Richard Petty, international motorsports icon and NASCAR’s all-time wins leader with 200 victories, has been named Grand Marshal for the 45th anniversary of the prestigious Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 27-28. As Grand Marshal, Petty will give the starting command, “Drivers start your engines,” to kick off the legendary twice-around-the-clock sports car endurance race. Petty earned his 200th and final NASCAR victory in the 1984 Pepsi 400 with President Ronald Reagan in attendance. The Rolex 24 At Daytona is the kick off event to the international motorsports calendar as well as the season-opening race for the Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve. A star-studded field of champion drivers, including four-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon, will compete on Daytona’s historic 3.56-mile road course in the ultimate test of man and machine. Tickets for the 45th anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(Petty Racing PR)(11-9-2006)
