GRIDLIFE returns to Watkins Glen ready for three-day motorsports music festival with special appearances from Shaq, T-Pain and Dion Dawkins

Three years after introducing its unique blend of grassroots motorsports and drifting to Watkins Glen International, GRIDLIFE Summer Apex returns July 24-26 with bigger race fields, bigger headliners and more ways for fans to get involved, showcasing just how much the festival has evolved since its inaugural visit.

More than 250 competitors, including 100 Time Attack cars, four racing championships, professional drifting, live concerts featuring DJ Diesel (Shaquille O'Neal), Teddy Pain (T-Pain), BUNT., Jai Wolf, San Holo and more, along with interactive manufacturer experiences, will transform the legendary New York circuit into a three-day celebration of motorsports, music and car culture that is uniquely GRIDLIFE.

The festival's debut at Watkins Glen in 2023 offered a glimpse of that vision, though three days of rain prevented many of the weekend's experiences from reaching their full potential. This year's return gives GRIDLIFE the opportunity to showcase the event the way it was always intended to be experienced.

"When we first came to Watkins Glen, we knew the potential was there, but we also knew we were just scratching the surface," said GRIDLIFE President and Co-Founder Chris Stewart. "Over the last three years, we've grown as a company, our racing programs have expanded, our music lineup has reached another level and our manufacturer partners have continued investing in the experience. Coming back to Watkins Glen gives us the opportunity to showcase the positive growth of GRIDLIFE."

More than 50 years after the Grateful Dead, The Band and the Allman Brothers Band drew thousands of fans to Watkins Glen for Summer Jam 1973, GRIDLIFE is once again pairing music with motorsports at the historic circuit.

As the racing concludes each evening, the energy shifts from the circuit to the NOS Energy Main Stage, transforming the legendary infield into an outdoor music festival.



Friday night sets the tone with feel-good electronic performances from BUNT., Jai Wolf, San Holo and Laszewo before Saturday raises the intensity with the BASSMiNT Takeover, a one-night bass music showcase curated by T-Pain. Headlined by DJ Diesel (Shaquille O'Neal) and Teddy Pain (T-Pain), the Saturday lineup brings together some of the biggest names in bass music for what promises to be one of the largest concert productions in GRIDLIFE history.

Throughout the weekend, fans can also experience Dodge thrill rides, ride shotgun around Watkins Glen in Hyundai's IONIQ 5 N, Elantra N and Elantra N TCR through the Hyundai Laps program, test their skills in electric drift karts from Electro & Co., visit the Prime Legends Preview in the GRIDLIFE Showfield that will feature a curated concours of a dozen rare and unique builds, and explore the open paddock where they can interact with drivers, builders and race teams throughout the venue.

"One of the things that makes GRIDLIFE different is that we don't ask fans to choose between motorsports and entertainment," Stewart said. "You can spend the afternoon watching some of the fastest Time Attack cars in North America, jump into a manufacturer ride-along, meet drivers in the paddock and then watch world-class artists perform that night. It's all part of the same experience."

The racing, however, remains the centerpiece of GRIDLIFE.

For more than 70 years, Watkins Glen International has challenged some of the biggest names in American road racing. From NASCAR and IMSA to Trans Am, IndyCar and Formula 1, the historic circuit has become one of the country's most recognizable road courses. GRIDLIFE adds its own chapter to that history by bringing more than 250 competitors across four racing championships, Time Attack and professional drifting to the legendary venue.

More than 100 competitors will compete in GRIDLIFE TrackBattle, one of North America's premier Time Attack championships, highlighted by an Unlimited class showdown for the track record featuring Mike Dusold's 1,400-horsepower Chevrolet Camaro, Sasha Anis' hybrid Nissan 350Z, Allen Patten's Chevrolet Corvette and John Veloso's Acura NSX GT3 Evo.

Wheel-to-wheel racing is equally deep, with 40 entries in the Eibach GRIDLIFE Touring Cup, a growing GRIDLIFE GT field featuring everything from GT4 machinery to garage-built creations, and 54 GRIDLIFE RUSH cars producing one of the largest and closest racing fields of the weekend.

Drifting rounds out the on-track action as nearly 40 drivers, including T-Pain, Hert, Justin Pawlak and Dai Yoshihara take on Watkins Glen's iconic 3.4-mile, 11-turn circuit. Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins will swap his football helmet for a racing helmet on Saturday as he takes to the track for a special drifting appearance. Better known for hosting America's premier road racing events, the high-speed layout offers one of the most unique full-course drift experiences on the GRIDLIFE schedule, rewarding commitment and precision through every corner.

The result is a weekend unlike anything else on the Watkins Glen calendar. 

"Whether someone comes for the racing, the drifting, the music or because they simply love cars, they usually leave discovering something they weren't expecting," Stewart said. "That's always been the goal. We want people to experience every part of car culture in one weekend, and Watkins Glen is the perfect place to bring that vision to life."

GRIDLIFE Summer Apex takes place July 24-26 at Watkins Glen International. Every on-track session will stream live on the GRIDLIFE YouTube channel and RACER Network. Tickets, camping information and the full weekend schedule are available at www.grid.life/summer-apex.