Information courtesy of Auto Club Speedway

FONTANA, Calif. – A number of celebrities will be on hand for Sunday’s pre-race ceremonies at the Auto Club 400 NASCAR race at Auto Club Speedway.  Here’s a look at who you see prior to the start of the race.

*WWE Superstar Rey Mysterio will serve as the Honorary Pace Car Driver for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 race. The WWE Superstar is hopping out of the ring to get behind the wheel of the Official NASCAR 2019 Toyota Camry Pace Car where he will lead the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers before the start of the Auto Club 400 at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET, televised on FOX.

New this year, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers will line up for a “Five Wide Salute” during the pace laps to pay homage to Saturday night short tracks and to celebrate Auto Club Speedway’s signature racing style of flat out and five wide.

The San Diego native is known for his high-flying style and signature masked look, which has made him one of the well-known and beloved competitors of all-time.

Mysterio is one of the most decorated Superstars in history, becoming a Triple Crown Champion in 2011. Mysterio has won the WWE Championship, World Heavyweight Championship (2x), Intercontinental Championship (2x), Cruiserweight Championship (3x) and Tag Team Championships (4x) during his illustrious career. He also won the Royal Rumble in 2006.

*Multi-platinum rock band Sum 41 will headline the pre-race concert to kick off the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 race on Sunday, March 17 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana.

The Grammy-nominated band (vocalist, guitarist Deryck Whibley, guitarists Dave “Brownsound” Baksh and Tom Thacker, bassist Cone McCaslin and drummer Frank Zummo) will perform on the main stage in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Fan Zone from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Sum 41 hits include “In Too Deep,” “War,” “Fat Lip, “Breaking the Chain,” “Over My Head,” and “13 Voices,” among others.

*Broadcasting icon Ralph Lawler, who was the first voice of Riverside International Raceway and is now the voice of the LA Clippers, will add yet another milestone to his lengthy resume – serving as announcer for Driver Introductions at the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400. 

Swapping his lineup card from the Clippers’ Lou Williams and Patrick Beverley to NASCAR stars Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr., Lawler steps in to help Auto Club Speedway celebrate the foundation of motorsports today – short tracks including Riverside – as he brings his talents to take part in one of the race weekend highlights – announcing the starting field during pre-race festivities.

Lawler served as the announcer for Riverside International Raceway, the sprawling road course that occupied much of what is now the western edge of Moreno Valley Riverside, beginning in 1964.  In addition to racing, Lawler broadcast local sports, including three straight state championship seasons for Riverside City College teams.

“It has been a long time between NASCAR races for me, but my broadcast roots were born announcing NASCAR races at the Riverside international Raceway,” said Lawler. “Richard Petty, David Pearson, Joe Weatherly, Ned Jarrett and Jr. Johnson would lead the field in two races a year around the winding 2.7 mile left and right turn road course. Those were 10 memorable years in my life in the 1960s, and I’m thrilled to be a part of the Auto Club 400.”

Lawler, who announced his plan to retire following the conclusion of the 2018-19 season, has captivated fans across the sports world, creating a legacy that will last far beyond his final season.  Known for his Lawler-isms such as ‘Bingo!’, ‘Oh Me, Oh My!’, and ‘The Lob! The Jam!’ his commitment to his craft has been recognized with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, three Emmys, a Telly Award and inductions into the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the California Sports Hall of Fame. He was named a recipient of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Curt Gowdy Media Award this season. Additionally, he has been honored with the Television Play-by-Play Award by the SCSB and the California Sportscaster of the Year honor by the National Sports Media Association. “The ‘Voice of the Clippers’ is one of the league’s longest tenured broadcasters.

His resume also includes broadcasting events as varied as A.B.A. and college basketball, golf, tennis, track & field, pro box lacrosse, auto racing, boxing and college football. Ralph is a graduate of Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, and was inducted into his alma mater’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. He’s another in a long line of sportscasters who honed their craft in Peoria including Chick Hearn, Tom Kelly, Bob Starr, Bill King and Jack Brickhouse, among others.

*The world’s most notorious, multi-platinum rock band, Mötley Crüe, have been named Grand Marshals and will give the command “Drivers, Start Your Engines,” on March 17, 2019 for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana.

Joining the band will be actors Douglas Booth (who plays Nikki Sixx) and Colson Baker a.k.a.. Machine Gun Kelly (who plays Tommy Lee) from the upcoming Netflix film The Dirt launching with its soundtrack on Netflix March 22. Based on the best-selling autobiography by Mötley Crüe and Neil Strauss, the film is an unflinching tale of success and excess as four misfits rise from the streets of Hollywood to the heights of international fame.

