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The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Is Getting Ready to Come Around Again in Mid-Tenn
When your trusty crew from Team MCN got the call on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 to cover news about next month's returning Music City Grand Prix - well, we put the pedal to the metal to get downtown to the Big Machine Brewery & Distillery on 3rd Avenue South to interview Scott Borchetta (CEO of Big Machine Label Group) and Indy Racing star driver Pato O'Ward.
Scott Borchetta and Pato O'Ward greet the fans in Nashville. We had the opportunity to ask Scott Borchetta - probably best known for his insightful signing of Taylor Swift to his nascent label in 2005 (and the rest is history) - if he preferred one of his many enterprises over the other as he wears several hats serving as a music label director, food and beverage entrepreneur and sports executive all in one. After describing how his role in Big Machine and the related ventures therein are all linked together, he did say this: "Now, my passion is racing. You know, I grew up racing motocross and then quarter-midgets and legends cars to NASCAR. So, I've always been an IndyCar fan since I was a young boy," Borchetta reminisced in the still room of his just off Broadway bar that had an NTT Series car parked out front. "So, this is really a dream come true. To think, wow, we're actually the owner of this Grand Prix is pretty amazing!" Speaking of dreams we got to meet Pato O'Ward - a rising star on the IndyCar and F1 circuits - who finished 8th overall last year in Music City. We asked him specifically what it is like to be living out so many childhood aspirations in his burgeoning career as a race car driver.
The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix returns to the streets of Nashville and Lebanon in 2024. "I know a lot of people would give an arm and a leg to be in my position and I am super-grateful to Arrow McLaren and to everybody who has given me this opportunity to be where I am today," O'Ward relayed during our meet-up in the city. We then asked him if he had his eyes on the checkered flag at the Superspeedway in Lebanon come September and he replied, "Oh, yes, absolutely. It's the season finale. It's the last race and we want to leave the championship with a good taste. Because, it's been a difficult year so far." Pato O'Ward and Scott Borchetta made their way back to Nashville in the early evening following the first day of tire testing out on the big oval in Lebanon where this year's race will take place. O'Ward revealed that the concrete track is unique to the IndyCar circuit and that they are still trying to dial that in so all things can go smooth on race day. But, that is just one of the many changes that the NTT and MCGP will be experiencing next month. During an exclusive Q&A from the stage set up inside the Big Machine Brewery & Distillery's first floor about 100 or more fans who had been selected from a special social media promotion gathered to hear the two men speak about the upcoming 4th annual Music City Grand Prix. Of particular interest was how the new hybrid engines would impact the drivers and their strategy as the extra 100 pounds add challenges to the very basics of driving as everything from braking to accelerating has been impacted by this season's revolutionary alterations.
Pato O'Ward did a signing following the Q&A at the Big Machine Distillery in the downtown. When we asked Borchetta if there were any upcoming releases on Big Machine that he was particularly excited about he offered new titles for albums by Carly Pearce, Thomas Rhett and the Tom Petty Country tribute record. But he saved his biggest enthusiasm for one particular project that will drop on race weekend as the centerpiece of the MCGP's planned footprint in Nashville proper. "If you've seen our promo for what we are doing to kick-off the Grand Prix weekend we're taking over all of downtown Broadway. So, we're closing off Broadway on Friday, September 13th from 5th Avenue down. We're putting Brantley Gilbert's new album out that day. So, we're billing it as 'the world's largest album release party' - it will be live and free . It will be 35 to 40 thousand people downtown," Borchetta gushed before adding even more exciting news. "We're also going to be doing the pitstop competition earlier in the day. To kick off the weekend in the downtown is going to be amazing." The Music City Grand Prix moves to Lebanon from September 13 through 15 following three years on the streets of Nashville. When pressed, Borchetta - after praising the new location and its exceptional fan experience - indicated that the earliest the MCGP could return to actual racing on Broadway would be in 2028 once the new Titans stadium has had a full season under its belt and the previous coliseum is demolished. Scott clearly remains excited and fired up for the long term as he ended his interview with us by revealing his ultimate hopes for this race - "We want this to become the Monaco of The South!"
Even the cars are undergoing big changes this season in the NTT IndyCar Series. Related Links: For more information on the MUSIC CITY GRAND PRIX and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links - Music City Grand Prix | Big Machine Label Group | Big Machine Brewery & Distillery | Pato O'Ward | The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Takes Another Turn Around the Streets of Nashville | The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Is Off to the Races with a Big Day of Music in Nashville
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