Honorary pace car driver, starter announced for Daytona 500
DAYTONA, Fla. — The 66th running of “The Great American Race,” is just around the corner along with the start of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season.
For Sunday’s Daytona 500, NASCAR has announced an honorary starter and honorary pace car driver for the event.
Grammy award winning DJ, artist and music producer DJ Khaled has been named honorary starter for the Daytona 500 this Sunday, waiving the green flag for the start of the race.
Throughout his career, he’s worked with artists such as Jay-Z, Justin Bieber, Rhianna, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Beyonce and many more.
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Madison Marsh, the recently crowned Miss America, will act as honorary pace car driver ahead of the Daytona 500, leading the field around the 2.5-mile trioval of Daytona International Speedway before the green flag drops on Sunday, Feb. 18.
Alongside her Miss America duties, Marsh is also a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and is currently earning her master’s at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Public Policy, while serving as a second lieutenant in the US Air Force. The 22-year-old is the only active-duty Air Force officer to ever receive the national title in the history of the pageant.
Marsh claimed her crown on Sunday, Jan. 14 earlier this year, representing the state of Colorado alongside contestants from all 50 states plus the District of Columbia.
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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,” she said.
Coverage for the Daytona 500 begins at noon this Sunday on FOX4.
