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The Daytona 500 is going to be a star-studded event. Known as ‘The Great American Race’, the crown-jewel event is expected to stay true to its name with the new Captain America (Anthony Mackie) and even Donald Trump potentially making an appearance. However, gray clouds hang above Daytona International Speedway as Mother Nature threatens to play spoilsport even before the Cup Series season has officially begun. With the stakes higher than ever, will the crown jewel event live up to the expectations?
Additional security measures will be in place if reports about the 45th and 47th U.S. President making his appearance are true. Keeping these factors in mind, what are the various things fans must keep in mind going into the Cup Series season-opener?
NASCAR insider shares Daytona 500 warning
The stage is set. The NASCAR Cup Series season is all set to kick off on Sunday, February 16th with the 67th Daytona 500. Fans will be praying that Mother Nature cooperates, as the threat of rain looms large, prompting the race to be moved up an hour and it will now begin at 2 pm Eastern Time. Just like his first term in 2020, Donald Trump is expected to participate in the pre-race festivities at Daytona International Speedway, taking a few laps around the 2.5-mile oval in his presidential limousine before saying the words, “Gentlemen, start your engines!”
Speaking from the ‘World Center of Racing,’ NASCAR YouTuber Eric Estepp issued a warning to fans, saying, “If you’re coming to the race, get here earlier than originally planned, partially because of the earlier start time but also partially because of the increased security screenings NASCAR just warned us about. While it has not been officially confirmed, it has been reported that the president is likely to attend this year’s Daytona 500. I wasn’t here in 2020, the last time President Trump was here, but people who I do know were here said yes, there was more security, it was a little more difficult to move from place to place to get around.”
NASCAR names its honorary pace car driver
Another star will be making his appearance at Daytona International Speedway. While Anthony Mackie has been named ‘Grand Marshall’ for ‘The Great American Race’, he isn’t the only actor who will be present at the racetrack. ‘Reacher’ star and actor Alan Ritchson will also be making an appearance at the season opener, and he will be driving the pace car for the 67th Daytona 500, driving the 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS. Ritchson will be joining a long list of celebrities getting driving privileges at the iconic venue, which includes the likes of WWE wrestler Sheamus, NFL Hall of Famer Payton Manning, and country music star Brad Paisley.
Sharing the announcement, Frank Kelleher, President of Daytona International Speedway said, “Alan Ritchson serving as our honorary pace car driver for the DAYTONA 500 is sure to add strength to our star-studded dignitaries during pre-race festivities. Alan knows all about high stakes and performing in clutch time as he does in the Prime Video hit series Reacher, and we’re looking forward to him leading the Cup Series drivers to the green flag.”
Ritchson plays the lead actor in the Amazon Original Series Reacher, which has been adapted from the Jack Reacher book series written by Lee Child. The third season of the show will be airing on February 20th, and the series has already been renewed for a fourth season in October 2024. NASCAR is starting its new season with a bang, and the underlying hope is that the Daytona 500 will not just live up to the expectations but even surpass it. As long as the weather permits.