When the All American Rejects entered the Richmond International Raceway Media Center, they proved that they could entertain without signing a single note.

The band was at RIR as the headline act of the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 but they were ready for the new experiences the day would bring. “This is our first NASCAR race,” said flamboyant lead singer Tyson Ritter. “We’re four Oklahoma boys so we couldn’t get out there to Texas Motor (Speedway) all the time. There’s like that weird thing with Oklahoma-Texas, but it’s okay. I’m glad we waited for Richmond.”

Guitarist Nick Wheeler was pumped with anticipation of the evening concert. “It’s incredible,” he said. “This will be the biggest show we’ve ever played in the United States.”

The Rejects were driven out of their comfort zone when they participated in an early morning ride with the Richard Petty Racing Experience. “We got up at 8:30 in the morning, which is very early for Rock & Roll,” Wheeler said. “We got to suit up and everything and it was actually safe and secure at 135 miles and hour. It wasn’t scary.”

Ritter indicated he was even ready to take on the entire 400 laps with one of the NASCAR drivers during the actual race. “I’m wearing some rubber underwear, let’s do it,” Ritter said.

And while over the course of their careers the musicians have grown used to signing autographs, Ritter said they weren’t even in the same league as the NASCAR drivers. “Those guys are like pros they just walk and sign, walk and sign,” he said. “These guys are like robots. Pretty impressive.”

The band’s rapid emersion in NASCAR also taught them that different names brought different reactions and who they should root for during the race. “We just did this outdoor thing and I said (Kyle) Busch’s name and there was a lot of unsettled seat movement,” Ritter said. “So I think we’re safe with the Dale Jr. because he got spun out this year so we’re ready to see him grip it and rip it.”

The Rejects will stick around for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 hundred then catch a quick, flight out west to be a part of Sunday night’s MTV Music Awards, but Ritter indicated where he would rather be. “We just did rehearsals yesterday, flew down here to do this,” he said. “Honestly I’m way more excited about this than I am about tomorrow night.”

And while the band has recorded songs title ‘Stab My Back’, ‘Dirty Little Secret’, ‘Night Drive’ and ‘Breakin’. Ritter said other songs best epitomize their NASCAR experience.

“I think there are three,” he said. “There’s a song called ‘Ends Tonight’, which was on our last record called ‘Move Along’. A song called ‘Move Along’, which was probably our biggest explosion a couple of years ago, but I think most recently, with our newest record, ‘The World Comes Down’ a song ‘Gives You Hell’ was our first No. 1.

“I think that’s what they want us to give them for an hour tonight,” Ritter added but then appeared to get confused on how NASCAR started races. “We’re going to give them hell. They at least want to give Busch hell out there. So, we’re going to give everybody hell until they get these puppies kick started. Do they kick start them? Hand crank them?”