019 season – the year they won their first Stanley Cup championship.
Glenn’s mother was an accomplished opera singer, but her son leaned toward the pop scene. Over the course of his career in and around music, Glenn has opened for Smokey Robinson, Huey Lewis and the News, Meatloaf and Earth, Wind and Fire.
John Kelly, who has called Blues games for 17 years, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch home games at Enterprise Center won’t be the same without Glenn.
“I’m lucky enough to see every anthem in every arena, and I think Charles is one of the very best,” said Kelly. “His rendition of our anthem is fantastic. When Charles does the anthem, he does it from the heart. When he’s done, our building is electric.”
To hear Glenn sing the National Anthem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
The annual Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline brings the cars and international racing stars of the Indianapolis 500 to the St. Louis-Metro East region. Tickets start at just $40 for adults and kids 15 and under are free. Race day also includes races for Indy Lights, Indy Pro 2000 and NASCAR K&N Pro Series East-West cars – not to mention fireworks and a pre-race show. To purchase tickets or obtain more information about WWTR, please call (618) 215-8888 or visit www.wwtraceway.com. Follow WWTR on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram.
Thursday, August 22 – Free fanfest at Ballpark Village; Racing Night at Busch Stadium
4:30-6:30 p.m. – Free fanfest at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis across from Busch Stadium. Meet-and-greet with INDYCAR Indy Lights, Indy Pro 2000 and NASCAR K&N Pro Series drivers, show cars, games, prizes.
Fanfest driver autograph sessions:
4:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. — NASCAR K&N Pro Series East & West drivers.
5:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. — Indy Lights and Indy Pro 2000 drivers.
5:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. — NTT IndyCar Series drivers.
6:45 p.m. – Racing Night at Busch Stadium – St. Louis Cardinals vs. Colorado Rockies. Josef Newgarden, 2017 INDYCAR champion, will throw out the first pitch. Fans who purchase their game tickets at www.Cardinals.com/theme will receive a Harrison Bader race car bobblehead.
Friday, August 23 – Coors Light Pole Night Showdown
10 a.m. — Parking lots open.
11 a.m.-6 p.m. — James Hinchcliffe Red Cross Blood Drive (drag strip tower).
11:30 a.m. — Spectator gates open; Paddock pass upgrades open.
1-2 p.m. — NTT IndyCar Series practice.
2:15-2:45 p.m. — Indy Pro 2000 practice.
3-3:45 p.m. — Indy Lights practice.
4-5 p.m. — Vintage Indy Registry exhibition.
5:15-6:15 p.m. — Coors Light Pole Night NTT IndyCar Series qualifying.
6:30-7:15 p.m. — Indy Pro 2000 qualifying.
7:30-8 p.m. — Indy Lights qualifying.
8:15-9:15 p.m. – NTT IndyCar Series final practice.
10:30 p.m. – Track closed.
Saturday, August 24 – Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline race day
10 a.m. — Parking lots open.
11:30 a.m. — Spectator gates open.
11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. — Vintage Indy Registry exhibition.
12:45-2:15 p.m. — Vintage Indy Registry Open Wheel Icons garage party and autograph session.
12:30-1:30 p.m. — NASCAR K&N Pro Series East & West qualifying.
1:45 p.m. — Indy Pro 2000 Championship presented by Cooper Tires (55 laps).
2-6 p.m. — Rumble Before the Roar pre-race party.
2 p.m. — NTT IndyCar Series paddock opens.
2:40 p.m. — Vintage Indy Registry final exhibition.
3-4 p.m. — NTT IndyCar Series driver autograph session.
3:25 p.m. — Indy Lights race (75 laps).
4:35 p.m. — NASCAR K&N Pro Series East & West Monaco 125 presented by West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame.
5:15 p.m. — Indy Lights, Indy Pro 2000 driver autograph session at the INDYCAR Fan Village.
6:15 p.m. — Parade laps.
6:30 p.m. — Bommarito Automotive Group 500 pre-race show.
7 p.m. — NTT IndyCar Series Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline.
WWTR PR
