“The Voice” Finalist Chris Mann, Johnathan Hillstrand of “Deadliest Catch,”
CEO of West Coast Customs Ryan Friedlinghaus
MIAMI – It is an impressive line-up of talent for Ford Championship Weekend, both on and off the track. Pre-race ceremonies at Homestead-Miami Speedway feature a variety of regional and national talent. The 2012 finalist on NBC’s “The Voice” Chris Mann will perform the National Anthem on Sunday for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400. CEO of The World Famous West Coast Customs Ryan Friedlinghaus will wave the green flag for Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series Ford EcoBoost 300 as the Honorary Starter.
Johnathan Hillstrand Captain of F/V Time Bandit featured on Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch” will utter the most famous words in racing – “Drivers, start your engines,” as Grand Marshal for the Ford EcoBoost 400. Kid Rock’s performance on Sunday’s pre-race stage will begin at 1:00 p.m. Driver introductions for Sunday’s championship race will be handled by Bruce Buffer, the “Veteran Voice of the Octagon®,” for the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®).
Ford’s Global Car and Crossover Group Marketing Manager Amy Marentic will serve as Grand Marshall for the Ford EcoBoost 300. Rock Ridge Music Recording Artist Chelsea Bain is performing the National Anthem on Saturday.
Friday – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 200 (8:00 p.m. ET)
National Anthem: Officer Bridgett Sanchez, Miami-Dade Police Department
Grand Marshal: Kristina Uvaydova, FCSD Zone Manager- Orlando
Honorary Starter: Elizabeth Smith, Ford Sales Zone Manager – Orlando
Flyover: Miami Dade Police Department, Broward Sheriff’s Office, and US Customs Helicopters
Color Guard: Miami-Dade Police Department
Invocation: Pastor Scott Claunch, Calvary Chapel in Kendall
Saturday – NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 300 (4:30 p.m.)
National Anthem: Chelsea Bain, Rock Ridge Music Recording Artist
Grand Marshal: Amy Marentic, Global Car and Crossover Group Marketing Manager at Ford
Honorary Starter: Ryan Friedlinghaus, CEO of West Coast Customs
Flyover: Navy Air Station Key West Two F-5s, VFC-11 “Sundowners” from Naval Air Station Key West
Color Guard: U.S. Coast Guard Miami Beach Base
God Bless America: Elizabeth Elias, 13 year-old singing sensation
Pledge of Allegiance: Redondo Elementary
Invocation: Pastor Scott Claunch, Calvary Chapel in Kendall
Pre-Race Entertainment:
1:00 p.m. Kid Rock, Multi-platinum selling American rock star
Sunday – NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 (3:00 p.m.)
National Anthem: Chris Mann, 2012 Finalist of NBC’s “The Voice”
Grand Marshal: Johnathan Hillstrand, of Discovery’s “Deadliest Catch”
Honorary Starter: Dave Mondragon, General Marketing Manager for Ford and Lincoln
Honorary Race Chairman: Jamie Jones, Senior Vice President of Consumer Sales
Honorary Race Chairman: Edsel B. Ford III, Board of Directors of Ford Motor Company
Honorary Pace Car Driver: Kid Rock, Multi-platinum selling American rock star
Flyover: Homestead Air Force Base 482nd Fighter Wing
Color Guard: Homestead Air Force Base 482nd Fighter Wing Color Guard
God Bless America: Chelsea Bain, Rock Ridge Music Recording Artist
Pledge of Allegiance: Gary Littrell, Medal of Honor Recipient
Invocation: Pastor Scott Claunch, Calvary Chapel in Kendall DJ: DJ Irie, Miami based and internationally-known DJ
About Homestead-Miami Speedway
The Speedway has been open since 1995 following an initiative to spur economic recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. The 640-acre facility is active more than 280 days per year and hosts NASCAR’s Championship Races during Ford Championship Weekend (November 16-18, 2012). The Sprint Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 is broadcast live on TV and radio to 175 countries and into 24 languages. The 2011 championship attracted ESPN Television’s largest NASCAR Sprint Cup viewership ever with a peak audience of 10.5 million when the checkered flag fell. Homestead-Miami Speedway, featuring a 1.5-mile oval and 2.21-mile road course, generates more than $250 million annually for the region. homesteadmiamispeedway.com. Twitter.com/@homesteadmiami #FordEcoBoost400; Facebook.com/HomesteadMiamiSpeedway
