Trace Adkins & Luke Combs Perform At Daytona 500

(Left) James Gilbert / Getty Images / (Right) Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images

Country music was well-represented at this year’s Daytona 500. The race was held on February 20, 2022 at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida.

Trace Adkins was given the honor of singing the National Anthem. Adkins has performed the National Anthem at many major sporting events and NASCAR races in the past, but this was his first time singing it at the Daytona 500.

“I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to finally get to Daytona,” Adkins said during a press conference held prior to the start of the race.

Adkins said singing the National Anthem is “one of [his] favorite things,” so he was “stoked” to be signing it before the big race in Daytona.

“Always love any opportunity to sing the National Anthem…” Adkins said. “…it’s the one thing that still makes me nervous.”

Adkins sang the National Anthem in front of a packed house of NASCAR fans. NASCAR’s official Twitter page posted a short video showcasing the end of his performance, captioning it, “We live for moments like this!”

There was also a flyover during Adkins’ performance. The flyover was captured in the video NASCAR shared on Twitter.

Adkins wasn’t the only country artist who performed at the Daytona 500 this year. Reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs performed a pre-race set in front of the thousands of fans gathered at the racetrack.

Combs has been a lifelong NASCAR fan. He was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, and his grandfather served as a courier who delivered paychecks to the drivers there.

“It was always something that I loved,” Combs said about NASCAR in a press conference before the race.

Combs performed at the 2021 Daytona 500 as well. Due to everything going on in the world, the crowd was much smaller then. So Combs was hoping he’d have more fans to entertain this year.

He got his wish, since the race was sold out. 

Those who tuned in to the FOX telecast of the pre-race festivities got the chance to watch Combs sing his current single, “Doin’ This.” The song is rising up the charts and is well-poised to become Combs’ next big hit.

Combs performed several other songs for the live audience. These songs included his number one hits “Forever After All” and “Beer Never Broke My Heart.”

The Daytona International Speedway shared a video of Combs singing “Doin’ This” on its official Twitter page. You can watch that video below.

Combs changed the lyrics in the song to offer a shout-out to the Daytona 500. As you’d expect, the crowd went wild when he did that.