MIAMI- With the excitement of the Ford EcoBoost 400 championship race, November 20, rapidly mounting, the list of dignitaries for the Ford EcoBoost 400 championship race also continues to grow. NCIS Star Wilmer Valderrama will have the role of Honorary Starter for Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, it was announced today.
Valderrama currently stars in the number one drama “NCIS” on CBS as special agent Nick Torres. He can also be seen in Netflix’s comedy “The Ranch.” The “That ’70s Show” alum most recently co-starred on Fox’s “Minority Report” and recurred on “Grey’s Anatomy” and “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series.” On the film side, Valderrama appeared in indie dramas “To Whom It May Concern “and “The Adderall Diaries,” opposite Amber Heard and James Franco and will next voice ‘Prince Charming’ in the John H. Williams animated film “Charming.”
“I’ve always been a fan of racing so being an Honorary Starter for a NASCAR race is incredible,” said Valderrama. “I’m looking forward to waving the green flag and hearing the cars fly by as they compete for the 2016 Sprint Cup Series championship.”
“The pre-race festivities, which this year will include a concert by The Band Perry, is always a fun way to kick off the Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 championship race,” said Homestead-Miami Speedway President Matthew Becherer. “Wilmer has been one of the biggest personalities in television for many years and his unique presence as the Honorary Starter certainly will add another terrific element to what already promises to be an exciting day.”
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 track, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2015, is a 650-acre facility that features a 1.5-mile oval and 2.21-mile road course. The track is active nearly 300 days per year and generates more than $301 million annually for the region. NASCAR has crowned its champions in all three of its premier series at Homestead-Miami Speedway each of the past 14 years (2002-15) at Ford Championship Weekend. Champions crowned at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2015 were Kyle Busch (Sprint Cup Series), Chris Buescher (XFINITY Series) and Erik Jones (Camping World Truck Series). The 2016 Ford Championship Weekend will be held November 18-20.
About “Driving for a Cause”
“Driving for a Cause,” the charitable arm of Homestead-Miami Speedway, operates under the auspices of the NASCAR Foundation as a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. Homestead-Miami Speedway will continue each of its charitable activities, including its in-kind donations to local groups, support of Homestead Hospital’s Speediatrics unit, and its program where organizations can work track events in exchange for a donation to their group or cause.
