Hollywood and Music Celebs Highlight NASCAR’s Daytona 500 Festivities

Once again, NASCAR kicks off its season running the iconic Daytona 500, a spectacle of high banked action drawing fans from all over.

Before the green flag dropped for the 200-lap event at Daytona International Speedway, celebrities from different genres made appearances. One will perform a pre-race concert, a comedian will give the command to start engines and a movie star will drive the pace car.

Miranda Lambert, Kurt Russell and Nate Bargatze Headline Daytona 500 Hype

Before the drivers took to the 2.5-mile trioval, country music singer songwriter Miranda Lambert performed a frontstretch concert. When the initial green flag is waved, comedian Nate Bargatze will tell drivers to fire up their race cars. That will cue Hollywood icon Kurt Russell to take the Pace Car out with the field of 41 cars following.

Lambert has made her mark in the country music industry busting on the scene in 2003 via the competition show “Nashville Star.” Despite finishing third, she has gone on to an incredible career selling millions of albums.

The accolades for her work include Grammy Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards and the Country Music Association Awards. Of note the native of Longview, TX has been recognized more than any artist by the Academy of Country Music Awards. 

Prior to taking to the stage, Lambert paid a visit to the Media Center to talk about what it means to perform before The Great American Race.

“This place is massive and definitely one of the biggest venues I’ve ever played before,” Lambert said. “I came to Daytona a long time when I used to play at races, but I haven’t been to a race in a while. Being here makes me feel like my NASCAR passion is coming back quick.

“Just coming in here today you could see everyone tailgating, having a good time and the energy is like a concert already. Our set today is short and sweet, so we’re definitely playing the high energy hits.”

Kurt Russell Paces Field to Daytona 500 Green

Russel has a movie career spanning six decades that includes working with Elvis Presley in 1963, then portraying Presley in 1979. Starting as a child actor age 12 in 1963, he worked on a Western-themed TV series. Later that decade, Russell signed a 10-year contract with The Walt Disney Company and starred in multiple movies for them.

As an adult actor, his works include Silkwood, Escape from New York and most recently The Christmas Chronicles on Netflix. During his media time, he revealed a champion racing past.

“I’ve always been a competitor in various sports when I was a kid,” Russell said. “I was fortunate enough to be a Quarter Midget World Champion back in the day. I’ve races power boats, as well.

“If it’s about racing boats or anything with four wheels, I’m your guy. But, I’m turning 75-year-old next month (March 17) so being a pace car driver is probably more my speed now. I went out did a practice run this morning and now I have to remember to keep the pace car the pre-determined speed.”

Daytona 500 Grand Marshall Nate Bargatze Promoting Movie “Breadwinner”

Bargatze has been a stable on the comedy circuit since 2002 and is now the No. 1 touring comic in the world. The native of Nashville, TN has several specials on Netflix and is starring in his first movie “Breadwinner” coming out the end of May.

His first album “Yelled at by a Clown” was released in 2012 and from there he has gone on to win multiple comedy awards and accolades. Known as the “Nicest Man in Stand Up,” Bargatze can now add Daytona 500 Grand Marshall to his extensive resume.

“I was coming up with a few different ideas of how to give the command to make it memorable,” Bargatze said. “Being that Jimmie Johnson is a little older than all the other drivers, I could warn them he will be driving with his left blinker on the entire race.

“Last week, I got to spend some time with Kevin James and everyone knows his command is still one of the best. I think I’m going to play it safe and stick to the regular word. It’s nice to be remembered for something good, rather than forgotten for doing something bad.”

Race time for the 68th running of the Daytona 500 is 1:30 p.m. ET and can be seen live on FOX-TV, heard on MRN Radio and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

Tim Packman Tim Packman is a journalist for Heavy.com covering NASCAR. He grew up around the short tracks of Western New York watching his dad, stepdad and step brother race. His uncle was the head starter at many area tracks and member of the FOAR Score Hall of Fame.

Tim’s passion for racing took him to the announcer’s tower and writing program stories for multiple tracks in the area, namely Lancaster National Speedway. In 2000, he moved to Mooresville, NC to become an award-winning journalist for NASCAR.com. He took a job with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. as the team’s Communications Director and was part of two Daytona 500 wins and two NASCAR Championships.

The announcing experience led to becoming a Pit Reporter and News Director for MRN Radio. A return to the team side at Richard Childress Racing as the Director of Corporate Communications took place, which also included another Championship.

From 2015 to 2018, Tim returned to where his career began in 1994 – Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway – as the Track President. He earned Short Track Promoter of the Year awards in 2016 and 2017.

Upon returning to NC, he joined The Garage Shop as Communications Director and host of it’s Podcast and MAV-TV docuseries “Legacy of Speed” talking about Land Speed Racing at Bonneville, and other places.

Tim has hosted two other Podcasts, namely “Pub Table Racers,” and wrote three books. One was with NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison titled, “Bobby Allison, a Racer’s Racer” and two Children’s books, “Funny Dan the Race Car Man” and “Petey the Pace Car.”

He also served in the US Navy. More about Tim Packman