DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – This year’s Daytona 500 will be a race to remember! As the 60th running of “The Great American Race” we will be treated to plenty of fanfare. Fans will enjoy plenty of celebrity sightings, and here are the celebrities participating in this year’s opening of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.
Academy Award, Golden Globe, SAG winning and Emmy nominated actress Charlize Theron has been named the Honorary Starter for the historic 60th annual DAYTONA 500 on Feb. 18 at Daytona International Speedway. Theron will wave the green flag for the DAYTONA 500, the season-opening race (TV – FOX, FOX Deportes; Radio – MRN, Sirius XM) for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
Theron stars in and produces the upcoming Amazon Studios film “Gringo,” under her production company Denver and Delilah’s banner. The film will be released in theaters nationwide on March 9.
Charlize Theron –
Peyton Manning, the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback and Nationwide member/spokesperson, will serve as the Honorary Pace Car Driver for the 60th annual DAYTONA 500 on Feb. 18 at Daytona International Speedway.
Manning retired from the NFL following the 2015 season, which he capped by leading the Denver Broncos to a Super Bowl victory over the Carolina Panthers. Manning also led the Indianapolis Colts to the 2006 Super Bowl title, beating the Chicago Bears. In an 18-year NFL career, Manning passed for 71,940 yards and 539 touchdowns, both all-time records. He was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player five times and was Super Bowl MVP in the Colts’ victory.
Former Atlanta Braves great and new Baseball Hall of Fame member Chipper Jones will serve as an Honorary Race Official for the 60th annual DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, Feb. 18 (FOX, FOX Deportes, MRN Radio and SiriusXM Radio), the opening race of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.
Jones, a native of nearby Pierson, Florida, was voted into the hall on Jan. 24, in his first year of eligibility. Considering his credentials, that was not surprising. During his 19-year career (1993-2012) – all with Atlanta – he posted a .303 career batting average, 468 home runs and 1,623 RBI. He was an eight-time All-Star and the National League’s Most Valuable Player in 1999. He led the Braves to three World Series appearances, winning the series in 1995. Jones rejoined the Braves’ organization in 2015 as special assistant to baseball operations.
As part of his Honorary Race Official duties, Jones will be introduced at the drivers’ meeting, participate in pre-race ceremonies, ride in one of the parade cars and take part in question-and-answer sessions in fan hospitality areas and the UNOH Fanzone.
Two-Time DAYTONA 500 champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. will serve as the Grand Marshal for the 60th running of “The Great American Race.” Earnhardt won a total
of 17 races at the “World Center of Racing” during his career from 1998-2017. The only drivers to equal or surpass in DIS victories are his father Dale Earnhardt (34), Tony Stewart (19) and Bobby Allison (17). Earnhardt capped his career at Daytona in style last season, qualifying second for the DAYTONA 500 and winning the pole for the Coke Zero 400.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. –
U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron returns for a ninth year to perform the fly-over for the DAYTONA 500. The Thunderbirds flyover will feature six F-16 Fighting Falcons, the Air Force’s premier multi-role fighter aircraft.
USAF Thunderbirds –
“The Great American Race” will have an all-American flavor this year when the National Anthem is played by Navy Band Southeast. The popular group previously played the National Anthem prior to the Coca-Cola 400 in 2015 and 2017. Navy Band Southeast was established in 1995 and is one of 11 official United States Navy bands. Proudly representing the Commander, Navy Region Southeast, the band consists of trained professional musicians dedicated to the highest levels of musical performance. Inspiring pride and patriotism through music, the band performs more than 350 engagements annually throughout the Southeast.
Superstar vocal group Rascal Flatts will perform the pre-race show at the 60th annual DAYTONA 500. Rascal Flatts recently released their 10th studio album (Big Machine Records), as well as back-to-back chart topping singles “Yours If You Want It” and “I Like The Sound Of That.” Known as one of the hottest-selling touring acts in any genre with over 10 million tickets sold and as the best-selling country vocal group of the past decade, Rascal Flatts has sold over 23.4 million albums, over 34.3 million digital downloads worldwide, as well as earning over 40 trophies from the ACA, ACM, AMA, CMA, People’s Choice and more, also making them the most awarded country group of the past decade.
Rascal Flatts –
