*Kroger Fan Zone Passes for July 8th include stage-side access for Sawyer Brown Pre-Race Concert in addition to much more - Learn More
One of country music's well-known bands Sawyer Brown will entertain race fans with a special performance prior to the July 8 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts at Kentucky Speedway.
Growing out of country-pop singer Don King's road band, the original group began to take shape in 1979 when guitarist Bobby Randall, and drummer Joe Smyth signed on. Bassist Jim Scholten, keyboardist Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard, as well as guitarist/future lead singer and Ohio native Mark Miller all arrived in 1980.
When Don King stopped touring in 1981 the group who had been doing 275 to 300 dates for the first decade, decided to stay together to form their own band.
Originally known as Savanna, the band switched to Sawyer Brown which was named after a road near where they rehearsed in Bellevue, Tennessee.
After 30 years together, the current members are the same as the founding members with the exception of Bobby Randall, who departed in 1991. Shayne Hill has assumed the role of lead guitarist.
The chart-topping entertainers will bring their high energy show and hit singles like "Some Girls Do," "The Race Is On," and "The Walk," to their race day performance.
Fans can enjoy stage-side and trackside views of the show by adding a daily Kroger Fan Zone pass to ticket orders. Passes also provide a FanVision unit rental on Cup day, pit road access at designated times, the opportunity to view NASCAR inspections and garages on race day along with enjoying activities and concessions in an area near pit road and surrounding Victory Lane.
Tickets, Kroger Fan Zone passes and campsites are on sale at http://www.kentuckyspeedway.com, by calling (859) 578-2300 or visiting our speedway ticket offices at 1 Speedway Dr., Sparta, KY., 41086, just off Interstate 71 Exit 57 and Ky. Hwy. 35 N.
Sawyer Brown won the Academy of Country Music ACM Vocal Group of the Year for 1997. Over the years more than 50 singles have reached the top of the charts and three certified Gold albums.
Other hits from the group are "All These Years," "Thank God For You," "Six Days on The Road," "Step That Step," "The Dirt Road," "Drive Me Wild," "This Missin' You Heart of Mine," "Betty Bein' Bad," and "The Boys and Me."
In 1983, the group landed an audition on the hit show "Star Search" becoming one of the rare acts whose career went off after going on to win the grand prizes of $100,000 and a record deal.
Shortly thereafter Liberty/Capitol signed them in 1984 and the self-titled debut album was released in 1985. The debut single from the album, "Leona," climbed into the Top 20.
Sawyer Brown has released 23 albums and earned Country Music Association's CMA Horizon Award in 1985 and CMT's Country Music Awards Video Group of the Year for 1993, 1994 & 1995.
The 2017 season at Kentucky Speedway begins in July with the return of a NASCAR tripleheader weekend anchored by the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series July 8 Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts. The Camping World Truck Series starts the weekend with the Buckle Up in Your Truck 225, Thursday, July 6 and the XFINITY Series Alsco 300 is Friday, July 7.
The General Tire Super Weekend returns in September when the XFINITY Series VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 is run on Saturday, Sept. 23 along with the ARCA Racing Series Crosley Brands 150 on Friday, Sept. 22 which concludes season's racing.
-KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY-