Martina McBride to sing today's National Anthem for Daytona 500; will perform in pre-race concert during July's Coke Zero 400 at the speedway

Photo for Headline Surfer / Martina McBride will sing the National Anthem before today's Daytona 500 and will return to Daytona to perform pre-race concert for the Coke Zero 400.
 
By HENRY FREDERICK
Headline Surfer

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- County music star Martina NcBride will sing the National Anthem for today's 53rd running of the Daytona 500. She'll also return to Daytona International Speedway to perform a 60-minute pre-race concert prior to the 53rd annual Coke Zero 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Saturday night, July 2, DIS officials announced this morning.

All race fans that purchase a Pre-Race/Sprint FANZONE access pass for the Coke Zero 400 in addition to a race ticket will be able to view McBride's Coke Zero 400 Pre-Race Show as well as the driver introductions from the grass tri-oval area.

"We're excited to bring back one of country music's biggest stars for an encore during the Coke Zero 400," Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. "Racing under the lights in July is an Independence Day holiday tradition for NASCAR fans and we're looking forward to having Martina kick off a thrilling night of racing."

McBride said she is "thrilled to return to the Daytona International Speedway for the Coke Zero 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. It's an honor to once again entertain our mutual fans with some new music at this exciting race. I'm really looking forward to coupling of the energy on stage, in the stands and on the race track during the Fourth of July weekend celebration."

FAST FACTS: Martina McBride
• McBride is a four-time Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year, three-time American Country Music Female Vocalist of the Year and a Grammy winning recording artist with more than 18 million in album sales and 24 top-10 singles, including six that reached No. 1.
• McBride, whose hits include "Independence Day," "Wild Angels," "A Broken Wing," "Blessed," "Concrete Angel" and "This One's for the Girls," recently signed with Big Machine Label Group's Republic Nashville and is currently in the studio recording her 11th studio album that will be released later this year.