Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart will head into the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup finale this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway with only three points separating the two — a one-race winner takes all shootout. As fans fill the stands for Ford Championship Weekend, they will be joining in three star-studded pre-race ceremonies.
Friday
National Anthem: Sergeant Henry Guzman, Miami-Dade Police Department
Grand Marshal: Mike Murphy, Super Duty Product Marketing Manager, Ford Motor Company
Honorary Starter: William John and Thomas David Cunnington, Detroit’s Cornerstone High School Donation Recipients
Flyover: Miami-Dade Police Helicopters
Color Guard: South Dade Senior High School JROTC
Invocation: Pastor Scott Claunch, Calvary Chapel in Kendall
Saturday
National Anthem: Julia Dale, 10 year-old singing sensation
Grand Marshal: Sgt. Slaughter, WWE Hall of Fame Member
Honorary Starter: Gene Monahan, recently-retired New York Yankees athletic trainer and new South Florida resident (Yankees’ employee for nearly 50 years)
Honorary Race Chairmen:
Kevin Koswick, Executive Director North American Fleet Lease and Remarket Operations, Ford Motor Company Robert Parker, Group Marketing Manager Small and Midsize Vehicles, Ford Motor Company
Flyover: F-5s, VFC-11 “Sundowners” from Naval Air Station Key West
Color Guard: Special Operations Command South Color Guard (U.S. Army)
Invocation: Pastor Scott Claunch, Calvary Chapel in Kendall
Pledge of Allegiance and America the Beautiful:
Princeton Christian Academy
Sunday
National Anthem: Pia Toscano, 19/Interscope recording artist and American Idol finalist
Grand Marshals: First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden and selected military family, all part of Joining Forces
Honorary Starter: Mark Fields, President of the Americas, Ford
Honorary Race Chairman:
Edsel Ford III, Member, Board of Directors, Ford Motor Company
Color Guard: Homestead Reserve Air Force Base 482nd Fighter Wing Color Guard
Flyover: Homestead Reserve Air Force Base 482nd Fighter Wing
Invocation: Pastor Scott Claunch, Calvary Chapel in Kendall
God Bless America: Johnny Holliday, international jazz artist from Homestead 482nd Security Forces Unit
Pre-Race Entertainment:
Noon – Chino y Nacho, Venezuelan musical duo, performing at the Coca-Cola Entertainment Stage
12:30 – U.S. Army Ground Forces Brass Brigade
1:00 – DJ Irie, Miami’s own world-renowned DJ
1:15 – Uncle Kracker, musical recording artist
2:00 — U.S. Navy Parachute Team “The Leap Frogs”
Notable Celebrities Expected to Attend the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford 400:
(subject to change)
First Lady Michelle Obama
Dr. Jill Biden (spouse of Vice President Joe Biden)
Mario Lopez (TV’s EXTRA)
Christian Slater (movie actor)
Dwight Howard (NBA’s Orlando Magic)
Pia Toscano (19/Interscope Records, American Idol finalist)
Sgt. Slaughter (WWE Hall of Famer)
Gaby Sanchez (MLB’s Miami Marlins)
Michael Moorer (former Heavyweight Champion)
Evelyn Lozada (TV’s VH-1 Basketball Wives)
DJ Irie (Miami-based DJ)
Jack Carl Skille (NHL’s Florida Panthers)
Keaton Ellerby (NHL’s Florida Panthers)
Jim Jonsin (music producer)
Chris Bosh (NBA’s Miami Heat)
Gene Monahan (former New York Yankees athletic trainer)
Mick Jones (Founder of the rock group Foreigner)
Roman Jones (Mick’s Son and Major Club Promoter in Miami)
Kelly Hansen (Lead Singer of Foreigner)
Phil Carson (Foreigner Manager)
Sebastien Marcovici (Principal Dancer, New York City Ballet)