Chicagoland Speedway announced today the official Grand Marshal and Honorary Starters list for the upcoming Stars and Stripes Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series weekend.
Starting with the ARCA Racing Series SCOTT 150 on Thursday, June 28, representatives from the Joliet’s Stone City VFW will waive the green flag. Overton’s Director of Operations Pat Baker will say the most famous words in racing, “Gentlemen, start your engines” to begin the Camping World Truck Series Overton’s 225 on Friday. Representatives from Will County Sheriff’s Office and Native American Veterans Group will serve as the honorary starters for Friday night’s race.
Overton’s Vice President of Merchandise & Business Development Nicolas Goreau will say the magic words to begin the XFINITY Series Overton’s 300 on Saturday afternoon. Representing the race on Saturday as honorary starters will be World War II veteran and three time Purple Heart Recipient Bill Mencke and the Tinley Park Riders.
Finally, both Baker and Goreau will return as Grand Marshals on Sunday afternoon to kick off the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton’s 400. Vietnam veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Al Lynch will waive the green flag for the big race.
“It is an exceptional privilege to have the brave individuals who serve our country and those who support our Armed Forces here representing the military during our Stars and Stripes Weekend,” said President of Chicagoland Speedway Scott Paddock. “I’m looking forward to them, along with our friends at Overton’s, kick off the exciting racing action each day!”
The Air Force will be well represented over the weekend with their Air Force Performance lab, the newest asset in the mobile fleet, featuring a futuristic experience full of challenges and self-discovery, all wrapped in innovative technology. The Air Force Performance lab will be located in Champions Park. Sunday will feature a flyover by an Air Force c130 out of Youngstown, Ohio.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway will take place on July 1 as part of the four-race weekend June 28 – July 1. The weekend will kick off on Thursday, June 28 with the SCOTT® 150 ARCA Racing Series followed by NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overton’s 225 under the lights on Friday night. On Saturday, June 30, the NASCAR XFINITY Series Overton’s 300 will hit the track as the precursor to Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton’s 400 showdown.
The complete 2018 NASCAR schedule at Chicagoland Speedway is as follows:
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Weekend
Thursday, June 28 ARCA Racing Series SCOTT® 150
Friday, June 29 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overton’s 225
Saturday, June 30 NASCAR Xfinity Series Overton’s 300
Sunday, July 1 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton’s 400
Chicagoland Speedway PR
