Before record-breaking tours, NFL stadium shout-outs, and global superstardom, Taylor Swift had a microphone, a guitar, and a NASCAR crowd hanging on every note.
2006 Throwback: Taylor Swift’s NASCAR National Anthem Moment
Long before Taylor Swift filled stadiums with her Eras Tour, she stood at Phoenix Raceway in 2006. The now 34-year-old pop icon was just 16 at the time, newly arrived on the country music scene.
The occasion? The Checker Auto Parts 500. The task? Singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” in front of thousands of racing fans.
Wearing sunglasses and strumming her guitar, Swift delivered a note-perfect rendition of the anthem. Fighter jets soared overhead, offering an early glimpse of the artist and showwoman she’d soon become.
The clip resurfaced on social media recently, with NASCAR posting it officially, sparking reactions from both Swifties and longtime racing fans.
Fans React: “Now NASCAR Needs Taylor’s Version!”
Unsurprisingly, the rediscovered performance quickly went viral. Fans flooded comment sections with both heartfelt nostalgia and tongue-in-cheek humor.
“Taylor Swift has taken over sports,” one fan said simply.
“Now NASCAR needs her back on stage so she can do the anthem, but call it Taylor’s Version,” joked another.
Some fans pretended not to recognize her, writing things like:
“I wonder what happened to this girl. She looks like she had a bright future ahead of her.”
And others pointed out small but memorable details, including her sunglasses and the fact that, technically, drivers like David Stremme and Greg Biffle can now say they were part of a Taylor Swift video.
From Racing Stages to NFL Sidelines
While her 2006 NASCAR moment might surprise newer fans, Taylor Swift’s relationship with sports culture has only grown.
Today, she’s more likely to be spotted at Kansas City Chiefs games than at a race track — thanks to her high-profile relationship with two-time Super Bowl champion Travis Kelce.
Since going public in late 2023, Swift has attended at least 12 Chiefs games alongside Kelce’s family and friends.
One fan summed it up best in a viral comment:
“From singing the anthem at NASCAR to becoming football’s biggest sideline star. Taylor Swift really does it all.”
A Full-Circle Moment?
With the video having gone viral, some fans called for a return.
“Get her back for the anthem,” one user posted. “Taylor’s Version, NASCAR Edition.”
Whether or not Swift ever takes the stage at Phoenix Raceway again, the 2006 clip stands as a reminder of how far she’s come. And judging by the reactions, both Swifties and NASCAR fans wouldn’t mind seeing her do it one more time.