Ganassi’s Sound Garage Social Media concert returns for 2015

By Aug 13, 2015, 1:15 PM EDT
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After a smash hit debut last year with Cassadee Pope with the next generation of Chip Ganassi Racing drivers, the Ganassi Sound Garage will return for an encore in 2015.

Here’s the full team release:

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On the heels of the wildly-popular and first-of-its-kind event for millennials last Fall, Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGRT) announced today the return of the Ganassi Sound Garage featuring Big Machine Label Group’s (BMLG) recording artist A Thousand Horses at the team’s Concord, N.C., headquarters on Oct. 5. Ganassi Sound Garage will be hosted by a diverse sampling of the team’s millennial driver lineup, including Kyle Larson (NASCAR), Sage Karam (INDYCAR), Dylan Kwasniewski (NASCAR) and Brennan Poole (NASCAR).

Last year’s inaugural social media concert showcased the talents of Big Machine Records recording artist and season 3 winner of The Voice Cassadee Pope and won an industry award for NASCAR’s “Most Creative Use of Social/Digital Media”. This year’s event will once again be streamed live on www.nascar.com, www.indycar.com and www.ganassisoundgarage.com for fans all around the world to enjoy.

CGRT hosted over 200 social media savvy millennials and influencers last year, and expects to more than triple the turnout this year with a target audience that includes influencers, curators and heavy social media users. The event will also have increased partnership involvement from brands like Target, McDonald’s, Clorox, Kimberly Clark, Unilever, Energizer, Coke, Chevrolet and DC Solar– who are all focused on speaking to the millennial demographic.

Additionally, attendees will have the chance to join CGRT at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the NASCAR XFINITY Series race later in the week (Oct. 9), connecting their VIP experience from the stage to the race track.

NOTES OF INTEREST:

  • How do I get in?: The event is invitation only from CGRT, but opportunities to attend will be given away by the drivers and A Thousand Horses via social media outlets. Attendees will mix and mingle like a VIP, taking selfies with all the stars along the red carpet and have a chance to show off their style. Fans will also have the opportunity to show their social influence to the world by using #soundgarage in posts which will be displayed on duel screens flanking the stage during the event. Fans can even win a chance to travel 1000 miles to see A Thousand Horses as part of a special sweepstakes through www.ganassisoundgarage.com – the official website for event updates, ticket giveaway information, live streaming and more.
  • A Thousand Horses: A Thousand Horses is a fresh fusion of classic sounds – a hybrid of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Allman Brothers, Black Crowes and Exile on Main Street-era Rolling Stones – wrapped up in a modern-country context. Their first single “Smoke” went to #1 on both the Mediabase and Billboard Country Airplay Charts after making Country Aircheck history as the highest debut for a new artist’s first single. They also became the first band (with at least three members) to send a debut single to #1 on Billboard Country Airplay Chart this decade. With Michael Hobby leading vocals, Bill Satcher and Zach Brown on guitar and Graham Deloach on bass, the band initially gained momentum playing clubs across the South. Rolling Stone Country hailed the foursome as the Best Up-and-Comer at 2014’s Austin City Limits and USA Today named them one of 2015’s Artists to Watch and an On the Verge Artist. Their first album on the Big Machine Label Group, Southernality, is now available on iTunes and the second single from the album, “(This Ain’t No) Drunk Dial is currently making its way up the Country charts. The band was also recently nominated for a CMT Music Award for “Group Video of the Year” for their hit single “Smoke.” A Thousand Horses is currently on the road with Darius Rucker’s Southern Style Tour. For more information and tour dates, visit www.athousandhorses.com.
  • About the Drivers: CGRT drivers in attendance will include: Kyle Larson – 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year, 2013 NASCAR XFINITY Series Rookie of the Year and 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Champion; Sage Karam – Verizon IndyCar Series Rookie, 2013 Indy Lights Champion, 2011 Star Mazda Champion and 2010 US F2000 Champion; Dylan Kwasniewski – 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Champion; and Brennan Poole  – NASCAR XFINITY driver and six-time ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards race winner.

QUOTEBOARD

Steve Lauletta, President, Chip Ganassi Racing Teams: “The return of Ganassi Sound Garage has been met with tremendous support and I’m happy to say this year’s edition will be bigger and better than its debut with the participation of partners like Target, McDonald’s, Chevrolet, Coke, Kimberly Clark, Unilever, Energizer, Clorox and DC Solar. With A Thousand Horses headlining, we plan to deliver another unique social media experience focused on attracting millennials and exposing them to our sport, drivers and team.”

Scott Borchetta, President and CEO, Big Machine Label Group: “Big Machine’s partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing continues to create engaging and exciting events for music and racing fans alike. We are proud to collaborate once again for an incredible night at Sound Garage this fall!”

IndyCar disappointed by delay of video game but aiming to launch at start of 2024

By Mar 27, 2023, 3:00 PM EDT
IndyCar video game 2024
IndyCar
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An IndyCar executive said there is “absolutely” disappointment that its long-awaited video game recently was delayed beyond its target date, but the series remains optimistic about the new title.

“Well, I don’t know how quick it will be, but the whole situation is important to us,” Penske Entertainment president and CEO Mark Miles said during a news conference Monday morning to announce IndyCar’s NTT title sponsorship. “Motorsport Games has spent a lot of money, a lot of effort to create an IndyCar title. What we’ve seen of that effort, which is not completely obvious, is very reassuring.

“I think it’s going to be outstanding. That’s our shared objective, that when it is released, it’s just widely accepted. A great credit both to IndyCar racing, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, something that our fans love.”

In June 2021, IndyCar announced a new partnership with Motorsport Games to create and distribute an IndyCar video game for the PC and Xbox and PlayStation consoles in 2023.

But during an earnings call last week, Motorsport Games said the IndyCar game had been delayed to 2024 to ensure high quality.

Somewhat compounding the delay is that IndyCar’s license for iRacing expired after the end of the 2022 season because of its exclusive agreement with Motorsport Games.

That’s resulted in significant changes for IndyCar on iRacing, which had provided a high-profile way for the series to stay visible during its 2020 shutdown from the pandemic. (Players still can race an unbranded car but don’t race on current IndyCar tracks, nor can they stream).

That’s helped ratchet up the attention on having a video game outlet for IndyCar.

“I wish we had an IndyCar title 10 years ago,” said Miles, who has been working with the organization since 2013. “We’ve been close, but we’ve had these I think speed bumps.”

IndyCar is hopeful the Motorsports Game edition will be ready at the start of 2024. Miles hinted that beta versions could be unveiled to reporters ahead of the time “to begin to show the progress in a narrow way to make sure we’ve got it right, to test the progress so that we’re ready when they’re ready.”

It’s been nearly 18 years since the release of the most recent IndyCar video game for console or PC.

“(We) better get it right,” Miles said. “It’s something we’re very close to and continue to think about what it is to make sure we get it over the line in due course.”