Everything A Country Fan Needs To Know About The Daytona 500

They really do go hand in hand don't they?  Country music and NASCAR.  I'm guessing that most of you would agree that it just don't get no better than a warm summer night, some racing and hanging out with your buddies with a few cold beers. Well since it is February and the local season hasn't started yet, we have to settle for the next best thing.  Watching the races on TV.

Looks like country music will be very well represented this weekend.  Here is everything you need top know about who is performing as part of the "Great American Race" festivities.

Source: albrightandomalley.com

For earlier TV coverage, two channels will feature Daytona 500 events at 9:00 a.m., ET -- NASCAR Now of ESPN2 and SPEED channel's NASCAR RaceDay.

Brad Paisley will perform three songs from his upcoming album, "This Is Country Music." His appearance is scheduled to begin at 12:19 p.m., ET.

Start time for the Daytona 500 is at 1:00 p.m., Eastern Time, televised on the FOX network.

Martina McBride will sing the national anthem followed by a aerial show by the Air Force Thunderbirds before the race takes off.

Dierks Bentley will appear at Daytona 500 this weekend.

Bentley has also been commissioned by FOX Sports to record a special version of his No. one smash hit “Sideways” for the theme song for the network’s 2011 NASCAR coverage.

The song will be used throughout the entire season, and Bentley will debut the song live from the Daytona 500.

Randy Montana will also perform at this weekend’s Daytona 500

Montana is also tapped to entertain a mass crowd at the New Orleans Arena for the 2011 Bassmaster Classic this weekend. He’ll headline the free-to-the-public show TOMORROW, (Sat) at 3:30pm Central Time.

“Anytime you can play in front of that many people, it’s good exposure,” said Montana. “You just hope to bring home a few fans. We’ll hit it hard.”

Daytona 500 officially kicks off the 2011 Sprint Cup Series season for NASCAR racing. Over 40 stock cars compete in at the "Super Bowl of NASCAR" for one of the world's most prestigious races.

Daytona 500 Mania

How popular is the Daytona 500? It's only the most highly-rated and watched race throughout the year, kicking off the racing year for NASCAR's top prize, the Sprint Cup.

Almost every ticket is sold, and every seat in the house at Daytona is taken, while literally millions of Americans tune in to cheer their favorite drivers as they celebrate at race day parties nationwide.

More about the Daytona 500 around the Web:

Daytona Int'l Speedway - The official site with all the latest action, driver profiles, photo gallery, trivia, stats, schedule, track map, online shop and ticket information, plus info on the area and a complete schedule of all the Daytona races..

NASCAR on FOX - The official TV channel of the Daytona 500 with the complete schedule, picture galleries, feature stories and more as race day draws near ...

NASCAR.com - All you need to know about the Daytona 500 including info on the cars, the drivers, the numbers, the track...you name it. Videos, audio and news on the current race. Stop in at the game room and try you hand at one of the challenges...

Daytona 500 - Some interesting information on the history of the race and a link to a listing of all of the Daytona 500 winners from Richard Petty's win in the first race in 1959. There is also a link to the list of current NASCAR races.

Daytona Race Fans - Daytona area info, racing info, racing photos, driver info - with links to each driver's official Web site - NASCAR links and a message board.