Former Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will dabble in the NASCAR sport on Sunday, Feb. 18, when he serves as honorary pace car driver at the Daytona 500.
Peyton Manning -- Denver's beloved Super Bowl hero -- will get the distinct privilege of being the honorary pace car driver at the 60th annual Daytona 500 race in Florida. For those uninitiated to the sport of NASCAR, the job of the pace car is to drive around the track at the pit road speed limit, prior to the race's start. The race drivers follow the pace car for the lap and are able to determine and make note of how fast they're allowed to drive on the pit road (race cars do not have speedometers).
“We’re talking true star power with this announcement, as Peyton Manning is one of the legends of both college football and the NFL,” Chip Wile, president of Daytona International Speedway, said in a statement. “He also has the persona and popularity to match his achievements. He’ll be an awesome Honorary Pace Car Driver and a great addition to our lineup of high-profile guests for the 60th DAYTONA 500.”
Celebrities are often picked for the honor. Daytona pace car drivers from past years include Tom Cruise, Jay Leno, Cal Ripken Jr., Brad Paisley, and John Cena.
“Serving as the Honorary Pace Car Driver will be a truly unique and exciting experience,” Manning said. “I want to thank NASCAR, Daytona International Speedway, and Nationwide for making this possible. I’m really looking forward to race day.”
For his task, Manning will be driving a Toyota Camry XSE.
