In the high-octane world of NASCAR, where speed and adrenaline rule, one might wonder what ties such a diverse crowd together. It’s the timeless tradition of singing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ before each race event. This unifying ritual is further enhanced as NASCAR strives to spotlight lesser-known American talents for this honor. At the recent Las Vegas race, the privilege fell upon the trucker and songwriter, Cali Tucker. Now, in the upcoming Homestead Miami race, a local artist and social media influencer is set to take the stage.
Familiar to many by her Instagram handle, ‘estefisaavy,’ the rumored singer for the event is a sensation in the digital world. Over the past four years, she has amassed a following of 521K followers on Instagram and over three million followers on TikTok. Even if you’re not an active user of these platforms, chances are, you’ve stumbled upon her comedy skits on YouTube or Facebook. Yet, behind the humor and light-heartedness lies a profound purpose – to motivate her fans and represent the voiceless.
Saavedra, the TikTok star, started creating amusing lifestyle and beauty content in March of 2020. As the Covid-19 pandemic swept across the globe and more people found themselves with ample time, platforms like TikTok gained widespread popularity, aiding Saavedra’s rise to digital stardom. Born in Ecuador, South America, Saavedra moved to the United States with her parents at the tender age of four. Now, residing in Orlando, Florida, Homestead is virtually her home ground.
Recently, she used her Instagram platform to reveal her upcoming performance at the Homestead Miami race. Utilizing the trend of ‘Get Ready With Me (GRWM)’ videos popularized by beauty bloggers, Saavedra announced, “I am going to be singing the national anthem on this Saturday at NASCAR.” This implies she’ll grace the stage at the Xfinity Series.
Fulfilling a long-time dream, Saavedra was inspired to sing the national anthem when she attended a Super Bowl game. As an immigrant child growing up in the United States, she was always passionate about singing. Witnessing the national anthem being sung at the Super Bowl sparked a desire to do the same, a dream she’s now set to realize.
She further shared, “Another reason why I wanna do this is because someone really close to me once told me that I would never be a singer. I am too far to sing. I am singing the national anthem, this message is for anyone, who’s ever told them that they are not good enough to do something. Don’t let that stop you. I am so excited for this opportunity.”
As we look forward to Saavedra’s rendition of the national anthem, race enthusiasts are gearing up for another thrilling race. Following the recent Las Vegas race, NASCAR is heading to another intermediate track in Homestead Miami. The previous race saw an unexpected winner – Josh Berry from Wood Brothers Racing, bagging their first win of the season and his maiden Cup win. Berry demonstrated his prowess right from the qualifying rounds, and it was clear his victory was anything but a fluke.
The same tire compound used in Vegas will be in play at Homestead Miami. Stu Grant, Goodyear’s general manager of global race tires, highlighted how this high-tire-wear surface makes for exciting racing dynamics, with tire management becoming a critical factor, adding yet another layer of thrill to the proceedings.
In the fall race at Homestead, we saw Tyler Reddick ascend from the back of the pack to clinch the checkered flag, thanks to the tire wear. With the current intermediate racing product, the winning possibilities are wide open. It could be anyone from John Hunter Nemechek, who’s been performing well, to Erik Jones, who started Vegas in P5, or perhaps another dark horse who might dominate the race.
As the anticipation builds up, we invite you to share your thoughts on who will reign supreme in the race. Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to the Homestead Miami NASCAR weekend.
