Bert Kreischer Full Throttle Festival official part of NASCAR Daytona 500 weekend

Ahead of the Daytona 500, Bert Kreischer and friends are coming to Daytona Beach to put on a one-night music and comedy festival. Music, food, comedy, and a ton of NASCAR fans at the Ocean Center Convention Center.

The Full Throttle Festival will take place from 7 PM to 1 AM ET the night before the Daytona 500. This is being billed as the official NASCAR pre-party ahead of the 500. Fans can buy tickets at 10:00 AM ET this Friday, December 5th at www.FullThrottleFestival.com.

NASCAR and Kriescher are bringing Lynyrd Skynyrd, Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley, and ERNEST as the musical guests. Kriescher is going to get out and perform as well. Fans will be able to partake in BBQ and beer, and all of the NASCAR fan experiences that are set up throughout the event.

“I’m partnering with NASCAR to create the biggest, wildest, greatest pre-race event EVER.  We’re not just throwing a party; we’re bringing rock music, country music, comedy, beer and barbecue together to create one epic night of awesomeness.  Picture all of THAT – the laughs, the fun, the meat sweats – stuffed inside the Ocean Center the night before the Daytona 500.  It’s an event you do not want to miss…and I cannot wait to go FULL THROTTLE with you!” said Bert Kriescher in a press release.

So, NASCAR has lined up a special event for race fans in Daytona Beach for the 500 weekend. When you’re in Daytona, is this something you will think about attending?

NASCAR plans on making Daytona 500 festival permanent

In the press release about the Full Throttle Festival, it appears that this is going to be a regular thing. NASCAR wants this to be an annual event. Adding a little extra onto the Daytona 500 weekend isn’t a bad idea. There are fans who might want to do a little something different.

“Full Throttle Festival is designed to become an annual tradition in Daytona Beach, giving fans a new way to come together, celebrate the sport they love and kick off one of the biggest events in racing with a night that feels as big as race day itself,” the press release states. We will have to wait and see if that happens for 2027 and beyond.

My one concern is starting it at 7 PM on Saturday night at the convention center. The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts race won’t start until 5 PM that night. It will take longer than two hours to complete if we get a green flag race. If there are any weather delays, it only pushes the race into the festival even more.

By having the Full Throttle Festival at the convention center, race fans would have to travel about five miles by car. It’s about 12 minutes in good traffic. Fans will have to choose between being able to see the festival in its entirety or watching the finish of the race. Hopefully, in the future, the Daytona 500 pre-party can take place in the infield. Weather issues are a concern, but that’s Daytona, folks.