Spectacular Salinas Street Fest Ignites Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey in Raucous Festive Evening
The Salinas Street Fest, a vibrant celebration marking the onset of summer and the return of the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey featuring the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, drew in a crowd of over a thousand enthusiasts. Main Street in downtown Salinas was bustling with activity last night as parts of it were cordoned off for the event.
Isabella, a recent arrival from Southern California, found the fest to be a perfect platform to interact with some of the INDYCAR drivers and admire the cars at close quarters before the commencement of the races. “The experience has been fantastic so far, and I’m eagerly anticipating the weekend races,” she expressed. Being a fan of Pato, this is only her second race of the season.
Echoing Isabella’s excitement was Oliver, who had driven down from Sacramento to attend the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey for the first time. “I’m thrilled about the upcoming races and particularly keen on seeing Pato’s performance. Tonight has been great, and I’m looking forward to meeting him and getting his autograph,” he shared.
The evening, sponsored by Mission Foods, saw Arrow McLaren drivers Pato O’Ward, Alexander Rossi, and Nolan Siegel, along with Colton Herta of Andretti Global w/ Curb-Agajanian, mingling with fans and signing autographs. This was part of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca’s community initiatives program, bringing the drivers closer to the community.
Maxwell Glenn, the Sports Director of KION-TV, had a delightful evening serving as the Master of Ceremonies, distributing tickets, and interacting with fans. The Street Fest was further enhanced with activities provided by Mission Foods, Tanimura & Antle, and Sunbelt Rentals.
The Street Fest, organized in collaboration with the Salinas Chamber of Commerce and City of Salinas, saw a diverse attendance comprising local and out-of-town fans, media personnel, business leaders, community figures, and city and county officials.
A fresh addition to this year’s Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey is a live concert by country music sensation George Birge, famed for his chart-topping hits “Mind on you” and “Cowboy Songs.” Abby Leigh Anderson from the nationally broadcasted Bobby Bones Show will be the opening act for Birge, with their performance scheduled on the race paddock stage at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Tickets for single and multiple days are available for purchase, with a special offer allowing kids aged 15 and under free entry with a paying adult. Tickets can be procured online at www.WeatherTechRaceway.com or at the admission gates.