Daytona International Speedway announced on Tuesday, February 3 the person who will give the command for NASCAR‘s 68th running of the Daytona 500. The 200-lap season-opening race for the Cup Series will take place on Sunday, February 15.
It was announced via social media that American stand-up comedian and actor Nate Bargatze will have the honor of being this year’s grand marshal for “The Great American Race.” Bargatze is the star in the newest movie “The Breadwinner” that’s set to hit theaters on May 29.
Bargatze’s duty on Sunday, February 15 will be to deliver the most famous words in motorsports, “Gentlemen, start your engines,” to signify the start of the 2026 Daytona 500.
Bargatze joins an elite group of high-profile figures who have given the command for NASCAR’s most prestigious. The list includes Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in 2024, Pitbull in 2021, and United States President Donald J. Trump in 2020.
Other notable actors who have given the command for the Daytona 500 include James Franco in 2013, Vince Vaughn in 2015, and Owen Wilson in 2017.
Kurt Russell to be Honorary Pace Car Driver for Daytona 500
While actor and stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze will serve as the grand marshal for this year’s Daytona 500, there are other pre-race roles that will be filled. Back on January 25, the Daytona International Speedway announced that actor Kurt Russell will be the honorary pace car driver to begin the February 15 Daytona 500.
Russell’s appearance at this year’s “Great American Race” is prior to the release of the second season of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” on February 27, the actor’s Apple TV series.
Russell adds his name to the list of a number of celebrities who have wheeled the pace car for the opening pace laps of the Daytona 500. Some notables over the years include stand-up comedian Pete Davidson and WWE superstars Big E and Sheamus.
Former winners of the Daytona 500, such as Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr., have also been given the nod to drive the pace car in recent years. American actor Alan Ritchson drove the pace car as the honorary driver in last year’s event.
Daytona 500 Set to Kick off 2026 Season
The newest season of NASCAR Cup Series racing is on the horizon. Like every year, the circuit heads to the Daytona International Speedway for the running of the sport’s most prestigious race, the Daytona 500.
The green flag for the 68th running of “The Great American Race” is set to drop on Sunday, February 15 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern time. The race can be watched on FOX or listened to on the Motor Racing Network.
William Byron aims to become the first driver to win three straight Daytona 500s. The driver of the #24 became just the fifth driver to win back-to-back Daytona 500s last year.
This season marks the fifth of the NextGen era with the NextGen cars. Ahead of this season, NASCAR moved from the 16-driver playoff format back to “The Chase.”
This year, the top 16 drivers at the end of the regular season will make “The Chase,” with the champion being crowned by whoever has the most points at the end of the final 10 races.
Grand Marshal for 2026 Daytona 500 Revealed