NASCAR: J.J. Watt to serve as grand marshal for 2019 Daytona 500

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is set to serve as the grand marshal for the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season opener, the Daytona 500.

The 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season is scheduled to get underway with the 61st annual Daytona 500 this Sunday, February 17, and Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is set to get this race started by serving as the race’s grand marshal and giving the command to start engines.

The 29-year-old Waukesha, Wisconsin native is set to become the first NFL player to give the command to start engines in the history of the Daytona 500.

Here is what Watt had to say about the opportunity to serve as grand marshal for this year’s Daytona 500, according to NASCAR.

"“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as Grand Marshal for this year’s ‘Great American Race. The Daytona 500 is a truly iconic event with a rich history and I am very much looking forward to taking in the action up close and personal this year.”"

Here is what Chip Wile, the president of Daytona International Speedway, had to say about the matter, according to NASCAR.

"“We’re ecstatic to have a person who has shown to be not only an incredible athlete, but also somebody who has done so much for communities in need. J.J. is one of the best players currently in the NFL and now he’s going to be our Grand Marshal for ‘The Great American Race.’ It’s a spectacular pairing.”"

Hendrick Motorsports teammates William Byron and Alex Bowman are set to start the 200-lap race around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) high-banked Daytona International Speedway oval in Daytona Beach, Florida on the front row with Byron set to start from the pole position in his #24 Chevrolet and Bowman set to start alongside him in second place in his #88 Chevrolet.

The rest of the starting lineup for this race is set to be determined on Thursday night with the two Gander RV Duels, which are scheduled to be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET.

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Watt, the five-time NFL Pro Bowler, five-time first-team All-Pro and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, was drafted by the Texans out of the University of Wisconsin with the 11th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He has played in 104 games over the course of his eight seasons in the NFL.

Watt has played in all 16 games in six of his eight seasons in the league, and his five Pro Bowl selections and five first-team All-Pro selections have all come in these seasons. He has recorded one interceptions, 22 forced fumbles, 455 tackles, 154 tackles for loss and 92 sacks in his 104 career games.

By recording 20.5 sacks in the 2012 season and doing so again in the 2014 season, Watt became the first player in NFL history to record multiple seasons with at least 20 sacks.

Watt is the president and founder of the Justin J. Watt Foundation, which NASCAR describes as “a charity organization that provides after-school opportunities for children in various communities, and has assisted those who are affected by deadly shootings”.

Watt also won last year’s Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award after raising more than $41 million for the city of Houston following Hurricane Harvey, which far exceeded his initial goal of raising $200,000.

Be sure to tune in to Fox at 2:30 p.m. ET this Sunday, February 17 for the live broadcast of the 61st annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida to see the 36-race 2019 NASCAR Cup Series get started.