Las Vegas will be full of stars! Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman will be present at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the upcoming Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube and will be serving as a Grand Marshall for the Cup Series race. Despite being 87 years old, the iconic actor remains involved in the world of show business, and his resonant voice has featured in many NASCAR documentaries over the years.
However, having been featured in promotional content for the Daytona 500, has Freeman ever given the command to “start your engines” at ‘The Great American Race’? Let’s explore the actor’s history at the crown-jewel event.
Morgan Freeman is excited to be a part of the NASCAR world
The excitement is at an all-time high. It seems like NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports have pulled out all the stops to get Morgan Freeman involved in the world of stock car racing. The Golden Globe winner, known for his iconic voice and reprising the role of ‘God’, will have the honor of delivering the command at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, an exciting NASCAR tradition that marks the start of a race. It’s not the first time the 87-year-old has ventured into the world of stock car racing, as he was involved in promotional content for the Daytona 500, where he highlighted the crown jewel event’s significance.
However, Morgan Freeman has not been present at Daytona International Speedway to issue the “start your engines” command just yet. However, the veteran actor’s voice has served as a backdrop for NASCAR projects in the past. Most recently, he was the narrator in a promotional video put out by FOX ahead of the 2025 Daytona 500!
This time around, he will be involved in a more ‘official’ capacity. He will be joining a long list of celebrities who have served as Grand Marshall at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the past, such as fellow actor Mark Wahlberg and socialite Kim Kardashian.
His presence at the 1.5-mile tri-oval will add prestige to the event, attracting fans from all over the country for the race. Sharing his thoughts about his role at the Pennzoil 400, Morgan Freeman said, “I’m absolutely thrilled to be chosen as the grand marshal for this NASCAR race. It’s a true honor to be part of such an incredible tradition, and I can’t wait to see the energy, passion, and excitement that fills the track. Let’s rev up those engines and make this race unforgettable!”
Academy Award-winner, actor, producer, director and narrator, Morgan Freeman, named Grand Marshal for the Pennzoil 400!
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— Las Vegas Motor Speedway (@LVMotorSpeedway) March 6, 2025
Plenty of other stars will be present at the event, too, such as UFC CEO and President Dana White. Perhaps the race in Las Vegas is only just the beginning of Morgan Freeman’s involvement in the world of NASCAR, and it’s only a matter of time before the 87-year-old actor gets more involved in the world of stock car racing. Could he issue the command at ‘The Great American Race’ one day? It’s well within the realm of possibility, given his stature in the world of show business. However, time will tell if serving as Grand Marshall at the Daytona 500 will become a reality.
NASCAR drivers pick Freeman for spotting duties
People often underestimate how difficult spotting can be. It’s an aspect of NASCAR that is often underappreciated, but the role is an important one, considering that they are the ‘eyes’ of the driver across the racetrack. Providing information about the track, other drivers, and race conditions allows drivers to make informed decisions on the track, and needing someone reliable and calming is key to dealing with the chaos.
Taking these factors into account, it should come as no surprise that several drivers picked Morgan Freeman for the role of a spotter if they had to pick a celebrity. Revealing his pick, Corey LaJoie said, “I’m gonna go with Morgan Freeman, you know. Just him narrating the race would feel like ever calming to the soul, and I would love to hear Morgan Freeman call a big one at Daytona.” We can’t help but agree with Lajoie here. Morgan Freeman’s emotional and deep tone describing a last-lap wreck in the sport’s biggest race would truly be a watershed moment for the sport.
LaJoie wasn’t the only one who felt this way, as Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney echoed that sentiment, going on to say, “Morgan Freeman. That voice for four hours will be the coolest thing ever. Might put me to sleep, but it’ll be great.” While taking over spotting responsibilities may seem a tad bit far-fetched, the veteran actor serving as Grand Marshal at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is an exciting prospect, one that plenty of fans and drivers will look forward to at the upcoming Pennzoil 400. Are you looking forward to hearing Morgan Freeman in Las Vegas? Let us know in the comments!
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