Texans Star J.J. Watt To Serve As Daytona 500 Grand Marshal

Paul Menard (21) and Kyle Busch, top left, lead the field of cars to start the NASCAR Clash auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Photo credit (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Houston Texans star J.J. Watt will serve as the grand marshal for the Daytona 500, making him the first NFL player to give the command for drivers to starts their engines before NASCAR's most famous race.

JUST ANNOUNCED! @HoustonTexans Defensive End @JJWatt will be the Grand Marshal for the 2019 #DAYTONA500!--: https://t.co/MBppXrE1df pic.twitter.com/bCjlrEoUx6

— Daytona International Speedway (@DISupdates) February 11, 2019

Daytona International Speedway made the announcement Monday, six days before the 61st running of "The Great American Race."

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.

Country music singer Jake Owen will perform an infield concert before the race. Retired NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. will serve as the honorary pace truck driver. The 82nd Airborne Division's All-American Chorus will sing the national anthem.

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