James Franco Named Grand Marshal for 55th Annual Daytona 500
Star of Disney’s Upcoming ‘Oz The Great and Powerful’ to Deliver Starting Command for ‘The Great American Race’
James Franco, star of the Disney fantastical adventure “Oz The Great and Powerful,” which is scheduled for release on March 8, will serve as Grand Marshal for the 55th running of the Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Feb. 24 at Daytona International Speedway. The race is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on FOX and will also be broadcasted on FOX Deportes, MRN Radio and Sirius XM Satellite Radio.
Franco will give the starting command, “Drivers start your engines,” in “The Great American Race.” He’ll also be introduced at the driver’s meeting, participate in pre-race ceremonies and ride in one of the Grand Marshal cars during the pace laps prior to the green flag of the 200-lap, 500-mile race.
“Oz The Great and Powerful,” directed by Sam Raimi, imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved wizard character. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting.
Franco joins the prestigious list of previous Daytona 500 Grand Marshals including John Travolta, Ben Affleck, Nicolas Cage, Kate Upton, Jane Lynch and Matthew McConaughey.
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