Saving Abel leads music lineup for Allstate 400
Popular rock band Saving Abel will play from 11 a.m.-noon (ET) Sunday, July 26 on the Coke Zero Stage, concluding 30 minutes before 2009 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard pre-race ceremonies begin. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series superstars such as four-time Allstate 400 at the Brickyard winner Jeff Gordon and two-time "400" winners Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson will contest the 16th running of the mid-summer classic at 2 p.m.
The Coke Zero Stage is located in the IMS Pagoda Plaza, located directly behind the landmark Pagoda control tower.
Corinth, Miss.-based Saving Abel released its self-titled major-label debut album in March 2008 and the album was certified gold a year later, mostly on the strength of the hit single "Addicted," which peaked at No. 2 in Billboard magazine's U.S. Mainstream Rock chart.
The Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Practice Day lineup Friday, July 24 features Indianapolis-based musical acts Healing Sixes from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and Corey Cox from 4:30-5:30 p.m., both on the Coke Zero Stage.
Blues-rock band Healing Sixes recently released a maxi-single "Fine Time" featuring guitar ace Joe Bonamassa, while Cox continues to promote his country sound.
The Speedway's public gates open at 8 a.m. Friday with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice scheduled for 2-3 p.m. and 3:30-4:30 p.m.
The Coke Zero Stage music lineup Saturday, July 25 includes country music artist Casey Jamerson from 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., The Elms from 1-2 p.m., Megan Linville from 3-3:45 p.m. and Steve Trent and Small Town from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Jamerson, an Indianapolis native pursuing a country music career in Nashville, also will sing the national anthem shortly before the race begins. Kristen Santos will be alongside Jamerson, translating the "Star Spangled Banner" into American Sign Language for the hearing impaired. Santos signed the national anthem alongside Jennifer Hudson at Super Bowl XLIII in February at Tampa, Fla.
This will be the third performance this year at IMS for fan favorite Jamerson. She played a concert during the Centennial Era Balloon Festival and sang the national anthem on Indianapolis 500 Pole Day, both in May. Jamerson also sang "America the Beautiful/God Bless America" during pre-race ceremonies for the 2008 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.
Seymour, Ind.-based rock band The Elms will release its latest album "The Great American Midrange" on Aug. 25. The band's song "Back to Indiana" was featured in ABC's 2009 Indianapolis 500 broadcast. Nashville native Linville and Ladoga, Ind.-based Steve Trent and Small Town are both up-and-coming country music artists.
Public gates open at 7 a.m. Saturday with 2009 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard qualifying getting underway at 10:10 a.m. Sprint Cup Series practice sessions will follow from 2-3 p.m. and 3:30-4:30 p.m.