Nate Bargatze Named Daytona 500 Grand Marshal

Comedian Nate Bargatze has been named the grand marshal for the 68th Daytona 500 this month, per an announcement from Daytona International Speedway. Bargatze will deliver the command for drivers to start their engines before the field rolls off of pit road on Sunday, February 15. Prior to being announced as grand marshal, Bargatze was the best-selling touring comedian in the world for both 2024 and 2025. On Sunday, his latest special Your Friend, Nate Bargatze won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. "There is nothing quite like the anticipation of the Daytona 500 - the roar, the energy, the sense that something special is about to happen," said Daytona International Speedway President Frank Kelleher. "Nate Bargatze's nationwide popularity, family-friendly humor, and authenticity embody that same spirit with a style that resonates with all. He'll bring a memorable spark to the command, amplifying the emotion and excitement of one of the biggest moments in motorsports." In years past, the grand marshals of the Daytona 500 have included some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment. Marvel actor Anthony Mackie did the honors in 2025, preceded by Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson in 2024. Other figures who've given the command to start engines include NFL star J.J. Watt, supermodel Kate Upton, and NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. Eleven days after the Daytona 500, Bargatze will be performing in Jacksonville at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. He stars in the upcoming comedy film The Breadwinner alongside Colin Jost, Will Forte, and Kumail Nanjiani among others.