Brantley Gilbert Gears up for Brickyard 400 Performance

With tour dates booked through September and a baby due in November, Brantley Gilbert has some busy months ahead. But before things get too hectic, he’s playing a big part in this weekend’s NASCAR festivities.

Not only will the country music star perform a song at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, the race has been given his namesake: the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400.

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“You don’t ever think about things like your name on a race like this,” Gilbert said in a release. “But it’s pretty cool. You know, to be part of something that means so much to a lot of people is powerful. It’s an honor. It’s also, for us, a teaser for when we play the Klipsch Center (in Indianapolis) in a few weeks – and can really hit it hard.”

The performance will be the latest in a streak of big outdoor performances for the singer-songwriter, who’s been selling out amphitheaters and playing large festivals this summer.

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“We love taking it outside,” he said. “The crowds are coming ready, and that just pushes me and the guys that much further. You know, for me as a writer, the songs are only done when you hear ’em coming back to you from the fans; that’s where it gets really real.”

Gilbert has been touring in support of his fourth full-length album, The Devil Don’t Sleep. Ahead of the Brickyard performance, he made note that the album is a deeply personal one, but it also connects with his fans (the BG Nation) due their shared life experiences.

“A lot more people live like I do than the media realizes,” Gilbert said. “Because I say every album is a chapter of my life. More than even the hits, these songs are what’s happened to me, what I’ve learned and how I feel. I think everyone in the BG Nation shares those same things, so these songs are true for all of us.”

Gilbert will perform at the Brickyard 400’s pre-race celebrations on Sunday. The performance will be broadcast on NBC, so check your local listings for coverage times.