Star Of High-Octane Sequel London Has Fallen To Deliver Starting Command For ‘The Great American Race’
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2016) – Actor Gerard Butler, star of the high-octane action thriller London Has Fallen that opens in theaters nationwide March 4, will serve as the Grand Marshal for the 58th annual DAYTONA 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. at Daytona International Speedway (TV – FOX, FOX Deportes; Radio – MRN Radio, SiriusXM).
As Grand Marshal, Butler will deliver the most famous words in motorsports, “Drivers, start your engines.” Along with the command, Butler will take part in other pre-race ceremonies including riding in one of the Grand Marshal cars during the pace laps prior to the green flag of the 200-lap, 500-mile race and attend the drivers meeting.
“We’re honored to have Gerard Butler serve as Grand Marshal for the DAYTONA 500,” Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. “Gerard is a talented actor and we look forward to hearing his starting command to kick off the first DAYTONA 500 held in the new motorsports stadium.”
In Gramercy Pictures’ London Has Fallen, the non-stop suspenseful sequel to “Olympus Has Fallen,” Butler returns as Secret Service agent Mike Banning, alongside Aaron Eckhart as U.S. President Benjamin Asher, Angela Bassett as Secret Service Director Lynne Jacobs, and Morgan Freeman as Allan Trumbull, now the Vice President.
For more information on London Has Fallen, visit www.LondonHasFallen.com or check out the movie through its social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, #LondonHasFallen, Instagram, and YouTube.
Butler has starred in such hit films as “Machine Gun Preacher” and “300.” He joins a long list of actors who have previously served as DAYTONA 500 Grand Marshals including Vince Vaughn, James Franco, Chris Evans, John Travolta, Ben Affleck, Nicolas Cage, and Matthew McConaughey.
Tickets for the 2016 DAYTONA 500 and Speedweeks can be purchased online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.
Fans can also follow NASCAR on Twitter and stay up to speed on the latest news by using #DAYTONA500 and #SPEEDWEEKS. Stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest for the latest news all season long. You can also stay updated on the latest information by downloading the new version of Daytona International Speedway’s mobile app.
