Down, set, gentlemen, start your engines.
NASCAR announced Monday that Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt would be the Grand Marshal for the 61st Daytona 500 on Feb. 17 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Fla.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as Grand Marshal for this year’s ‘Great American Race,’ ” Watt said in a statement released by NASCAR. “The DAYTONA 500 is a truly iconic event with a rich history and I am very much looking forward to taking in the action up close and personal this year.”
Watt is the first NFL player to be a grand marshal. In 2018, former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning was a celebrity driver, and Pro Football Hall-of-Famers Ladainian Tomlinson, Ray Lewis, Terry Bradshaw, Brett Favre, Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, Troy Aikman, and Ken Stabler served as honorary starters.
