Daytona 500 adds Miss America Madison Marsh as honorary pace-car driver

The Speedway has continued trotting out the celebrities who’ll add star power to the Feb. 18 Daytona 500, and Friday’s announcement was a real beauty.

With a crown to prove it.

Madison Marsh, the newly crowned Miss America, will serve as honorary pace-car driver before the start of the 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

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“I'm thrilled to be part of this historic moment and to represent the tradition of speed, skill, and Americana at such an iconic event,” Marsh said through the Speedway’s press release.

Marsh’s crowning made her the only active-duty Air Force officer to win the Miss America pageant, which was held Jan. 14 in Orlando. She’s a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and is currently serving as a second lieutenant while also earning her master’s degree at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Public Policy.

“It’s an honor to have someone like Madison, who has so much spirit, passion and national pride, join us for the Daytona 500,” said Speedway president Frank Kelleher.

In Daytona, Marsh will join Pitbull, who was recently tabbed to perform the pre-race concert, and wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who’ll perform Grand Marshal duties.

Daytona began adding honorary pace-car drivers to the race-day program in 2006, with Jay Leno getting the initial role. Since then, the job has been given to athletes (Cal Ripken, Peyton Manning), entertainers (Tom Cruise, John Cena, Brad Paisley) and former NASCAR stars (Junior Johnson, Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr.), among others.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona 500 pace car will be driven by Miss America, Madison Marsh