What's planned at Gridlife Summer Apex in Watkins Glen, cars to music
· Yahoo Sports
Gridlife Summer Apex will return to Watkins Glen International from July 24-26 with expanded race fields, major music acts and new fan experiences as organizers continue building on the event's debut at the historic road course.
The three-day festival will bring together more than 250 competitors, live concerts and interactive attractions, according to a community announcement. Organizers said the event has grown significantly since its first appearance at Watkins Glen in 2023, when persistent rain limited many planned activities.
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Gridlife president and co-founder Chris Stewart said the return provides an opportunity to showcase how the event has evolved.
"When we first came to Watkins Glen, we knew the potential was there, but we also knew we were just scratching the surface," Stewart said. "Over the last three years, we've grown as a company, our racing programs have expanded, our music lineup has reached another level and our manufacturer partners have continued investing in the experience. Coming back to Watkins Glen gives us the opportunity to showcase the positive growth of Gridlife."
The event will combine road racing, drifting, live music and car culture experiences throughout the weekend at the New York circuit.
Organizers said the festival will feature performances from DJ Diesel, the stage name of Shaquille O'Neal, along with Teddy Pain, the performance name used by T-Pain, BUNT., Jai Wolf, San Holo, Laszewo and other artists.
Gridlife noted that Watkins Glen has a long history of large-scale music events, including Summer Jam 1973, which featured the Grateful Dead, The Band and the Allman Brothers Band.
Concerts will take place at the NOS Energy Main Stage after on-track competition concludes each night. The electronic-focused lineup is scheduled to open with performances from BUNT., Jai Wolf, San Holo and Laszewo. A bass music showcase known as the BASSMiNT Takeover will headline the following night, featuring DJ Diesel (Shaq) and Teddy Pain.
While music has become a major part of the festival, racing remains the event's primary attraction, according to the announcement. More than 100 drivers are expected to compete in Gridlife TrackBattle, a Time Attack championship that will include an Unlimited-class battle involving Mike Dusold's 1,400-horsepower Chevrolet Camaro, Sasha Anis' hybrid Nissan 350Z, Allen Patten's Chevrolet Corvette and John Veloso's Acura NSX GT3 Evo.
Wheel-to-wheel competition will also feature 40 entries in the Eibach Gridlife Touring Cup, a growing Gridlife GT field and 54 Gridlife RUSH cars. Watkins Glen's road course has hosted major racing series including NASCAR, IMSA, Trans Am, IndyCar and Formula One during its more than 70-year history.
Professional drifting will round out the on-track schedule with nearly 40 drivers expected to participate. The lineup includes T-Pain, Hert, Justin Pawlak and Dai Yoshihara. Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins is also scheduled to make a drifting appearance.
Beyond competition, attendees will have access to a variety of hands-on experiences. Dodge will offer thrill rides, while Hyundai's ride-along program will allow fans to ride around Watkins Glen in an IONIQ 5 N, Elantra N and Elantra N TCR.
Visitors can also try electric drift karts from Electro & Co., view rare vehicles in the Prime Legends Preview and explore the open paddock, where teams, drivers and builders will be accessible throughout the venue.
"One of the things that makes Gridlife different is that we don't ask fans to choose between motorsports and entertainment," Stewart said. "You can spend the afternoon watching some of the fastest Time Attack cars in North America, jump into a manufacturer ride-along, meet drivers in the paddock and then watch world-class artists perform that night. It's all part of the same experience."
Stewart said organizers hope visitors leave with a broader appreciation for automotive culture.
"Whether someone comes for the racing, the drifting, the music or because they simply love cars, they usually leave discovering something they weren't expecting," Stewart said. "That's always been the goal. We want people to experience every part of car culture in one weekend, and Watkins Glen is the perfect place to bring that vision to life."
Gridlife Summer Apex is scheduled for July 24-26 at Watkins Glen International. Organizers said every on-track session will stream live on RACER Network and the Gridlife YouTube channel. Ticket, camping and schedule information is available at grid.life/summer-apex.
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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: What's planned at Gridlife Summer Apex in Watkins Glen, cars to music