Grand Marshal

A Grand Marshal is a distinguished guest—often a celebrity, politician, or notable figure—who is invited to serve as the ceremonial leader of a motorsport event, typically performing symbolic duties like giving the command to start engines or waving the green flag to begin the race.

Think of the Grand Marshal as the guest of honor at a racing event. Just like how a celebrity might cut the ribbon at a grand opening, a Grand Marshal adds star power and excitement to race day by participating in the pre-race ceremonies that fans love to watch.

The role is primarily ceremonial, meaning the Grand Marshal doesn't make decisions about how the race is run or affect the competition itself. Instead, they're there to celebrate the event and make it more memorable for fans. Their most famous duty is often delivering the iconic phrase "Drivers, start your engines!" which signals the beginning of race day festivities.

Race organizers carefully select their Grand Marshal to generate publicity and excitement around the event. They might choose a Hollywood actor, a musician, a sports star from another sport, a military hero, or even a politician. Sometimes the Grand Marshal has a connection to the race sponsors, helping promote the brands involved in the event.

For example, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson served as Grand Marshal for the 2024 Daytona 500, bringing his massive fan following to one of NASCAR's biggest races. His presence attracted attention from people who might not normally watch racing, which benefits the sport.

It's important not to confuse the Grand Marshal with other honorary roles at a race. An Honorary Starter specifically waves the green flag to start the race, while an Honorary Pace Car Driver drives the pace car during caution periods. The Grand Marshal role is broader and may include any or all of these duties, depending on how the event organizers structure the ceremonies.

The Grand Marshal position is also completely different from the motorsport marshals (also called corner workers or track safety workers) who work at races. Those marshals are trained safety personnel stationed around the track to respond to accidents, wave flags to communicate with drivers, and ensure everyone's safety. Despite sharing a similar name, these are working positions, not ceremonial ones.

Being named Grand Marshal is considered a significant honor, and many celebrities express genuine excitement about the opportunity. The role gives them a chance to experience the thrill of professional motorsport up close while contributing to the pageantry that makes racing events special for millions of fans.