NSCS: PHILLIP PHILLIPS TO SING NATIONAL ANTHEM FOR 57TH ANNUAL DAYTONA 500

Singer/songwriter Phillip Phillips, will sing the National Anthem prior to the 57^th annual DAYTONA 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 22 at 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX.  “The Great American Race” will also broadcast live on FOX Deportes, Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio with additional coverage on NASCAR.com.

“We’re excited to have Phillip Phillips be a part of the pre-race ceremonies and sing the National Anthem prior to the 57^thannual DAYTONA 500,” Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. “Phillip is a talented singer, guitarist and songwriter and we are looking forward to his rendition of the National Anthem in front of thousands of race fans and millions more watching on FOX.”

Platinum recording artist Phillips released his sophomore album Behind The Light last May. The album includes all songs that were either written or co-written by Phillips including lead single “Raging Fire” which debuted in the Billboard Hot 100.  Behind The Light is the follow-up to 2012’s The World from the Side of the Moon, a platinum plus-selling album that debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 and featured the 5x platinum smash hit “Home.” Throughout the last year, the 24-year-old Georgia native has toured the U.S. and the world, joining Matchbox Twenty and John Mayer on tour and sharing a stage with Bruce Springsteen at the 2013 Rock in Rio festival.  The American Idol season 11 winner spent the summer on a co-headline tour with O.A.R. before setting out on a national headline tour this past fall.

To learn more about Phillip Phillips, visit www.phillipphillpps.com and follow him on Twitter (@phillips).

Tickets for the 57^th annual DAYTONA 500 and all Budweiser Speedweeks 2015 events are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or visitingwww.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.

Fans can follow NASCAR on Twitter and stay up to speed on the latest news by using hashtag #DAYTONA500 and #SPEEDWEEKS. Fans can also stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest for the latest news all season long. Fans can follow the latest on DAYTONA Rising, the $400 million frontstretch renovation at the “World Center of Racing” by using #DAYTONARising on Twitter or visiting www.daytonarising.com.