Country stars coming to ‘Dega
- Updated: October 25, 2015
With 45 confirmed acts, many of them A-listers, Dega Jam could turn Talladega into ‘Woodstock of Country Music’ in July
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
TALLADEGA – Two weekends every year Talladega Superspeedway converts into a carnival of speed, earning its nickname as the most competitive track in NASCAR.
This coming Fourth of July weekend, the facility turns into what one pundit has called “The Woodstock of the 21st Century” for country music.
Track officials Sunday formally announced the lineup for the Dega Jam, a 45-act super show July 1-3 in the track infield.
Event organizers wouldn’t estimate the crowd such an event would draw, but TSS chairman Grant Lynch promised the facility could accommodate them all, pointing to, among other amenities, the 3,000 portable toilets the facility has on site for the races.
“I don’t know how much acreage they had at Woodstock, but I know people parked for miles and miles and miles away and walked in,” Lynch said. “I’d be almost willing to bet we have more acreage in the infield than Woodstock had … We have the size and scope to have the big crowd.”
Among the acts confirmed to appear are Eric Church – today’s Camping World 500 pace car driver – Blake Shelton, Toby Keith, Kid Rock, Hank Williams Jr., Lynyrd Skynyrd, Martina McBride, Dwight Yoakam and Vince Gill.
“If we’re going to come here with country music festival, it better be the biggest and baddest of them all,” producer Quint Davis said. “We’ve got all 45 acts confirmed and that’s as much art as it is science. It’s a Rubik’s Cube (to put together), but what do we have going for us – the Talladega Superspeedway.”
Lynch said he had been in conversation with several production partners for a show, but missed some key dates and switched gears.
“If I’ve ever changed an engine in mid-stream, mid-race, I changed into the right motor I’ll tell you that,” he said.
While the racing surface will not be impacted by the show, there are ticket packages that will allow festivalgoers the chance for meet-and-greets with the artists along pit road and inside NASCAR garages.
Tickets are on sale now. Three-day general admission passes are priced at $179.
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