NASCAR AT Kansas Speedway - Awesome From Start To Finish!
It's always fun to talk with NASCAR first-timers. The size and scale is usually the first thing they talk about. "I had no idea this place was this big!" Driving west on I-70 past the Kansas Speedway doesn't give you a real since of how massive the 1 1/2 mile track facility is. In the Media Center is an aerial shot of the track with pictures of Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadiums inside the race track with a note "photo is to scale." It's that big! Both stadiums could easily fit inside, with lots of room to spare! The other thing is the noise! "Wow, it's so loud!" Is the other comment you get. That's why it's so important to ware ear protection.
https://youtu.be/m2NV4nbThgQ
After the driver introductions is the most moving part of the show. The National Anthem and the flyover! I watched B-2 Stealth Bombers, cargo planes, bi-planes, and this year Air Force fighter jets fly over the track. Shortly after, it's the command for drivers to fire them up with the most exciting words in motorsports..."Divers, start your engines!"
Of course, it's all about winning the race! Check out the Kansas Speedway Cup Series "Race Recap" by clicking HERE! Ross Chastain’s #1 Trackhouse Chevrolet took it to the playoff drivers by winning his first race of the NASCAR season holding off the surging William Byron’s #24 Chevrolet!
https://youtu.be/0p7RVVM7gZA?si=7OXZTb60Ftjm-xxF
We're just over seven months till it all goes down again the weekend of May 10th & 11th! Click HERE and start making plans to be there! The sights, sounds, smells, and excitement of NASCAR at Kansas Speedway, there' s nothing like it! It's awesome from start to finish!
NASCAR At Kansas Speedway - Sunday Pre-Race Action!
I'm not sure what's more fun, hanging out before the race, or the race itself! There's something special about strolling the garage area and when you're standing on pit road you feel like you're in a place few others have ever been. From the infield you get a better perspective too on just how huge Kansas Speedway really is!
https://youtu.be/o7OOAUG28jc?si=Iv1yv1KrKyDRPe28
When standing on the start-finish line you get a better since of the banking, even at the checkers. Autographing the start-finish line is cool and being up front for the driver introductions, that's awesome too!
The upcoming spring race at Kansas Speedway may seem like a long way off now, but it's never too early to start marking a plan to be there. Find out all you need to know about pre-race access and get those passes now by clicking HERE! Or better yet, drag the camper up and make an unforgettable weekend out of it! Get camping info HERE!
https://youtu.be/_JtIJ6ItAUk?si=3lLmw8oOtS53AhAH
NASCAR At Kansas Speedway...There's Nothing Like It!
For the last few years 105.1 "The Bull" has partnered with our friends at Kansas Speedway sending winners to the race, with a lucky few winning pre-race passes! Next year's spring race weekend is already set for May 10th-11th 2025! And you bet, we'll be sending winners back for more racing action! This past weekend, I made it to Kansas Speedway for both the Xfinity race on Saturday and The Cup Series on Sunday. That's the way to go! Take in as much action as you can, all weekend long! The fun started on Friday with the Menard's ARCA and NASCAR-Craftsman Truck Series races. The Cup series qualifying Saturday morning and the NASCAR Xfinity race that afternoon.
There's so much going on race weekends at Kansas. One of my favorites is the Cup Series qualifying. To watch the cars hit the track with one goal in mind, to be the fastest out there is exciting stuff! Witnessing the #20 of Christopher Bell capture the pole and then attending his pole position press conference was something special.
So don't delay! Start making plans to catch the action next spring! Get ready for some intense racing that weekend with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Saturday at Kansas Speedway!
Sunday is the NASCAR Cup Series Advent Health 400! There's nothing quite like it and nothing like being there! NASCAR is so much better in person! Don't miss it!
https://youtu.be/DzeQqVdO24A
Born & Raised Artist Interviews - Koe Wetzel
It all started at a very young age for one Koe Wetzel. His momma was a touring country singer and took the young Koe out on the road for most of her tours. He performed his first public gig at just six years of age. Later, Koe was a pretty good football player. Good enough in fact to star at the linebacker position for Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. It was there when he started playing gigs around town and decided to pursue a career in music. Shortly there after, Wetzel formed "Koe Wetzel and Konvicts." His breakthrough album was "Noise Complaint" in 2016. Since that release he's had three other successful albums and his following has continued to grow along with the record sales.
I was fortunate to spend a few minutes with Koe before his Saturday headlining performance at Born & Raised. We talked about the show the night before the The Ozarks Amphitheatre, his ditty "High Road" with Jessie Murph, and the new album "9 Lives."
https://youtu.be/LOJvi_buRBI?si=1KSjbi7DHTEXOMqK
Born & Raised Artist Interviews - Lance Roark
Eastern Oklahoma native, Lance Roark has played the last two Born & Raised Festivals. That's pretty cool that a local gets to play one of the biggest Red Dirt-Texas Country shows in the country! His captivating, high energy singing style has really caught on, not only in Oklahoma, but across the country. No question, he's one of the genera's rising stars! Following the release of his EP in 2023, Roark played several sold out shows in Oklahoma with the likes of Koe Wetzel, Turnpike Troubadours, Tanner Usrey, Kyle Nix, William Beckmann, and Jason Boland and the Stragglers.
