Countdown To Racing At IMS: Grammy Winner Keith Urban Headlines Firestone Legends Day Concert

By Mel Schubert @USA_Travel_News

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and race fans are anticipating another thrilling season of racing and entertainment at the track. Each year IMS unites race fans from around the world for a spectacular series of races. And, along with the fast action on the track, they feature some of the hottest musicians like four-time Grammy winner Keith Urban, who will headline the annual Firestone Legends Day Concert on Saturday, the day before the Indy 500. Also taking the stage will be special guests, Dustin Lynch and Clayton Anderson.

"Firestone Legends Day has become an awesome way to celebrate the night before the Indianapolis 500 each year and having Keith Urban headline this year's concert is going to be fantastic," said IMS President J. Douglas Boles. "Keith's many chart-topping Billboard hits, along with his appreciation for racing, will give thousands of spectators a can't miss show to help celebrate the 101st Indy 500 Race Weekend."

Urban's songs have reached the top of the charts 21 times, most recently with current smash hit "Blue Ain't Your Color." Urban has recorded eight studio albums and is the first male Country artist to debut atop the all-genre charts in the U.S., Canada and Australia. He's won both a People's Choice Award and an American Music Award and has been nominated for a Golden Globe. He's also won eleven Academy of Country Music Awards, has had five consecutive platinum or multi-platinum albums and is a member of the famed Grand Ole Opry.

Lynch's self-titled debut album hit No. 1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. His lead single, "Cowboys and Angels," exceeded platinum sales status while earning Lynch a legion of devoted fans. "Cowboys and Angels" became a modern day country classic, ending the year as one of Billboard's Top 5 Country Songs of 2012. Racking up over 25 million views on YouTube/VEVO, soaring to #1 on the MTV Music Meter and selling 2.4 million digital singles, the Tennessee native brings a fresh combination of traditional influences and edgy intensity to the genre. His sophomore album WHERE IT'S AT, debuted at #1 on the iTunes Country Albums Chart and has tallied over 750,000 tracks sold to date.

Over the past four years, southern Indiana native Clayton Anderson has managed to do the unthinkable - he's cracked into country music backwards, independently and with a fury.

Anderson has released three albums, including his brand-new project, Only To Borrow. Recorded in Los Angeles and Nashville, this six song EP was written and produced by Clayton and some of music's most talented writers, musicians and producers. The album's first single, "In the Dark" garnered immediate streaming activity online and captured the attention of influential music playlist programmers. Armed with new music and an electric live show, Clayton Anderson is not only here to stay, but a force to be reckoned with.

General admission tickets for the concert start at $40 and access to the Firestone Concert Pit near the front of the stage is set for $75. Prices will increase closer to the concert date. For tickets and additional information, please visit www.ims.com or call (800) 822-INDY. Children 3 and under are free to the concert.

IMS ticketholders can sign up to receive pre-sale information by clicking here. Details will be communicated via email this week.

Fans with tickets for the Firestone Legends Day Concert will be admitted free to Legends Day activities. Admission to IMS on Legends Day will be $10 for adults, with children 15 and under free when accompanied by an adult.

Other featured events on Legends Day presented by Firestone include the annual Public Drivers' Meeting on pit road adjacent to the Tower Terrace grandstand, autograph sessions with the Indianapolis 500 starting field of 33 drivers and former Indy 500 drivers and an Indianapolis 500 memorabilia show.