“We look forward to having Mötley Crüe bring their famous energy to the greatest command in motorsports. They might be world-renowned rock stars now, but they got their start in California and we’re happy to have them home.” —Dave Allen, President of Auto Club Speedway.

 “Growing up, we were race car fans and dreamed of fast cars so to be included in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event is wild!” – Tommy Lee, Drummer of Mötley Crüe..

“We are super stoked to give the command at the Auto Club 400. It’s going to be an epic day at the race track.” – Nikki Sixx, Bassist of Mötley Crüe

NASCAR ticket holders who have pre-race pit passes will be able to see The Dirt cast and Mötley Crüe band members during the pre-race ceremony activities, including driver introductions. The event will also be televised on FOX at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT.

The iconic band has accumulated over 100 million records sold worldwide, seven platinum and multi-platinum certifications, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and countless sold-out tours across the globe. Mötley Crüe is reaching new heights in the film industry with Netflix by sharing their octane-fueled origin story, which is directed by Jeff Tremaine (Jackass) and includes a stellar cast: Douglas Booth (Loving Vincent), Iwan Rheon (Game of Thrones), Colson Baker a.k.a. Machine Gun Kelly (Bird Box), Daniel Webber (The Punisher), David Costabile (Breaking Bad, Billions) and Pete Davidson (SNL).

*Malea Emma,  a seven-year-old singing sensation, will perform the National Anthem at this week’s NASCAR XFINITY Series Production Alliance Group 300 race at Auto Club Speedway on Saturday, March 16. Pre-race coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. and will be televised on FS1.  The Production Alliance Group 300 (#PAG300) race starts at 2 p.m.

This young talented actress and singer rose to stardom when she won a contest to sing the National Anthem at the LA Galaxy Game in September 2018. Her incredible performance went viral with over 25 million views across all social media platforms. 

Since then she has performed on Good Morning America with Jennifer Holliday and was a special guest at Christina Aguilar’s concert. She has performed at other sporting events including LA Clippers, LA Lakers, Golden State Warriors, NHRA Finals, Los Angeles Kings and the MLS Cup in Atlanta 

She will be singing at the San Diego Padres and LA Dodgers in the next few weeks. She also performs at private events all over the world. 

Malea recently had a guest appearance on AMERICAN IDOL where she received her “Golden Ticket” to redeem in the year 2027.

Malea has also appeared in numerous commercials and television shows as an actress. 

Malea lives with her family in Los Angeles. She has won several singing competitions, performed at L.A. Live and Carnegie Hall, and plays the piano and violin. Malea also speaks three languages: English, Indonesian and Chinese.

*Daytime Emmy^® Award-winner, singer, actress and entrepreneur Adrienne Houghton will perform the National Anthem at the upcoming Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 race at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday, March 17. Pre-race coverage begins at 11:50 a.m. and will be televised on FOX.  The Auto Club 400 starts at 12:30 p.m.

Houghton is a co-host of the Emmy-nominated and NAACP Image Award^– winning, THE REAL, the one-hour, daily talk show on Fox Television Stations. Houghton, who is of Puerto Rican and Ecuadorian descent, is the first Latina daytime talk show host on English language television.

“This will be my first NASCAR race experience and I love that it will be close to home at Auto Club Speedway. I’m honored to perform the National Anthem at the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 and thrilled to finally see some of the best drivers in motorsports,” said Adrienne Houghton.

She first stepped into the spotlight in 1999, when she rose to fame as the lead singer of multiplatinum R&B girl group, 3LW. Their debut single, “No More (Baby I’ma Do Right),” was a smash hit in 2001. After touring with Destiny’s Child and *NSYNC, Houghton then went on to become a founding member of pop group The Cheetah Girls, known to the group’s millions of fans as “Chanel”. The group’s 2003 Disney Channel movie The Cheetah Girls, drew in 84 million viewers worldwide and instantly established the girls as superstars. This past December, Houghton and her husband performed in front of a sold out audience at Carnegie Hall. 

As an actress, Houghton’s credits include roles in several television hits, including Disney Channel’s, That’s So Raven and Buffalo Dreams; the 2006 MTV feature All You’ve Got; the feature film Coach Carter, and ABC Family movie Lovestruck. She also starred in the motion picture I’m in Love with a Church Girl.

Most recently, Houghton launched her extremely personal jewelry line, XIXI. Inspired by actual jewelry pieces she wears and the local vendors she frequented growing up in New York’s Lower East Side, the line showcases one-of-a-kind necklaces and earrings for a broader audience and at an affordable price point.