USA TODAY International Edition
NBC kicks off NASCAR coverage with Petty tribute
CHARLOTTE – Goodbye, Blake Shelton. Hello, Tom Petty.
Well, sort of.
When NBC Sports begins its coverage of the second half of the NASCAR season this week at Chicagoland Speedway, the 90-second opening to the broadcast will feature Petty’s classic “Runnin’ Down A Dream,” one of the late rock singer’s biggest hits and one whose rhythm and lyrics fit well with stock car racing.
The NBC version of the song is performed by blues/rock singer ZZ Ward, who recorded the tune in Los Angeles but joined numerous NASCAR drivers and a crowd of extras recently for taping of the opening video in Charlotte.
“After three really great years of Blake Shelton (who sang “Bringing Back The Sunshine”), we all wanted to re-create the tone and energy for the open,” said Tripp Dixon, NBC Sports Group vice president and creative director. “‘Runnin’ Down A Dream’ is a really fitting song. We wanted someone new to perform it to tie the legacy and future of the sport together.
“ZZ has the right reverence for the original but also brought her own swagger to it. Her energy evokes an earlier time.”
The song has been used by other networks in sports programming. NBC added NASCAR personalities to its version.
During numerous takes of the song, Ward and her band ran through the song as “fans” cheered in front of the stage. Sprinkled in during tapings of material available for the open were some unusual highlights — Ryan Blaney crowd-surfing (and surviving it), Bubba Wallace sitting in on drums (he actually plays) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. singing along in the crowd.
It was Ward’s introduction to the world of NASCAR. The 32-year-old native of Pennsylvania said being asked to sing one of Petty’s most famous songs helped to make the experience grand.
“I’m a huge Tom Petty fan,” she said. “We all miss him. I wish it could have been a duet, but I feel very honored to cover an iconic song like that.
“It was a totally different feel for me than I’m used to with music. It was really fun to see the two worlds — NASCAR and music — come together. I’ve done a lot of videos, but to have some of the NASCAR drivers involved was really different for me — a fun adventure.”
Ward said the driving nature of the song fits well with NASCAR.
“Who doesn’t like to go fast?” she said.
“I love the idea of a race car driver. So talented. So fearless. There’s a lot that’s really amazing about NASCAR. I feel fearless with my music on stage, and the track is sort of their stage.”