Luke Combs Honors the Late Dale Earnhardt with Daytona 500 Performance

Luke Combs got NASCAR fans revved up for the Daytona 500 with a live performance ahead of the 63rd running…

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

February 14, 2021

Luke Combs got NASCAR fans revved up for the Daytona 500 with a live performance ahead of the 63rd running of The Great American Race.

Combs performed in front of a limited number of fans at the World Center of Racing in Daytona, Florida while millions watched from home.

The country superstar took the stage to sing five songs, including “Cold As You” and “Beer Never Broke My Heart.”

In honor of the 20th anniversary of Dale Earnhardt’s passing, the reigning CMA Male Vocalist of the Year donned an Earnhardt branded leather jacket for his performance. Earnhardt passed away during NASCAR’s Daytona 500 in February 2001.

This performance marked Combs’ first live in-person concert since Feb. 14, 2020.

https://youtu.be/BmCbt1zRNaQ

“I grew up watching the NASCAR race every Sunday with my granddad; that was our thing,” Combs previously shared. “I never could have imagined back then that I’d be playing the Daytona 500 one day, so this is super awesome and is something I’m really looking forward to.”

Prior to his performance, Combs had the opportunity to meet NASCAR legend, Richard Petty.

“Great meeting Richard Petty this morning before the race,” Combs captioned the photo.

Great meeting Richard Petty this morning before the race.#DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/PxJRYiOO2i

— Luke Combs 🎤 (@lukecombs) February 14, 2021

Luke Combs recently revealed that he’s working on his third studio album following the release of a new song, “The Great Divide.”

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.