Issue date: 10/15/07 Section: Aggielife

2:13 Craig Morgan took to the Bud Light Stage, topping off his set by performing his hits "Little Bit of Life" and "Almost Home."

4:19 After an engertic opening, Gary Allan decides to take it slow for a while. He sits at the top of his stage, takes off his sunglasses and serenades the crowd with his single "Life Ain't Always Beautiful."

5:49 Former student Granger Smith, Class of 2002, ends his set at the BMI Stage with the song "We Bleed Maroon." Earlier in his performance, while strumming his guitar before launching into another song, an Aggie Ring-wearing Smith told the crowd that playing in College Station was always going to be a hometown gig.

6:10 People gather at the edge of the concert space, watching stockcars participating in the fourth and final heat of the Big State Cup speed around the outer racetrack. After burning some rubber, driver Marc Dailey emerges as the winner as his No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet narrowly passes the checkered flag before the second place finisher.

6:34 The low, familiar rumble of Trace Adkin's voice echoes across the plains of the speedway as he belts out his hit "Swing." The long-haired Adkins rocked the Bud Light Stage until 7:30 p.m.

6:39 The bus carrying country music icon Willie Nelson pulls up behind the stage about five minutes before he appears on stage. After Nelson shouldered his guitar, he pumped his fists in the air to greet the large crowd of people gathered around the stage and launched into his song "Whiskey River."

6:55 A light rain starts to fall during Willie Nelson and Trace Adkins' performances. The drizzle sends concert-goers running for tents and sets off a flurry of opening umbrellas.

8:00 Chef Bobby Flay, most known for his appearances on the Food Network, leaps onto the Toyota Tundra Stage to announce the winners of the H-E-B BBQ Showdown Grand Champion. Flay awards The Natural Born Grillers with a $25,000 check.

8:36 Big State headliner Tim McGraw finally makes it to the stage, appearing in his trademark black cowboy hat as the crowd chants "Tim! Tim! Tim!" As McGraw sings his hit singles "Something Like That" and "When the Stars Go Blue," the rain picks up speed, drenching fans. After McGraw finishes the songs, he greets the crowd with a "Hello, Texas!" Fans scream in reply, and McGraw laughs and says, "Looks like we're going to see the biggest wet T-shirt contest here that Texas has ever seen!"

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