GT500 Track Tour: Running wild with the herd in the heart of NASCAR country

The GT500 brings all of the stars to the yard

The final stop for my group was a history lesson on Ford and Shelby, plus how the GT500 came to be.

Turns out our group wasn\’t alone for the guided tour. One of the three VIPs attending the GT500 Track Tour that morning was none other than the new driver who will pilot Clint Bowyer\’s NASCAR Cup ride for Stewart-Haas Racing in 2021, current Xfinity points leader Chase Briscoe; Bowyer is retiring at the end of the 2020 season, heading up to the broadcast booth full-time in 2021.

Aside from Briscoe, future Camping World Truck Series driver Hailee Deegan and Southern rock rising superstar Travis Tidwell turned up to drive the GT500 with their respective groups. Their appearances would help bring the Shelby magic to their respective fan bases.

Other big-name guests included Carroll Shelby\’s grandson, Aaron Shelby (who talked about his grandfather\’s legacy of performance), and YouTuber Joe Raiti of Raiti\’s Rides (known for his extensive reviews on the latest and greatest of, well, rides).

However, none could touch the star power of the GT500.