‘Happy to be here’: IndyCar makes long awaited return to once forgotten Nashville Superspeedway

LEBANON, Tenn. (WKRN) — It's race weekend in Nashville. On Sunday, the 2024 IndyCar series will get its checkered flag with the final race of the season: the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix.

This year's finale will be held at the Nashville Superspeedway, which is no small feat. It has been 16 years since an IndyCar race was held at the speedway, which is a track that was left unused and forgotten for a decade. In fact, only three of the drivers competing on Sunday have ever raced on the speedway before.

However, this weekend the speedway will finally get its IndyCar green flag on a grand stage.

"It took a lot to get it back online," said Matt Greci, general manager for the Nashville Superspeedway. "But I think the vision was seeing how important Nashville was, and the fanbase, to what motorsports is. This is such a hotbed for motorsports enthusiasts, so for us to program this venue 365 [days] throughout the year [is big]."

Gerci told News 2 their focus is on "fans first," and the fans will certainly get a new experience at the speedway.

"The fanfare is here. It's a mile and a third racecourse, so it's different than what it was downtown. This is going to be side by side, fast, action packed," Gerci said. "We want to use this venue as much as possible and be a part of the community, and that's the vision. That's what we're putting forth this weekend."

The Music City Grand Prix will rev up for 206 laps on Sunday, Sept. 15 in Lebanon.

"We like putting on events, major events, but we want to be a part of the community, and we feel like we are here in Wilson County, and we're happy to be here," Gerci told News 2.