Motorsport Meets Music: Chris Stewart on Gridlife’s Growth & Cultural Impact

During EPARTRADE’s 5th Annual Race Industry Week, Chris Stewart, Founder of Gridlife, shares how the series has grown into one of the most influential grassroots motorsports platforms in North America—blending wheel-to-wheel racing, track days, time attack, car culture, and live music into a single, immersive experience.After a 30% increase in entries during the 2024 season, Gridlife continues to expand regionally while staying true to its grassroots roots. In this candid conversation, Stewart explains how the series balances rapid growth with accessibility, affordability, and authenticity—key factors behind its strong appeal to the 18–34 demographic, which now makes up nearly 75% of attendees.🔑 Key Topics Covered in This Interview:• How Gridlife achieved record growth and expansion• The role of grassroots racing in modern motorsports• Why experience matters more than just track time• Blending motorsports and live music to grow car culture• Reaching and engaging a younger, diverse audience• The Rush Spec Series and new racing opportunities• Expansion into California and new regional markets• Staying authentic while scaling a motorsports business• Festival-style events vs. club racing weekends• What to expect from the 2025 Gridlife scheduleStewart also discusses the importance of community-driven growth, the strategic addition of leadership to support expansion, and how Gridlife is redefining what a motorsports event can be—creating a space where hardcore racers and first-time fans feel equally welcome.Whether you’re a grassroots racer, track-day driver, car-culture enthusiast, promoter, or brand looking to understand where the next generation of motorsports fans is coming from, this episode offers valuable insight into the future of racing culture.RACE INDUSTRY WEEK was brought to you by:ETS Racing Fuels, Penske Racing Shocks, ARP, Inc., Scott Lewis Associates, Fifth Third Bank Motorsports, PEAK, Crower, & CTech Manufacturing.#Gridlife #GrassrootsMotorsports #CarCulture#MotorsportMeetsMusic #TimeAttack#TrackDays #GrassrootsRacing#MotorsportsCommunity #RaceIndustryWeek#EPARTRADE #FutureOfRacing#Motorsports #RacingLifestyle