The 2026 Daytona 500 honorary pace car driver is 74 year-old “Miracle” and “Tombstone” actor Kurt Russell, partner to Goldie Hawn and stepfather to Kate and Oliver Hudson.
The announcement came Jan. 25 on Fox during Sunday’s matchup, where the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Los Angeles Rams 31-27, earning a spot to play in Super Bowl LX Feb. 8 against the New England Patriots.
The pace car driver role is an honor bestowed upon prominent figures in their field, including NFL Hall of Famers, Miss America beauty queens, famed Hollywood actors and WWE superstar wrestlers.
Here’s who’s served in the role in the past ten years.
2026: ‘Tombstone’ actor Kurt Russell
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 08: Kurt Russell attends Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation’s Pioneer Dinner honoring Kate Hudson at The Beverly Hilton on October 08, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
“Tombstone,” “Miracle” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” actor Kurt Russell will serve as the 2026 Daytona 500 honorary pace car driver, announced on Fox during the NFC championship game between the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams.
The 74-year-old Hollywood actor will take to the track Feb. 15, 2026.
More: 5 things to know about 2026 Daytona 500 pace car driver Kurt Russell
2025: ‘Reacher’ star Alan Ritchson
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 16: Honorary pace car driver, Alan Ritchson poses for photos during pace car training prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Alan Ritchson, star of the Amazon Prime Video series, “Reacher,” was the 2025 Daytona 500 honorary pace car driver, alongside grand marshal Captain America star Anthony Mackie.
Ritchson drove Chevrolet’s electric Blazer SS, the first EV to lead the Daytona 500.
2024: Miss America Madison Marsh
Madison Marsh, the first active-duty Air Force officer to be crowned Miss America, drove the pace car ahead of the 66th Great American Race on Feb. 18, 2024.
Marsh was crowned just a month earlier, on Jan. 14, 2024.
2023: ‘SNL’ comedian and actor Pete Davidson
February 19, 2023 : Pete Davidson enters the pace car for the pace lap prior to the NASCAR Cup Series 65th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Former “SNL” star and stand-up comedian Pete Davidson was the honorary pace car driver at the NASCAR Cup Series 65th Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 19, 2023, according to FOX 51.
2022: WWE Superstar Big E
Big E poses in front of the Harley J. Early Trophy this morning before the Daytona 500.
World Wrestling Entertainment champion and Tampa, Florida, native Big E piloted the “Official” 2022 Toyota Camry pace car ahead of the 2022 Daytona 500.
2020: Sheamus
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 16: WWE wrestling star Sheamus is introduced prior to the NASCAR Cup Series 62nd Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2020 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Known as the “Celtic Warrior,” four-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus served as honorary pace car driver for the 62nd NASCAR Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020.
2019: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
MARTINSVILLE, VA – OCTOBER 26: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 26, 2014 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images)
Two-time Daytona 500 champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. served as the honorary pace truck driver at the Feb. 17, 2019, Daytona 500, driving a2019 Chevrolet Silverado at Daytona International Speedway.
2018: Former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning
Oct 19, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Peyton Manning looks on during the game between the New York Giants and the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Peyton Manning, widely considered to be one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time, played 18 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos.
Manning retired from the NFL in 2016, at nearly 40 years old. Two years later, he served as honorary pace driver at the 2018 Daytona 500.
2017: 3x Daytona 500 champion Jeff Gordon
ATLANTA – NOVEMBER 12: Jeff Gordon of DuPont Chevrolet celebrates in victory lane drinking champagne after winning the Winston Cup championship in the NASCAR NAPA 500 at the Atlantic Motor Speedway on November 12, 1995 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David Taylor/Getty Images)
Four-time NASCAR Cup Series and three-time Daytona 500 champion Jeff Gordon retired from full-time driving at the end of the 2015 Cup Series season.
In 2017, he returned to Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, as an honorary pace driver.
2016: WWE star and actor John Cena
The now-retired WWE superstar and “F9,” “Peacemaker” actor John Cena served as an honorary starter of the 54th annual Daytona 500 in 2012, and as an honorary pace car driver of the 58th Daytona 500 in 2016.
More: John Cena cancer diagnosis at center of Neutrogena sunscreen partnership
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This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona 500 honorary pace drivers from 2016-2026
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