{"id":15716,"date":"2018-04-08T08:00:13","date_gmt":"2018-04-08T13:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=15716"},"modified":"2018-04-07T15:51:53","modified_gmt":"2018-04-07T20:51:53","slug":"celebrities-music-highlight-pre-race-festivities-at-oreilly-auto-parts-500-at-texas-motor-speedway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2018\/04\/08\/celebrities-music-highlight-pre-race-festivities-at-oreilly-auto-parts-500-at-texas-motor-speedway\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrities, music highlight pre-race festivities at O&#8217;Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"15920\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2018\/04\/08\/celebrities-music-highlight-pre-race-festivities-at-oreilly-auto-parts-500-at-texas-motor-speedway\/tmsloudproudapril2018_ashley\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/TMSLoudProudApril2018_Ashley-e1523134124403.jpg?fit=640%2C455&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"640,455\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;TMSLoudProudApril2018_Ashley&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"TMSLoudProudApril2018_Ashley\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/TMSLoudProudApril2018_Ashley-e1523134124403.jpg?fit=640%2C455&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-15920\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/TMSLoudProudApril2018_Ashley-e1523134124403.jpg?resize=640%2C455\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"455\"><\/h3>\n<h3>Grand Marshal: Kix Brooks<\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_15719\" style=\"width: 160px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"15719\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2018\/04\/08\/celebrities-music-highlight-pre-race-festivities-at-oreilly-auto-parts-500-at-texas-motor-speedway\/brooks\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Brooks.jpg?fit=240%2C359&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"240,359\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Country artist Kix Brooks photographed at the Great Eastern Exposition in West Springfield, MA on September 27, 2013.&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1380240000&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Chris and Todd Owyoung&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Brooks\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Country artist Kix Brooks photographed at the Great Eastern Exposition in West Springfield, MA on September 27, 2013.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Brooks.jpg?fit=240%2C359&amp;ssl=1\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15719\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-15719\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Brooks.jpg?resize=150%2C150\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Brooks.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Brooks.jpg?resize=240%2C238&amp;ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Brooks.jpg?resize=50%2C50&amp;ssl=1 50w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Brooks.jpg?resize=55%2C55&amp;ssl=1 55w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-15719\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Country artist Kix Brooks photographed at the Great Eastern Exposition in West Springfield, MA on September 27, 2013.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>American Country Music artist, actor and film producer&nbsp;<b>Kix Brooks<\/b>&nbsp;will serve as the Grand Marshal and deliver the command for the <b>O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts 500<\/b> Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, April 8, at <b>Texas Motor Speedway<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>Brooks is best known for being half of the award-winning musical duo&nbsp;Brooks &amp; Dunn&nbsp;as well as host of radio\u2019s American Country Countdown. In their two decades together, Brooks &amp; Dunn won more Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music awards than any act in the history of country music. They have sold more than 30 million records.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/04C7sxDKvIg?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<h4>&nbsp;<\/h4>\n<h3>National Anthem Performance: Lewis Warren<\/h3>\n<p>In April of 2009, budding 12-year-old pianist&nbsp;<strong>Lewis Warren<\/strong>, donning a white tuxedo, announced his arrival on the national stage by performing the National Anthem in front of more than <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"15721\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2018\/04\/08\/celebrities-music-highlight-pre-race-festivities-at-oreilly-auto-parts-500-at-texas-motor-speedway\/warren-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/warren.jpg?fit=525%2C350&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"525,350\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"warren\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/warren.jpg?fit=525%2C350&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-15721 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/warren.jpg?resize=150%2C150\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/warren.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/warren.jpg?resize=50%2C50&amp;ssl=1 50w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/warren.jpg?resize=55%2C55&amp;ssl=1 55w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/warren.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=150%2C150 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/warren.jpg?zoom=3&amp;resize=150%2C150 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>150,000 fans and a national television audience prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway.<\/p>\n<p>Nine years later, Warren is returning for an encore performance as he will handle the National Anthem duties prior to next Sunday\u2019s <strong>O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts 500<\/strong>. Now 21 years old, the Fort Worth native returns with an enhanced skill set and a burgeoning resume.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m very excited and honored to come back again,\u201d Warren said. \u201cThe race is such an exciting event, and also the opportunity to honor my country through song is always humbling. I honestly still can\u2019t believe how young I was when I performed. In that sense it does feel slightly different due to the fact that I find myself more matured emotionally and pianistically.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Warren is in his third year of college, studying Piano Performance at the esteemed New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.