By The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season may have just wrapped up, but Daytona International Speedway is already giving fans another reason to look forward to February.
And this time, the announcement has nothing to do with what happens on the track.
On Sunday, Nov. 8, Daytona International Speedway announced that country music star Thomas Rhett will headline the pre-race concert ahead of the 2027 Daytona 500, bringing one of the genre’s biggest names to NASCAR’s most celebrated race.
The five-time Grammy Award nominee will perform before the green flag drops on Sunday, Feb. 21, as the Cup Series opens its 2027 season with the 69th running of the Great American Race.
For fans making the trip to Daytona Beach, Rhett’s performance adds another major attraction to a race weekend that already stretches well beyond Sunday’s 500 miles.
Thomas Rhett Set to Perform Before the 2027 Daytona 500
Rhett arrives at Daytona with an impressive résumé, including 22 billion career streams, eight Academy of Country Music Awards and two Country Music Association Awards.
He was named ACM Entertainer of the Year in 2020 and has built a catalog of country hits that includes “Die a Happy Man,” “Marry Me” and “What’s Your Country Song.”
His Daytona appearance also comes during a busy stretch in his music career.
Rhett released his latest single, “Be There In A Minute,” on Nov. 6, just two days before the speedway’s announcement. The song follows the deluxe edition of his album “About a Woman,” which features collaborations with Blake Shelton, Teddy Swims, Jordan Davis and others.
He also spent much of the summer touring, bringing his Soundtrack to Life Tour to more than 20 cities.
For Daytona International Speedway President Frank Kelleher, Rhett is a natural fit for the atmosphere surrounding NASCAR’s biggest race.
“There’s an energy at Daytona on DAYTONA 500 Sunday that’s difficult to describe until you’ve experienced it,” Kelleher said in the announcement.
“The anticipation builds throughout the day, and by the time the engines fire, there’s nothing quite like it in sports. Thomas Rhett brings tremendous energy to the stage, and we couldn’t be more excited to have him help build that momentum as we get ready for the 69th running of The Great American Race.”
NASCAR’s 2027 Daytona 500 Weekend Is Taking Shape
Rhett’s concert is the latest addition to what promises to be a busy return to Daytona International Speedway.
The 2027 festivities begin Saturday, Feb. 13, with the Clash at Daytona, which returns to the track for a special one-year revival.
Daytona 500 qualifying follows Wednesday, Feb. 17, with the Duel at Daytona qualifying races scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 18.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series opens its season Friday, Feb. 19, followed by an ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series doubleheader Saturday, Feb. 20.
Then comes Sunday’s main event.
Before drivers fire their engines for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 21, Rhett will take the stage for the pre-race concert, adding a major country music performance to one of the most anticipated days on NASCAR’s calendar.
An exact concert start time and setlist were not included in Sunday’s announcement.
With the 2026 championship now decided, attention is already shifting toward a new season. And while NASCAR fans will have to wait until February to see who emerges as the next Daytona 500 winner, they now know who will help get the party started.
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nascar-announces-major-country-music-023451777.html
