Rodney Atkins Makes New NASCAR Friends

It's hard to find a NASCAR fan who isn't also a country music fan. Rodney Atkins, who performed at the Food Lion Speedstreet 600 in May prior to the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race in Charlotte, N.C., tells The Boot that there is a big correlation between racing and country.

"I think the thing that ties us together are the people who follow the sport," he says. "We played the Speedstreet event and over 10,000 people came out to see us play. They were consistent with a country music crowd; they are the same kind of folks."

Rodney, who took his wife Tammy Jo and son Elijah with him to the event, admits he is the one who is a fan when it comes to being around the NASCAR drivers. He had the opportunity to hang out with Michael Waltrip and Kasey Kahne while he was in Charlotte.

"Michael is unbelievable, he's incredible. I had only been to one other race before, and never down in the pit area, so that was quite an experience," Rodney gushes.

When Kasey Kahne found out that Rodney was there, he asked his manager if he could meet the singer. "It was pretty surreal, to get to sit down and talk to him," Rodney admits of meeting one of his NASCAR heroes. "He is such an humble guy."

The country singer says he admires the drivers' athletic abilities. "These guys get close to 200 miles per hour out on that track," he points out. "They put their life at stake doing what they do. It is so cool to get to hang with them."

Rodney has another connection with racing. His name is emblazoned on Johnny Sauter's No. 13 Fun Sand/Rodney Atkins/Curb Records Chevrolet Silverado in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.