DAYTONA, Fla. – In 100 days, racing returns to The World Center of Racing. But this weekend, Daytona International Speedway will be the world center of rock.
Welcome to Rockville, a four-day festival at the speedway, will bring over 150 rock and heavy metal bands, and over 200,000 fans. Headliners include Shinedown, Green Day, LINKIN PARK and Korn.
NASCAR Cup Series driver Daniel Suarez and Harley-Davidson motorcycle driver James Rispoli took off the racing gear and became stagehands Thursday, helping move production equipment, wrapping mic cables and taking pictures of performing bands.
“It’s like a completely different place,” Suarez told News 6. “It’s been a good experience, and I’ve enjoyed it.”
Their day wrapped up with a golf cart race down pit row against Shinedown’s lead guitarist, Zach Myers.
“(Today) has been unreal,” Rispoli said. “It’s been crazy to see how the bands do it and to see some of my childhood heroes. This has been such an experience to come out to Daytona and be a part of this.”
On Aug. 23, racing will be under the lights for the NASCAR regular season finale with the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. This race is the last chance for racers to qualify for the playoffs.
“It’s a very high-intensity race because it’s the last race of the regular season,” Suarez said. “Hopefully by then... I have a win or two under my belt, and I don’t have to worry about the playoffs.”
Tickets for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 are available, and Welcome to Rockville information is here.