It's been said that behind every great man is a great woman - and that certainly holds true in the Wallenda household. While Nik Wallenda is known for his daring feats of balance and bravery, at the Bank of America 500 on Saturday, Oct. 10, Nik's wife Erendira (pronounced "E-Den-D-Duh") will take center stage as she performs a first-of-its-kind aerial thrill show before the green flag falls.
Never one to stand idly by, Erendira, is an eighth generation acrobat who has performed with her family since she was 5 years old. She is, in all ways, Nik's equal when it comes to daredevil acrobatics.
"I've watched Nik perform at Charlotte the last couple of years and always wanted to be part of the energy that fans bring to pre-race for the Bank of America 500," Erendira said. "We're always trying to top ourselves, and I'm really excited to come back to 'hang out' and put on a world-class performance at a world-class speedway."
Before NASCAR's best take to the track for the Bank of America 500, Erendira will leave fans on the edge of their seats, suspended over the infield on an aerial ring hanging by a cable under a helicopter high above the infield. The 10-minute show, which Erendira will perform without any safety equipment to tether her to the ring or the helicopter, will feature artistic stunts and tricks, building to a dramatic finale as she hangs from the ring by only her toes.
"I'm so excited about this opportunity for her," Nik said. "Like the Pettys, the Earnhardts and other NASCAR royalty who have made racing a family tradition, performing is a Wallenda family tradition and this is what Erendira was born to do. I'm sure I'll be more nervous standing on the sidelines than I ever have been standing on the high wire, but I know she will put on an unforgettable show."
While thrilling pre-race stunts have become a staple during pre-race festivities at Charlotte Motor Speedway's fall classic, fans won't want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime kickoff to the Bank of America 500.
In addition to the Wallenda stunt, country music megastar Hunter Hayes will get the crowd revved up for a night of intense racing with a free pre-race concert. During the pivotal Chase race, speedway officials and fans will also pay tribute to NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon with a variety of special tributes honoring the future NASCAR Hall of Famer's final race at the iconic superspeedway. For more information on the pre-race festivities or the speedway's #JeffsLastRide campaign, visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.
Fans can catch all the action surrounding the only Saturday night race in the Chase, including Bojangles' Pole Night on Oct. 8, the NASCAR XFINITY Series Drive for the Cure 300 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina on Oct. 9 and the Bank of America 500 on Oct. 10 with weekend packages starting at just $99.
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