Photo: Courtesy of IndyCar
NASHVILLE – The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix will have a new venue for the 2024 NTT IndyCar season, moving the race to the Nashville Superspeedway.
Due to the upcoming construction of the new Tennessee Titans stadium, MCGP Chief Operations Officer (COO) Scott Borchetta, has announced that the best path forward for this year’s event is to run at Superspeedway on the same weekend as previously announced. This remains the IndyCar Series season finale on Sunday, Sept. 15 on NBC.
“With construction set to begin for the new Titans Stadium, the Grand Prix operations team knew they’d be faced with new challenges, knowing that the course used for the first three years would have to change dramatically for 2024’s race,” Borchetta said. “With several key locations around the stadium not available as in years past and with the proposed course change to run through the streets of downtown Nashville, we simply don’t have the proper space needed by the race teams nor the proper access for downtown businesses and residences to execute the world-class event that is expected by our amazing fans, IndyCar teams and sponsors.”
“With the significant challenges of the proposed new layout and unknowns with the new stadium construction, which has been the center of operations for the first three years of the Grand Prix, the decision has been made to move the 2024 race to the Nashville Superspeedway.”
Borchetta reiterated the strong relationship the MCGP has with both the Titans and the city of Nashville and that they plan to race in the streets of downtown Nashville once it is accessible for both the track and the fans.
“The Music City Grand Prix has been more than a race. It’s a festival that celebrates both Nashville and racing,” said Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell. “We appreciate Scott Borchetta and Big Machine’s vision and partnership and look forward to the race returning to downtown Nashville in the future. I’ve enjoyed attending all three Music City Grand Prix races and appreciate their continued commitment to Nashville. Racing at the Nashville Superspeedway will add new intrigue to this year’s event.”
The NTT IndyCar Series raced at the iconic, 1.33 mile, D-shaped oval from 2001-08. Six-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon is the last driver to reach victory lane at the venue, with a commanding “three-peat” in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Nashville Superspeedway is known for its high-intensity, wheel-to-wheel action, and as the season finale it will be the first oval in a decade to decide an NTT IndyCar Series championship (Fontana, 2014).
“Nashville Superspeedway is ideally suited to our highly competitive and extremely intense style of racing, and we look forward to adding a Speedway Motorsports track to our schedule,” Penske Entertainment President & CEO Mark Miles said. “Our fans will eagerly anticipate watching a championship be decided on a high-speed oval, with NBC providing a must-see network telecast to viewers around the country. Scott and his team will do a terrific job organizing our finale weekend, and I’m incredibly appreciative of their efforts to pivot and find a fitting venue for our fans, drivers and teams.”
Indy NXT by Firestone, the developmental series for the NTT IndyCar Series, will also shift its 2024 championship finale to Nashville Superspeedway.
More details on weekend festivities, schedule and ticket options will be forthcoming. The event remains committed to a presence downtown leading up to the race, with activations and entertainment celebrating the finale to be unveiled at a later date.
