The Houston Texans have announced that J.J. Watt will be the Grand Marshal for the Daytona 500 that's coming up soon, according to a new report.
Watt will be the first NFL player to give the command for drivers to starts their engines before NASCAR's most famous race, according to ESPN.
The Daytona International Speedway made the official announcement just six days before the kick-off of the best-known race in the United States today. And it's sure to be a lot of fun for all involved!
ESPN explains why NASCAR made the decision to work with Watt:
“Watt is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and well known for his charity work with the Justin J. Watt Foundation, which provides after-school opportunities for children. Following Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Watt set a goal to raise $200,000 for recovery efforts in Houston. He ended up raising more than $41 million, helping earn him the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.”
In addition to Watt serving as the Grand Marshal of the event, Jake Owen will perform an in-field concert before the race. Additionally, the 82nd Airborne Division's All-American Chorus will sing the national anthem, and retired NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. will serve as the honorary pace truck driver.
Watt hasn't yet made a statement about his newfound role, but it's safe to say that he probably loves the idea of being able to do something like this, which is nothing if not a historic moment for both NASCAR and the NFL.
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