Auto Club Speedway announced today that Ian Somerhalder, best known for his starring role as Damon Salvatore on The Warner Brothers hit television series THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, will be behind the wheel of the Official NASCAR 2018 Toyota Camry Pace Car as Honorary Pace Car Driver when he leads the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers before the start of the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday, March 18, at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET, televised on FOX.
Somerhalder also served as director in seasons 6, 7, and 8 of THE VAMPIRE DIARIES before the series ended last year.
Currently the Louisiana native and his wife, actress Nikki Reed, have an overall production deal with Warner Bros TV to produce new content for the studio under their production company RARE BIRDS PRODUCTIONS.
Somerhalder also appeared in an episode of the ground-breaking and Emmy award-winning climate change documentary series, YEARS OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY. His work with environmental concerns led him to develop Go Green Equipment an industry leader in eco friendly power solutions that has become involved in NASCAR.
“I developed and built Go Green Equipment with blood, sweat, and tears and we have a massive interest in NASCAR. The fact that I am able to participate in the Auto Club 400 on this level is amazing. This is my second race this year! I’ve seen some great talent in this role, so I’m super pumped to be included in that list of honorary pace car drivers,” said Somerhalder.
Somerhalder is also the Founder/President of the Ian Somerhalder Foundation (ISF) which was established in December of 2010. The Ian Somerhalder Foundation works to empower, educate and collaborate with people and projects to positively impact the planet and its creatures.
ISF delivers unique programs and services and provides public outreach, education, and grants in support of Creatures, Environment, Youth, and Grassroots initiatives. For more information please visit isfoundation.org
To purchase tickets to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, or any other Auto Club 400 Weekend event, call 800-944-RACE (7223), log on to www.autoclubspeedway.com, or visit the Auto Club Speedway ticket office at 9300 Cherry Avenue, Fontana.
Auto Club Speedway PR
