Jim Cornelison to sing National Anthem before TMNT 400, plus announcing more pre-race festivities
The Anthem Singer to headline a plethora of events during race weekend
Joliet, Ill. (September 12, 2016) – NASCAR fans traveling to Chicagoland Speedway for the upcoming weekend will experience an abundance of amenities in addition to four days of action-packed racing. Fans of all ages will receive a fully-engaging NASCAR experience marked by the kick off for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup as the green flag flies on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400.
Pre-Race Show
For the fourth consecutive year, national anthem singer Jim Cornelison, who is better known as the “Gold Standard,” will perform the “The Star Spangled Banner” to kick off the first race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 18.
Rounding out the pre-race pageantry will be a flyover from the 122nd Fighter Wing Unit for the Air National Guard which is fitting as Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 is the 69th Anniversary of the U.S. Air Force.
Major Concert Entertainment
Country music singer and songwriter Chase Rice will perform the pre-race concert for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400. Rice worked on a NASCAR pit crew before moving to Nashville to pursue his career in music. Rice has a special passion for NASCAR, developed first through years of attending races while following his father’s racing career and through his own career experience within the sport.
Rice recently released “Everybody We Know Does,” the first single from his highly anticipated, as-yet-untitled new album. His most recent RIAA Gold-certified album, Ignite the Night, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and yielded a pair of Top 5 singles with the Platinum-certified "Ready Set Roll” and “Gonna Wanna Tonight.”
Pre-Race Show
For the fourth consecutive year, national anthem singer Jim Cornelison, who is better known as the “Gold Standard,” will perform the “The Star Spangled Banner” to kick off the first race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 18.
Rounding out the pre-race pageantry will be a flyover from the 122nd Fighter Wing Unit for the Air National Guard which is fitting as Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 is the 69th Anniversary of the U.S. Air Force.
Champions Park
Champions Park is a family-friendly area open to all race fans, which includes live entertainment, the Kids Zone featuring appearances by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a social hub providing games and prizes as well as monuments dedicated to past winners. The park is recognized as one of the most impressive fan-interactive display areas on the motorsports circuit as it provides a park-like setting right next to the grandstands where all fans can enjoy entertainment and engaging activities in a party atmosphere before and after the race.
Chicagoland Speedway is also presenting a NASCAR Post-Race Party in Champions Park. This special show will feature live music with Maggie Speaks and an appearance by Rusty Wallace. The post-race party will kick-off approximately 30 minutes after the checkered flag is waved.
Win a Trip to Homestead
Fans can register to win the Championship Weekend Getaway at ChicagolandSpeedway.com, by stopping by the Fans Pit Stop in Championship Park or through the Mobile App. The winner will receive two tickets to all three NASCAR Championship races at Homestead-Miami Speedway (November 18-20). The winner will also receive hotel accommodations and $1,200 for travel.
Let’s Talk Food Fan Zone
For $75, fans can purchase a grandstand ticket and entrance to the Let’s Talk Food Fan Zone. Fan Zone Pit Pass holders are able to spend pre-race in the infield meaning that they are placed in close proximity to the pre-race concert and driver introductions. They are provided access to view the drivers’ red carpet walk, participate in NASCAR personality question-and-answer sessions and visit Gatorade Victory Lane prior to the races.
Legends Club
Since its inception in 2014, Legends Club has featured some of the most storied figures, families and personalities in the sport. This climate-controlled viewing suite offers an intimate setting with an all-inclusive package of beer and wine, plus two meals per day. Since its inception, the Legends Club has honored and recognized some of the most notable drivers in the sport, including Rusty Wallace, Richard Childress, Fred Lorenzen, Dale Jarrett and Brett Bodine. Part-time XFINITY Series driver Joe Nemechek will be in attendance on Friday, Sept.16 while “The King” Richard Petty will make a special appearance on Saturday, Sept. 17.
Celebrities
National Highway Traffic Safety Association administrator Dr. Mark R. Rosekind will serve as Grand Marshal of the Drive for Safety 300 on Saturday, Sept. 17. Then, on Sunday, Sept. 20, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles voice actor, Greg Cipes, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles themselves and the kids of NASCAR will serve as Grand Marshals for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400.
Mobile App
Fans can get their information on the go and keep up with the most up to date track action with the Chicagoland Speedway Mobile App. This is a resourceful tool to use for track maps, camping, admissions, purchasing tickets and even times and scheduling. Additionally, it is a great way to keep up with announcements, notices, directions, and much more by simply downloading it to your Android or iPhone completely FREE of charge.
Food Offerings
Highlighting this year’s menu will be the Heart Attack Chips and homemade 10” Italian Sausage sandwich from Genoa Italian Concessions. Genoa Italian Concessions begins the Heart Attack Chips build by starting with three fresh potatoes that are spun into chips before being dropped into the deep fryer. After placed on a plate, a healthy portion of melted cheese and more than a half pound of bacon top the chips. Starting with their own special sausage recipe, Genoa Italian Concessions presents its 10” Italian sausage on a fresh bun with onions and peppers.
