NASCAR’s season-opening announcement met with social media blowback

NASCAR’s season-opening announcement met with social media blowback

NASCAR announced the entertainment for the season-opening 2024 Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum on Sunday, Feb. 4.

To say it wasn’t well received might be an understatement.

GRAMMY-nominated and multi-platinum recording artist Machine Gun Kelly, also known as MGK, will perform during the race.

“Machine Gun Kelly is the true embodiment of what it means to be a modern-day rock star,” Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s senior vice president of racing development and strategy, said. “We’re thrilled to have as captivating of an artist as MGK bring in the 2024 season during the Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.”

The Cleveland, Ohio, native has been on a tear since releasing his first Rock/Pop Punk album Tickets to My Downfall in 2020. It became his first No. 1 effort with songs like “bloody valentine” and “my ex’s best friend” going platinum.

In 2022, the performer continued to top the charts with Mainstream Sellout, his second album to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The album was nominated for a 2023 GRAMMY Award for “Best Rock Album” and was supported with a sold-out tour. The US leg ended back in Cleveland to a crowd of 50,000 fans, making him the first and only Ohio native to sell out FirstEnergy Stadium.

The third-annual Busch Light Clash is the NASCAR Cup Series’ season-opening exhibition featuring the sport’s top stars. NASCAR on FOX will once again carry the broadcast for the Busch Light Clash.