A Summer of Sound and Speed
The 2026 Busch Light Summer Music Series will culminate with a performance by country star Dierks Bentley at Iowa Speedway on August 9, the same weekend that the NASCAR Cup Series runs the Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol race. The concert is included with admission to the race, allowing fans to enjoy live music without an additional ticket.
Bentley’s connection to NASCAR stretches back to 2009, when he first appeared at Daytona Speedweeks, and he has since returned to the Daytona 500 in 2011 and 2023, as well as to Phoenix Raceway in 2021. His deep‑rooted relationship with fans is frequently cited by series officials as a key element of the sport’s community culture.
Eric Peterson, president of Iowa Speedway, praised Bentley’s authentic bond with NASCAR enthusiasts, noting that the artist’s presence adds a distinctive, fan‑focused flavor to the event.
The lineup also features earlier shows at Watkins Glen International with Vincent Mason and at Chicagoland Speedway with Mitchell Tenpenny, underscoring a tour that blends country music’s biggest names with the pageantry of NASCAR’s premier events.
Fan Experience and Legacy
Anheuser‑Busch, the brewer behind the Busch Light branding, has described the 2026 series as one of its strongest lineups, tying the musical experience to its long‑standing sponsorship of the sport. Fans attending the Iowa Corn 350 will enjoy Bentley’s set at no extra cost, creating a unique crossover of high‑speed competition and live entertainment.
Bentley’s latest studio album, *Broken Branches*, arrived in 2025, adding to a catalog that includes eight No. 1 albums, 22 chart‑topping singles, more than 9.5 billion global streams and 15 Grammy nominations. The finale promises a weekend where the roar of engines and the strum of guitars intersect, offering a memorable close to a season that has already seen thrilling on‑track battles and celebratory off‑track moments.