CARLISLE, PA – For 2016, the Carlisle Truck Nationals run August 5-7.  The weekend is jam-packed with family fun, great food and cool truck displays destined to wow guests of all ages and for 2016, truck weekend celebrates its 25^th Anniversary.  Now, in addition to trucks of all shapes, sizes, styles and eras, truck weekend will play host to Warner Music Nashville recording artist Michael Ray for a very special Friday night at the Carlisle Fairgrounds.  The show is supported by iHeartMedia station Bob 94.9 and will also feature central Pennsylvania local Ben Gallaher as Ray’s opening act.

Michael Ray is a Florida native who burst onto the scene in 2012 following a big win on the CW competition show “The Next: Fame is at Your Doorstep.”  This show included a panel of four musical talents, including Nelly, Gloria Estefan, Joe Jonas and country singer John Rich of Big & Rich fame.  In 2015, Ray topped the charts with the song “Kiss You in the Morning.”  Also from his self-titled Michael Ray CD, he’s released two more songs, “Real Men Love Jesus” and “Think a Little Less.”  The former broke the top 20 on the back end of last year, while the latter is his current single that is making its move upwards on the charts.

As mentioned above, Gallaher is a native Pennsylvanian, having graduated from Cedar Cliff High School in 2010.  After playing backwoods bars and Pennsylvania prisons, Gallaher went to Music City where he signed a contract with Sony Music Nashville in October of 2014 followed by a publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group in May of 2015.  On the road, he’s shared the stage with such acts as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tyler Farr, 38 Special, Lee Brice, Parmalee, Brantley Gilbert, Colt Ford, Craig Campbell, Frankie Ballard and more.  On Friday, August 5, Gallaher will now add a new name to that list, Michael Ray.   

The musical fun starts at 7 p.m. with Gallaher on stage first, followed by Ray.  Tickets for the day (through 3 p.m.) are $12 for adults with kids 12 and under free.  After 3 p.m., adult tickets jump to $15 and kids’ access remains free.  General truck show registration as well as tickets for the show is available now.  Anyone who opts to register a rig, truck, Jeep, van, SUV, etc. for the Carlisle Truck Nationals automatically gains access to the show.  Further, all seats for the show are general admission or standing room and are available on a first come, first served basis.

Gates for the Carlisle Truck Nationals open at 7 a.m. on August 5 and yield three days of truck-themed action.  Prior to Ray’s Friday evening show, there will be a freestyle motorcycle stunt show followed by a monster truck show.  The weekend as a whole features family fun with the Phantom Fun Zone, monster truck shows and rides, antique fire trucks, cool custom vans, big rigs and more.  There are competitions too, including burnouts, drop and drag, low truck limbo and a beauty contest. 

Haul in to one of the biggest and best shows in the region for truck centric fun and live country music with Michael Ray, Ben Gallaher and Bob 94.9.  Complete event and show registration details are available online now at www.CarlisleEvents.com.