Homestead-Miami Speedway news 2008-11-10

Grammy Award-Winning Ne-Yo to Sing National Anthem at Ford 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Finale this Sunday; Tickets available for Ford Championship Weekend, Friday through Sunday

MIAMI--Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Ne-Yo will sing the national anthem prior to the Ford 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series finale this Sunday, Nov.16, to culminate Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Great seats are still available for NASCAR's 2008 weekend finale by calling (866) 409-RACE.

"We're thrilled to have Ne-Yo join us for NASCAR's series-crowning Ford Championship Weekend finale," said Homestead-Miami Speedway President Curtis Gray. "Ne-Yo will cap off pre-race festivities with a spirited rendition of the national anthem, energizing a full house of race fans and a live television audience."

The multi-platinum Def Jam artist has impressed audiences with both his singing and song- writing talents since his first album, "In My Own Words" (2006), debuted atop the Billboard 200. Ne-Yo's second single, "So Sick," reached No.1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, and all told he has amassed seven Top 10 songs on Billboard's Hot 100 and two No.1 albums on the Billboard 200.

Ne-Yo's third album, "Year of the Gentlemen," was released in September and certified gold; "Closer," the album's first single, spent six weeks on the Top 200 charts and is his first platinum single, with more than 1.5 million copies sold. Ne-Yo's second single, "Miss Independent," has enjoyed national radio play and made it to the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, marking the album's second consecutive Top 10 hit.

In addition to performing his own music, Ne-Yo has written chart-topping hits for artists Rihanna, Beyonce, Celine Dion and Mary J. Blige. Ne-Yo sang the national anthem for last month's NFL game between the San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints at London's Wembley Stadium.

GREAT SEATS ARE STILL AVAILABLE for Ford Championship Weekend 2008, Nov.14-16 on Homestead-Miami Speedway's 1.5-mile oval, as the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Craftsman Truck Series all crown champions under the lights. To secure individual or group tickets for NASCAR's finale, call (866) 409-RACE or visit www.HomesteadMiamiSpeedway.com.

-credit: hms