Don’t be surprised if you bump into NASCAR legend Ricky Bobby in the garage looking for a Cup Series (NCS) ride for the March 24-26 EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix race weekend at Circuit of The Americas (COTA).
Fans better be ready to “Shake & Bake” with Ricky Bobby, played by talented impersonator David Babcock clad in a Wonder Bread firesuit and matching helmet. Actor/comedian Will Ferrell played the fictitious NASCAR driver in “Talladega Nights – The Legend of Ricky Bobby.”
Babcock has been impersonating Will Ferrell characters from Ricky Bobby to Ron Burgundy to Buddy the Elf for a decade, much to the delight of guests at public, corporate and private events nationwide and in the United Kingdom. The driver of NACAR lore will be one of the “Lone Star Sideshows” acts entertaining fans for free in the Fan Zone Saturday and Sunday of the NASCAR tripleheader weekend. The Fan Zone is located at the Grand Plaza near COTA’s main entrance.
While Ricky Bobby will be roaming the COTA grounds posing for photos and signing autographs (and babies), there will also be plenty of high-flying action in the Fan Zone with Lucha Libre Mexicana wrestling matches and the Aquatic Acrobatic Show.
Lucha Libre, which means freestyle wrestling, is one of the most popular sports in Mexico and is sure to bring some thrilling action to the Fan Zone. The professional wrestling heroes, characterized by their exotic masks and flashy names (Crazy Latino, Lady Diamond and Alejandra Lion to name a few), are known for their rapid sequences of holds and maneuvers as well as their fan-favorite, high-flying moves. Each match will last about 20 minutes with a 10-minute meet-and-greet photo session available to fans after each match.
The Aquatic Acrobatic Show features five generations of talented performers putting on 30-minute shows on a custom-designed water stage with special water effects and more. The show is highlighted by living mermaids, the springboard maneuver, balancing acts, aqua bola feats, a water pistol-toting clown, a jet ski and plenty of acrobatic stunts.
Lucha Libre and the Aquatic Acrobatic Show will perform multiple shows Saturday and Sunday, March 25-26. Show times for both will be announced closer to race week.
In addition to the free entertainment in the Fan Zone, NASCAR at COTA announced last month that three-time GRAMMY® Award-winner Darius Rucker will perform his chart-topping hits during a pre-race concert on Sunday, March 26 prior to the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix NCS race (2:30 p.m. CT, TV: FOX, Radio: PRN, SiriusXM).
Rucker will perform a one-hour set featuring critically-acclaimed hits from his four No. 1 albums on the Billboard Country charts, starting at 12:45 p.m. CT on the frontstretch of the circuit. NASCAR at COTA is offering fans prime access to Rucker’s pre-race show as well as driver introductions with the purchase of a Track Pass for just $75. While the pre-race concert is free with any race ticket, Track Pass holders will move to stage front for a premier experience including the concert and driver introductions.
The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix culminates a three-day event that features the NCS, NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS). The weekend kicks off Friday, March 24 with FEVO Friday that includes practice and qualifying for the NXS and NCTS. Saturday, March 25 is action-packed with NCS qualifying, the NASCAR Xfinity Series 250 race and XPEL 225 NCTS race.
Tickets:
Tickets for the March 24-26 NASCAR at COTA tripleheader weekend are on sale now at NASCARatCOTA.com. Three-day weekend packages for adults including the Darius Rucker pre-race concert start at just $99 and just $10 for kids 12 and under. Further details can be found on the NASCAR at COTA website.
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