MICHIGAN NATIVE JOSH GRACIN TO SING NATIONAL ANTHEM PRIOR TO 3M PERFORMANCE 400 AT MIS

MICHIGAN NATIVE JOSH GRACIN TO SING NATIONAL ANTHEM PRIOR TO 3M PERFORMANCE 400 AT MIS 

 

BROOKLYN, Mich. (June 5, 2006) – Josh Gracin has performed live and on television for thousands of people, and now he will entertain the largest single-day sporting crowd in the state of Michigan.      

 

Born and raised in Westland, Michigan, Gracin returns to his home state on Sunday, June 18th to perform The Star-Spangled Banner at Michigan International Speedway prior to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series 3M Performance 400 presented by Post-it® Picture Paper.  

 

“We are thrilled to have Josh Gracin join us to perform for our first weekend of the season,” said MIS President Brett Shelton. “Not only is he an extremely talented vocalist, but we know our fans will enjoy having a Michigan native help honor our country. Having Josh at MIS is a great addition to pre-race ceremonies to start our season.”   

 

Gracin first came to national attention as a finalist in the second season of American Idol where he went on to win the hearts of the American public as the first contestant to commit to country music. His self-titled debut CD is certified gold by the RIAA and has sold over 650,000 copies. The first single from the project, “I Want To Live,” was also his first hit – climbing the charts to #4 in country radio. Josh’s second single, “Nothin’ To Lose,” was his first #1 record. His third single “Stay With Me (Brass Bed)” was a Top 5 hit, giving him three consecutive Top 5 songs in country radio. 

 

Along with Gretchen Wilson, Gracin was one of only two debut artists to have achieved three consecutive Top 5 records in 2005. Since receiving an honorable discharge from the U.S. Marines in 2004, Gracin has toured non-stop, including shows with Trace Adkins and Brad Paisley. Gracin will release his second CD, featuring the hit single “Favorite State Of Mind,” later this year.  

 

Gracin will join actor and comedian Adam Sandler in the pre-race ceremonies. As previously announced, Sandler, the star of the upcoming movie “Click”, has been named the Grand Marshal for the 3M Performance 400 and will deliver the traditional command to start engines. 

 

Tickets for both NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races, the June 18 3M Performance 400 presented by Post-it® Picture Paper and the August 20 GFS Marketplace 400, are currently on sale at MIS’s official website, www.MISpeedway.com, or by calling the MIS ticket hotline at 1-800-354-1010. Tickets to all other events, which include the IRL IndyCar Series, the NASCAR Busch Series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and the ARCA RE/MAX Series are also now available.