We talked with Lance again this year. He shares what he's been up to since we talked last, the shows he's played, a cool show he did with Parker McCollum, and who he was looking forward to seeing at the festival. Check out his stuff by clicking HERE!
https://youtu.be/5OvJ1PTOIJw?si=hHCbRwVnegtWlQpv
Born & Raised Artist Interviews - Reid Haughton
Reid Haughton is from Haleyville, Alabama. That so happens to be just south of Muscle Shoals, the home of the blues, rock n roll, soul music, and it's famous recoding studios. Reid must have had some pretty cool parents that turned him on to the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Wilson Pickett, The Rolling Stones, Hank Williams Jr., and Jimi Hendrix. He started playing and writing songs as a kid and cut his teeth playing gigs in and around the Auburn University bar scene. He moved to Nashville in 2020. There he worked with world-class producer Sadler Vaden, who's worked with the likes of Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and others. Earlier this year, Reid released “Man Made Money,” his cover of Charlie Daniels' "Long Haired Country Boy", and other awesome tunes. The new album "Higher Than 9" is available now. Check it out by clicking HERE!
I caught up with Reid Haughton on Saturday of the festival. We talked about Muscle Shoals and hearing his first Lynyrd Skynyrd song, his new music, and if he'll make it to Springfield sometime soon.
https://youtu.be/IAoIl4f2Uug?si=m27U-dO9aK_upXq7
Born & Raised Artist Interviews - Shane Smith & The Saints
Shane Smith and The Saints got started in 2011 when Shane Smith moved to the music mecca of Austin, Texas. There he met fiddle player Bennett Brown. The two began to play gigs around Austin and soon connected with the rest of the fellas. The band released their debut album "Coast" in 2013. The band then spent nearly a decade on the road developing their fanbase. All that hard work has paid off! Now, their playing headlining gigs in places like Red Rocks Amphitheater (there are some cool pics of that gig on their website), they played The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, and where most folks got to see them for the first time, on Season 5 of the hit TV show Yellowstone where they played “Fire in the Ocean”!
I had the privilege to visit with Shane Smith before their Friday Born & Raised performance. We talked about their show at the Ozarks Amphitheatre with Whiskey Myers, how music platforms has contributed to the growth of the genera, and their latest album "Norther".
https://youtu.be/mi30b3opBPM?si=ip-MaWfqorHGtotq
Born & Raised Artist Interviews - Blaine Bailey
Blaine Bailey is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and grew up in Cherokee County, Oklahoma. He takes great pride in representing where he's from and being Cherokee. At just 13 years of age Blaine began writing songs and playing music. The songs he writes come directly from his experiences growing up Cherokee County. Being from the area. playing the Born & Raised Festival was definitely on his "to do" list!
Blaine and his band buddies got to to exactly that on the first day of the festival! I caught up with Blaine just minutes after their performance on Friday. He tells me about his early influences, working hard at his craft, and what's next for himself and the band.
https://youtu.be/CgQw0m8Sm4E?si=84Q_h-tOtKV6uWXo
Born & Raised Artist Interviews - The Wilder Blue
It all started for The Wilder Blue in 2019 when Zane Williams, a veteran of the Texas Country music scene, hand-picked some guys to start The Wilder Blue. Their debut album, "Hill Country", was released in 2020. It and their self-titled follow-up had folks comparing them to The Eagles. Their 5-part harmonies are amazing! Check out their latest release "Super Natural." Produced by Grammy-nominated Brent Cobb. The album has a Little Feat vibe with some Del McCoury, and Robert Earl Keen mixed in. Of course, it includes their version of The Eagle’s classic “Seven Bridges Road.”
In our conversation, we discuss their band name, the latest album, touring with Luke Combs, and they wrap it up by crushing the start of their version of “Seven Bridges Road.”
https://youtu.be/t04NojSwKbU?si=_DgvRDOS7Lfsk7PN
Born & Raised Artist Interviews - Brent Cobb
Brent Cobb grew in in the little town of Ellaville, Georgia. His father was in a band and at just 7 years of age Brent took the mic and sang Tim McGraw's "Don't Take The Girl" at a festival his dad's band was playing. From that moment on, music has become pretty much everything to Brent. At 16, Cobb met his cousin Dave, who just happened to be at LA based record producer. Dave and his buddy Shooter Jennings would later fly Brent out west to record his debut album, "No Place Left To Leave." As things began to happen for him, Luke Bryan suggested he move to Nashville. He did exactly that and as they say..."the rest is history."
Not that long ago, Brent Cobb played The Midnight Rodeo here in Springfield. In our conversation we talk about being on the road with Luke Combs, writing a song for Marinda Lambert, a European tour, and the blues! Check out his great music by clicking HERE!
https://youtu.be/2nMFUDK8mRM