NASCAR announced that country music star Dierks Bentley will serve as the headline act for the final concert of its 2026 Busch Light Summer Music Series, scheduled for August 9 at Iowa Speedway. The performance is being billed as the culmination of a three‑stop tour that has already featured appearances by Vincent Mason at Watkins Glen International and Mitchell Tenpenny at Chicagoland Speedway.
A Summer Series That Marries Music and Racing
The concert will be offered to race fans at no extra cost, as it is included with admission to the Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol race that forms the centerpiece of the weekend’s action. The event forms part of a broader schedule that stretches from Friday through Sunday, with Saturday’s Hy‑Vee Perks 250 providing additional NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competition before the main race on Sunday.
Iowa Speedway President Eric Peterson praised the choice, noting that Bentley’s longstanding relationship with NASCAR enthusiasts makes him the ideal artist to close the series. ‘His authentic connection to the sport’s fan base adds a unique dimension to what is already a vibrant weekend of racing,’ Peterson said in a statement.
Bentley’s Racing Roots
Bentley’s involvement is not new to the racing world; he has previously performed at Daytona Speedweeks in 2009, returned to the Daytona 500 in both 2011 and 2023, and took the stage during NASCAR Championship Weekend at Phoenix Raceway in 2021. Those appearances have helped cement his reputation as a staple of the sport’s cultural landscape.
The artist’s latest studio effort, *Broken Branches*, debuted in 2025 and has contributed to a catalog that includes eight No. 1 albums and 22 chart‑topping singles. With more than 9.5 billion global streams and 15 GRAMMY nominations, Bentley also holds a place on the Grand Ole Opry, underscoring his influence across multiple music platforms.
Krystyn Stowe of Anheuser‑Busch highlighted the synergy between the brand’s Busch Light label and Bentley’s music, describing the closing concert as a perfect fit for a series that has blended entertainment with the excitement of stock car competition.
The upcoming weekend promises to deliver a seamless blend of high‑speed competition and chart‑topping performances, giving fans a memorable finale to a summer that has already seen music and motorsport intersect in new and exciting ways.