Waltrip adds name to list of stars at '09 Sound & Speed

NASHVILLE -- Three-time Cup Series champion Darrell Waltrip, Capitol Records recording artist Dierks Bentley and country legends Connie Smith and Charlie Louvin have joined a slew of racing and country music celebrities announced for Saturday's Sprint Sound & Speed Fan Festival at downtown Nashville's Municipal Auditorium.

The two-day celebration of music and motorsports kicks off with a concert Friday night at Nashville's Sommet Center: Montgomery Gentry featuring Rodney Atkins with special guest Julianne Hough beginning at 9 p.m. ET.

Sound & Speed

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At Saturday's Fan Festival, fans of racing and country music will once again have the opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with drivers, team owners and top-name artists. The blockbuster event will also feature show car and sponsor displays, as well as a charitable auction with memorabilia from the racing and entertainment industries.

Among the NASCAR celebrities already announced for the Fan Festival are Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Petty, Michael Waltrip, Ray Evernham, Reed Sorensen and David Stremme. New to this year's NASCAR celebrity lineup are Waltrip and Ernie Irvan, as well as Cup drivers Denny Hamlin and Aric Almirola, Nationwide Series competitors Bobby Hamilton, Jr., Brad Keselowski and Burney Lamar. From the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series will be Wayne Taylor, Max Angelelli and Brian Frisselle. From the National Hot Rod Association will be Doug Herbert. And Sam Bass, one of the most highly acclaimed artists in the history of American motorsports, also joins the illustrious lineup.

Country music artists already announced for the Saturday Festival are Jason Michael Carroll, Richie McDonald, Josh Turner, members of Diamond Rio, and Rick Huckaby. Joining Bentley on the list of new additions are Randy Houser, Kate and Kacey, Josh Osborne, Louvin and Smith.

More NASCAR and country music celebrities are expected to join the lineup before the weekend.

The Cup Series show car lineup for the Saturday Fan Fest includes the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing (Joey Logano), the No. 29 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing (Kevin Harvick), and the No. 14 Chevrolet for newly formed Stewart-Haas Racing (Tony Stewart).

Tickets for the concert and the Sprint Sound & Speed Festival are available through TicketMaster and through the Sprint Sound & Speed Web site. Concert tickets are priced at $35 (Level 1), $25 (Level 2) and $17.50 (Level 3). Festival tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. Combination tickets, good for the concert and the fan festival, are priced at $50 (Concert Level 1), $40 (Level 2) and $35 (Level 3).

For the fourth consecutive year, charitable beneficiaries of Sprint Sound & Speed are Victory Junction Gang Camp and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The first three Sprint Sound & Speed events drew an estimated 40,000 fans and raised more than $800,000 for its designated charities.

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