Michigan Intl. Speedway

READY SET GO! By Kate Mitchell Editor-in-chief Michigan International Speedyway welcomes fans back for a full slate of summer events.

Racing fans, start your engines. And music fans, too, for that matter. Michigan International Speedway is welcoming people back after more than a year of canceled or adjusted events, with long time favorites returning to the calendar for the 2021 season. With relaxed COVID-19 rules, the track is looking to get things rolling as normally as possible this year.

“The biggest di erence between this year and last is our fans,” Rick Brenner, president of MIS, said. “We’re so excited to have them back and we’re doing everything we can to create a safe environment. The community is our top priority, and we’re working closely with o cials to make sure we’re doing just that.”

The summer season with the return of fans begins July 16 with the Faster Horses Festival. Unlike some remotelyheld races, last year’s country music extravaganza was canceled, and 2021 is a return to form for the music festival that has called MIS home since 2013.

This year’s event lineup features acts like Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett, Jason Aldean and Kelsea Ballerini. But, in big news for festival goers and racing enthusiasts alike, Faster Horses will also be the introduction of two new campgrounds for MIS visitors. The new grounds — which Brenner said have been selling well — feature larger sites with electricity so guests will have room to spread out and get comfortable.

But at the top of Brenner’s mind this year is the racing. The fun begins August 20 with the Henry Ford Health System 200, followed by the New Holland 250 on August 21, and ending on the FireKeepers Casino 400 on August 22.

“The NASCAR cup series event,” Brenner said. “We’re super duper excited about that.”

For the big race weekend, many of the festivities are picking up where they left o in 2019, with camping starting at $130 and tickets as low as $39 for adults. But there are some things that NASCAR and MIS started in the midst of the pandemic that will be sticking around beyond this season.

“We’re doing a lot with digital ticketing, and a lot working towards all the di erent ways to engage fans virtually,” Brenner said. “We had a lot of success with the virtual midway…. So many things were put in position last year to virtually create an experience and people really liked it. We’re looking forward to people coming out and experiencing it in person this August.”

There will be a few more changes fans can expect to see if they come out for a race or other event this year, though adjusting procedures to take health and safety into account wasn’t anything new for MIS.

“We have always done a lot, always put fan safety and experience at the forefront,” Brenner said. “We stayed active last year. We did run two cup races. The action happened; we just didn’t have our guests. So we refurbished the bathrooms and really did some work to spruce certain areas up while we had the time to do so.”

While the fi rst big event of the summer won’t be until mid-July, the track has already started holding events as pandemic restrictions in Michigan have loosened. MIS played host to Siena Heights’ graduation ceremony, and the 2021 Formula SAE event — an engineering competition — begins July 7. Then there’s the NASCAR Racing Experience events, where enthusiasts can spend some time on the track either behind the wheel or riding along with a professional, that happen throughout the year.

Of course, MIS plans to close out the year with its annual Nite Lights, a drive through Christmas light show that starts the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Plans are already in the works for the February 2022 return of the Backyard Hockey Tournament, too.

As the kicko for the main attractions for the year gets closer, Brenner is hesitant to try to predict how many people will make their way over to the track this season after a year of lockdowns and COVID concerns. But being cautious is nothing new for him.

“One of the things I never do is predict attendance,” he said. “Rain can change things, what we just went through last year can change things, but fans are overly positive and super excited to come back. I’ve been speaking with a bunch who are purchasing tickets. They’re excited to come back and safely gather with friends and family.”

Brenner said that he and the rest of the team at MIS will continue to work closely with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, other state o cials, as well as utilize a bevy of knowledge from NASCAR’s nationwide experience in coping with the pandemic to ensure they’re ready to roll with any challenges COVID might throw at them. He does recommend that fans planning to attend events check the website to know what to expect before they go.

But after

MICHIGAN INTL. SPEEDYWAY

the changes and the challenges of the last year, Brenner is mostly just ready to reopen the gates and welcome fans back to NASCAR’S fastest track.

“We’re most excited for the people, for having our fans back,” he said. “A lot of us do what we do because we enjoy putting on a great experience for people when they come. The reward we get is when they’re here. We’re excited to interact with and talk with our fans, and we can’t wait to see them all.”

Faster Horses Festival is July 16-18, and race weekend is August 20-22. For tickets, camping reservations, or more information visit mispeedway.com or call (888) 905-7223.