Free Parking and Coolers Permitted
General parking at Chicagoland Speedway is always FREE. Fans are allowed and encouraged to bring a soft-sided coolers (6x6x12) filled with beverages and snacks!
The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend at Chicagoland Speedway, Sept. 15-18, will begin with the addition of ARCA Racing Series on Thursday evening followed by the American Ethanol E15 225 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race under the lights on Friday night. On Saturday, Sept. 17, the NASCAR XFINITY Series will hit the track as the precursor to Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series showdown, the first race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Tickets can be purchased online at ChicagolandSpeedway.com, by calling 888-629-RACE, through the Chicagoland Speedway mobile app, or by visiting the Chicagoland Speedway administrative office Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The complete 2016 NASCAR schedule at Chicagoland Speedway is as follows:
Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Weekend
Thursday, Sept. 15 ARCA Racing Series SCOTT® 150
Friday, Sept. 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series I-Cash Pole Qualifying
Friday, Sept. 16 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series American Ethanol e15 225
Saturday, Sept. 17 NASCAR XFINITY Series Drive for Safety 300
Sunday, Sept. 18 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400
For the most current information about Chicagoland Speedway, follow us on Facebook along with Twitter and Instagram @chicagolndspdwy.
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Additionally, via MRN.com (via TheLedger.com):
'Turtle Power' Meets Horsepower
TMNT Paint Schemes | Chicagoland Tickets
Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is the entitlement sponsor for Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway. (Photo: Jeff Wackerlin)
JOLIET, Ill. - "Turtle power" will meet horsepower this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway.
Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are the entitlement sponsor for Sunday's Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup opener to continue the popular kid's network's involvement in NASCAR. A number of special paint schemes featuring the Turtles and their nemeses from the Foot Clan will be not only be in the Sprint Cup race but also the XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series races.
The first paint scheme was announced back in April with Danica Patrick driving her No. 10 Nature's Bakery/TMNT April O'Neil car down Michigan Avenue in Chicago as part of Nickelodeon's sponsorship press event (Video).
"I watched the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and know the theme song," Patrick said. "Looking back, when you're a kid you don’t put everything into context. Only cartoons could make the sewer cool and make you want to have pizza.
"My favorite Turtle is Raphael - No. 1 because I like red and No. 2 because he's the most fiery."
Raphael will be on Regan Smith's No. 7 Nikko RC Chevrolet, joining Donatello on Michael McDowell's No. 95 Thrivent Financial Chevrolet and Leonardo on David Ragan's No. 23 Jewel Osco Toyota.
Regan Smith
"I was a big Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan as a kid," Ragan said. "Anybody growing up in my era was. I was one of the Ninja Turtles for Halloween on a few occasions. I can remember watching those movies and having fun."
NASCARThe villains of the Foot Clan will also be represented in the Cup race with two of the henchmen of the Turtles’ arch-enemy Shredder – Rocksteady, a mutant white rhinoceros, and Bebop, a mutant warthog on the No. 32 and 38 Fords of Joey Gase and Landon Cassill, respectively.
Danica Patrick
The XFINITY Series Drive for Safety 300 will see Darrell Wallace Jr. have Shredder on his No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford along with TMNT Michelangelo going for the ride on Daniel Suarez's No. 19 ARRIS Toyota.
John Hunter Nemechek will sport a paint scheme in the Truck Series' American Ethanol e15 225 that will feature all the characters split down the middle, with the Turtles (#TeamTurtle) on the driver’s side and the Foot Clan (#TeamFoot) on the other.
David Ragan
"I'm really looking forward to having them on the truck," Nemechek said. "We haven’t decided which side we are on."
Like Ragan, this weekend will bring back memories of Halloween growing up as kid for a number of drivers.
"I don’t remember watching the Ninja Turtles, but I do remember I was one for Halloween," said Joey Logano, who will compete in this year's Chase. "I was the red one."
"I did watch some Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," said Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the No. 17 Ford in the Sprint Cup Series. "I was a Ninja Turtle for Halloween when I was a kid. I've seen maybe a couple pictures."
Joey Gase
TMNT TrophyThe Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been a part of previous races, at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway. McDowell last drove a Turtles-themed car in the 2014 Cup race at AMS while Chris Buescher, who will compete in this year's Chase, piloted a TMNT car in the XFINITY race that weekend.
"I got to hang out with them (at AMS) and they brought all the characters out," Buescher said. "This gets the kids pumped up. It's exciting to see all the kids interacting with them during driver intros and on pit road."
The Chicagoland race weekend will feature a number of family-focused activities that include the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles appearing in the Kids’ Zone.
"Representing the kickoff race in the Chase is a huge honor for us, but to have a world-class brand like Nickelodeon and a pre-eminent youth brand like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise on your race is huge," said Scott Paddock, Chicagoland Speedway president. "Our younger fans are going to see an unprecedented level of activation with youth programming and activities during race weekend."
Landon Cassill
Michael McDowell
Darrell Wallace Jr.
Daniel Suarez
John Hunter Nemechek
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