<\/p>\n<p>Since he last visited Texas Motor Speedway, Warren appeared on NBC\u2019s&nbsp;<em>America\u2019s Got Talent<\/em>, performed with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, was a finalist in the New England Conservatory\u2019s Honors Piano Competition and honored multiple times.<\/p>\n<p>Those honors include Grand Prize Winner at the Dallas Symphonic Festival Competition; Grand Prize Winner of the State and Regional Omega Psi Phi Talent Hunt Competition; and National Finalist in the Junior Division of MTNA Piano Competition.<\/p>\n<p>He gives much of the credit to his experience at Texas Motor Speedway.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI would say my life changed in the sense that I got a taste of the professional world and how to hold myself as a pianist at an early age,\u201d Warren said. \u201cI had to be mature and confident yet also be myself, which is joyful and playful simultaneously; great life lessons.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Warren\u2019s initial visit to Texas Motor Speedway came about when Texas Motor Speedway President&nbsp;Eddie Gossage&nbsp;watched the 12-year-old play during a church service.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhenever one&nbsp;is performing you never know who is listening in the audience,\u201d Warren said. \u201cI very was surprised when Mr. Gossage contacted me for the first time. To think on it reminds me of a saying: \u2018Whenever a musician plays, it is always a performance or audition.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5emgpr4ekRA?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Pre-Race Show:&nbsp; Bret Michaels<\/h3>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"15720\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2018\/04\/08\/celebrities-music-highlight-pre-race-festivities-at-oreilly-auto-parts-500-at-texas-motor-speedway\/markmazzanti-bretmichaels-guitar-300dpi-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/markmazzanti-bretmichaels-guitar-300dpi-2.jpg?fit=402%2C506&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"402,506\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4.2&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON D200&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1280840310&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;36&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0666666666667&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"markmazzanti-bretmichaels-guitar-300dpi-2\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/markmazzanti-bretmichaels-guitar-300dpi-2.jpg?fit=402%2C506&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-15720\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/markmazzanti-bretmichaels-guitar-300dpi-2.jpg?resize=150%2C150\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/markmazzanti-bretmichaels-guitar-300dpi-2.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/markmazzanti-bretmichaels-guitar-300dpi-2.jpg?resize=50%2C50&amp;ssl=1 50w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/markmazzanti-bretmichaels-guitar-300dpi-2.jpg?resize=55%2C55&amp;ssl=1 55w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/markmazzanti-bretmichaels-guitar-300dpi-2.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=150%2C150 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>Multi-platinum star Bret Michaels, renowned as the lead singer for the glam metal band Poison, will headline the Loud &amp; Proud Pre-Race Show Powered by Ashley HomeStores on Sunday, April 8 prior to the <strong>O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts 500<\/strong> Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway.<\/p>\n<p>Michaels\u2019 appearance at Texas Motor Speedway is part of his \u201cParty Starts Now\u201d solo tour and is free to all that have purchased a ticket to the O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts 500. Fans also have an opportunity to get closer to Michaels by purchasing a \u201cmosh pit\u201d pass for $79 that allows stage-side access for the concert as well as Cup driver introductions. The hour-long concert, which will be held on the frontstretch, will begin at 11 a.m. CT.<\/p>\n<p>Michaels\u2019&nbsp;iconic hits include \u201cSomething to Believe In,\u201d \u201cEvery Rose Has Its Thorn,\u201d \u201cAll I Ever Needed\u201d and \u201cNothin\u2019 But A Good Time.\u201d He&nbsp;also is known for winning President Donald Trump\u2019s \u201cCelebrity Apprentice\u201d in 2010, the most viewed season in the show\u2019s history. He also starred in the reality TV show \u201cRock of Love,\u201d which ran for three seasons.<\/p>\n<p>A legendary singer-songwriter, father, entrepreneur, philanthropist and diabetes advocate, Michaels has had a profound influence on the music industry \u2013 both with Poison and currently as a solo artist. His career has spanned a quarter-century and his legendary hits have led to more than 40 million records being sold worldwide.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2HGPKQfA-Ms?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>Information courtesy of Texas Motor Speedway Media Relations<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Grand Marshal: Kix Brooks American Country Music artist, actor and film producer&nbsp;Kix Brooks&nbsp;will serve as the Grand Marshal and deliver the command for the O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, April 8, at Texas Motor Speedway. Brooks is best known for being half of the award-winning musical duo&nbsp;Brooks &amp; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":15920,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[540],"tags":[16,413,21],"class_list":["post-15716","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-raceday","tag-nascar","tag-oreilly-auto-parts-500","tag-texas-motor-speedway"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-45u","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/TMSLoudProudApril2018_Ashley-e1523134124403.jpg?fit=640%2C455&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15716","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15716"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15716\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15922,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15716\/revisions\/15922"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15920"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15716"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15716"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15716"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}