Texas Motor Speedway announced on Tuesday the featured dignitaries for the AAA Texas 500 this weekend, including the Harlem Globetrotters, Texas Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott.
The Harlem Globetrotters will serve as the Grand Marshals for the AAA Texas 500 this weekend, giving the command to start engines. Anthony Blakes will be joined by teammates Jonte Hall, Kris Bruton, Shane Christensen and Will Bullard on stage. The Globetrotters are best known for their basketball wizardry and antics that have been featured around the world since 1926. They will be performing three shows during the weekend for the fans.
“It’s a great thrill to be able to visit Texas Motor Speedway, especially right in the thick of the NASCAR Chase,” Blakes said. “We’re excited to be able to entertain all the fans that will be there, and we’re already working on some things to try and take advantage of the giant HD video screen there. Everything’s got to be bigger for Texas!”
Texas Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott will be leading more than 30 scouts and the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance prior to the invocation and the National Anthem. He is vying to succeed retiring Rick Perry as the next Governor of Texas, currently serving as the Attorney General after being re-elected in 2010.
“There is no better state to host the NASCAR AAA 500 than Texas,” Abbott said. “I’m so thrilled to be able to participate in this great event that draws sports fans from around the world to the Lone Star State, proving time and time again that Texas is the best place to enjoy fast cars and freedom.”
Texas Rangers pitcher Derek Holland will serve as the honorary pace car driver, leading the field to the green flag for the start of the AAA Texas 500.
“Being asked to drive the official pace car is a great honor and I am very excited to spend the day at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday,” Holland said.
Rounding out the dignitaries is David Tiger, who will serve as the Honorary Starter and wave the green flag from the flag stand to start the AAA Texas 500. Tiger, a branch manager at the Houston Memorial offices of AAA Texas, earned the position through a AAA Texas employee recognition event where colleagues and employees nominated him for the honor based on his commitment, professionalism and diligence during his career.
The AAA Texas 500 begins at 2 p.m. CT on Sunday and can be watched on ESPN. For tickets or additional information, please visit www.texasmotorspeedway.com or call the speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500.
About the author
Residing in Canada, she freelances for a number of racing publications, from SpeedwayMedia.com to On Pit Road while covering local short tracks up in Ontario.
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