{"id":56234,"date":"2026-02-27T14:31:15","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T20:31:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=56234"},"modified":"2026-02-27T14:31:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T20:31:15","slug":"award-winning-austin-responders-lead-dignitaries-at-duramax-texas-grand-prix-powered-by-reladyne","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/27\/award-winning-austin-responders-lead-dignitaries-at-duramax-texas-grand-prix-powered-by-reladyne\/","title":{"rendered":"Award-winning Austin responders lead dignitaries at DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Award-winning Austin first responders Phill Johnson (left), Amber Price (2nd from left) and Tanner Cilento (far right) stand with NASCAR Cup Series driver
Chase Briscoe (2nd from right) during a visit to Fire Station 53 \/ EMS 42 on Jan. 15, 2026 in Austin Texas. Photo credit: NASCAR at COTA.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Courtesy of NASCAR at COTA<\/em><\/p>\n

AUSTIN, Texas\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Award-winning first responders representing Austin\u2019s fire, police and EMS departments will headline the dignitaries lineup for this weekend\u2019s\u00a0DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne<\/a>\u00a0at Circuit of The Americas.<\/p>\n

Austin-Travis County EMS Captain Amber Price, the 2025 National Community Paramedic of the Year; Phill Johnson, the 2025 Austin Firefighter of the Year, and Austin police officer Tanner Cilento, a 2025 Star of Texas Award recipient, will be honored throughout the weekend, which features the NASCAR Cup Series and O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series.<\/p>\n

The trio will first serve as co-Grand Marshals for Saturday\u2019s\u00a0O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series Focused Health 250<\/a>\u00a0(2 p.m. CT, TV: CW; Radio: PRN, SiriusXM), where they will deliver the command for drivers to start their engines. The group will be honored on stage Sunday as part of NASCAR at COTA\u2019s \u201cFirst Responder Appreciation Weekend\u201d prior to the NASCAR Cup Series DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne (2:30 p.m., TV: FOX; Radio: PRN, SiriusXM).<\/p>\n

Price, Johnson and Cilento will be among the nearly 4,000 area first responders and their family members joining the race weekend activities honoring public safety professionals across greater Austin and Central Texas. Race attendees also will have opportunities to engage with recruiters to learn more about careers in public service.<\/p>\n

First responders will be represented in other pre-race roles beginning with the Austin Fire Department Honor Guard conducting the Presentation of Colors for Saturday\u2019s race. On Sunday, Austin-Travis County EMS Clinical Specialist Tim Morrison will provide the invocation, the Austin-Travis County EMS Color Guard will present the colors, and Sebastian Olave of the City of Austin Public Safety will sing the National Anthem.<\/p>\n

Acclaimed author and Austin-area resident Ryan Holiday will help lead the Cup Series field to the green flag as the Honorary Pace Car Driver. His books, including \u201cThe Daily Stoic,\u201d \u201cThe Obstacle Is the Way,\u201d \u201cEgo Is the Enemy,\u201d \u201cStillness Is the Key,\u201d and his No. 1\u00a0New York Times\u00a0<\/em>series on the Stoic Virtues, appear in more than 40 languages and have sold over 10 million copies. His bookstore, The Painted Porch, sits on historic Main Street in Bastrop.<\/p>\n

RelaDyne Chief Executive Officer Eric Royse will serve as Grand Marshal and deliver the iconic \u201cDrivers, Start Your Engines\u201d command. RelaDyne Board Member David Woodruff will serve as Honorary Starter and wave the green flag to launch the third race of the Cup Series season. Royse also will present the winner\u2019s trophy in Victory Lane.<\/p>\n

\u201cServing as title sponsor of the DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix and participating alongside an outstanding group of dignitaries is a tremendous moment for RelaDyne,\u201d said Royse, who became CEO in February of 2025. \u201cThis weekend reflects the strength of collaboration between industry, community, and motorsports, and we\u2019re excited to help create an environment where fans, partners, and leaders can come together to celebrate performance, innovation, and shared momentum. At RelaDyne, our purpose is to keep our communities moving, and events like this bring that purpose to life in a powerful and meaningful way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMajor events like the DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix create meaningful impact well beyond the track \u2013 driving regional visibility, strengthening partnerships, and highlighting innovation across industries,\u201d Woodruff added. \u201cIt\u2019s rewarding to see RelaDyne contribute to an event that brings together fans, business leaders, and the broader community in such a dynamic and positive way.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pre-race activities also will have a military presence, with U.S. Army\u00a0<\/strong>Sergeant Major Shervonne James singing Saturday\u2019s National Anthem. Sunday\u2019s lineup will include General David M. Hodne, United States Army Transformation and Training Command, leading the Pledge of Allegiance; a U.S. Army DEP Swear-In; and a flyover by CH-47F Chinook and AH-64E Apache from the U.S. Army 166th<\/sup>\u00a0Aviation Brigade.<\/p>\n

FULL WEEKEND DIGNITARIES & SPECIAL PRE-RACE GUEST LIST<\/strong><\/u><\/p>\n

NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series Focused Health 250 \u2013 Saturday<\/strong><\/p>\n