What's With a Pre-Race Concert?

Originally Posted February 28, 2006 on Foxsports.com

Somewhere after the Bon Jovi concert at Daytona and the Jewel concert at California, I got a bit miffed with this whole pre-race concert idea. 

The first time I remember seeing a pre-race concert was in 2004 at the Brickyard (I'm sure it happened before then, but it was the first I noticed it).  It was truly a pre-race concert - the concert started and finished well before driver introductions and took place on the infield behind the garages. 

The next pre-race concert I saw took place at Charlotte - again well before the introductions and the start of the race.  Fans could go to the concert and still find time to get to their seats.

However, the past two races have added a whole new element to the term "pre-race" concert.  At both Daytona and California, a concert was performed AFTER driver introductions.  Drivers and teams were left standing around for at least 10 minutes waiting for the show to end.  Then the staging had to be pulled off, the crowd dispersed, and then the cars were started.  And all of this was naturally broadcast on TV.

When did Nascar enter the music promotion business?  Was there a memo I missed?  Shouldn't we all be compensated for being held hostage by these groups?  Do we really need to add another 15 minutes to an already lengthy show?  

Do we really think Jewel is a nascar fan?  Could she have looked more uncomfortable trackside?  I like Bon Jovi, and on a good day I can tolerate Jewel, but I am fully capable of buying a ticket to their concert if I want to hear them sing.

And while we're at it, why does Nascar bring in these celebrities who only appear at Nascar events when they have a movie to promote?  It doesn't help sell tickets - do you think that Jewel fans flocked to buy tickets to see her sing trackside?  Aren't the ticketholders there to see their favorite celebrites, who happen to like to drive at 190 mph?

Does Nascar think fans don't notice these people are only around when they have some product/movie/book to push?  This week Hilary Duff waved the green flag (and her sister Haylie was an "honorary official"  - the only reason they were there was to promote their new gum commercials.  Brittany Spears attended a race several years ago - and even though she had a "deal" to make a nascar movie, we have yet to see her again. 

What ever you think of her, Pamela Anderson makes a few appearances a year at the track regardless whether or not she has a new show/movie/book out, as does Kid Rock and Nick Lachey.  At least they're not just generating nascar publicity as a one time thing - they act like genuine fans.  Or free ticket freeloaders.

Nascar needs to stick to what it does best - which is not promoting albums, movies, or books. 

Nascar is best at racing.  And generating controversies.