NFL great Peyton Manning and Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron are among the luminaries who will be in attendance Sunday at the Daytona 500, the season-opening NASCAR race.
Peyton Manning, Charlize Theron to have honorary roles at Daytona 500
Manning will drive the pace car and lead the field, while Theron will wave the green flag to start NASCAR’s biggest race.
Manning will serve as the honorary pace car driver and lead the field off pit road and then come back down pit road just before the green flag waves. Theron’s duties will consist of waving the green flag signifying the start of the 500-mile stock car race that is NASCAR’s biggest event.
Manning played 18 seasons in the NFL, winning the MVP award five times and twice leading his team (Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos) to Super Bowl victories. Theron has starred in several Hollywood blockbusters including Mad Max: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde, and The Italian Job. She won the Best Actress Academy Award for her role in Monster (2003).
Dale Earnhardt Jr., who retired from full-time racing following the 2017 season, will serve as the grand marshal and give the command for drivers to fire their engines. Country music group Rascal Flatts will play a pre-race concert on Daytona’s infield located along the frontstretch.
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