Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro will serve as Honorary Starter for Sunday’s The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISIT PA NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway.
Governor Shapiro will wave the green flag from the starter’s stand to officially start The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISIT PA. The 160-lap, 400-mile race begins at 3 p.m. ET and will be broadcast nationally on Amazon Prime Video, Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM Radio.
In honor of America’s 250th anniversary celebration, another prominent dignitary role will be filled by two of the nation’s most iconic figures with Pennsylvania ties – Ben Franklin and Betsy Ross. The duo will serve as co-Grand Marshals and provide the command for the drivers to start their engines. Franklin and Ross also will be the trophy presenters in Victory Lane following Sunday’s race.
Franklin, one of America’s Founding Fathers, drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia in 1776 and later served as Chief Executive of Pennsylvania from 1785-88. Ross was credited with sewing the first American flag, which she did in Philadelphia, and she will be honored, fittingly, with the race falling on Flag Day.
Another notable dignitary will be New York Mets public address announcer Colin Cosell, the grandson of legendary sports announcer Howard Cosell. He will bring his signature voice and energy to the NASCAR Cup Series pre-race driver introductions.Top of Form
For more information on the NASCAR race weekend or to purchase tickets, please visit www.poconoraceway.com.
Below are the dignitaries for each of the weekend’s races.
- Co-Grand Marshals: America’s Founding Father Benjamin Franklin and America’s Flag Maker Betsy Ross.
- Honorary Starter: Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
- VIPs: United States Congressman Rob Bresnahan; Pennsylvania National Guard Major General John R. Pippy; Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation Mike Carroll; Pennsylvania Office of Tourism Deputy Secretary Anne Ryan; and Ronnie Mund from The Howard Stern Show.
- Driver Introductions: Colin Cosell, public address announcer for the New York Mets and Army football.
- National Anthem: Navy Petty Officer First Class (ret.) Generald Wilson.
- God Bless America: Robin Schneider.
- Presentation of Colors: North Plainfield High School NAVY JROTC.
- Invocation: Billy Mauldin, president and senior chaplain, Motor Racing Outreach.
- Flyover: F-16 Viper Demo Team from Shaw Air Force Base, Sumter, S.C.
- Grand Marshal: United States Air Force veteran Jason Wolf.
- Honorary Starter: Greg Milgrew.
- Driver’s Command: MillerTech racing family.
- National Anthem: Thomas Amoriello, electric guitarist from Philadelphia, Pa.; sign language by Taylor Beagle of the Scranton School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children.
VIPS: KOA President of Marketing Diane Eichler; MillerTech Energy Vice President of NASCAR Partnerships Dustin Delsignore.
Presentation of Colors: Ligonier Valley High School USAF JROTC.
- Invocation: Morgan Bell, wife of NASCAR Cup Series driver Christopher Bell.
- Flyover: F-16 Viper Demo Team from Shaw Air Force Base, Sumter, S.C.
- Grand Marshal: Richard Kost.
- Honorary Starter: Nathan Neiswender.
- National Anthem: Carly Green, Spotlight Kidz member from Tamaqua, Pa.; sign language by Taylor Beagle of the Scranton School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children.
- Presentation of Colors: James I. O’Neill High School JROTC.
- Invocation: Motor Racing Outreach Chaplain Titan Mauldin.