Fla. governor to be grand marshal at Daytona 500

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has been named grand marshal for the 51st Daytona 500 on Feb. 15, track president Robin Braig announced.

"We're honored to have Governor Charlie Crist serve as the Grand Marshal for the Daytona 500," Braig said. "By serving as grand marshal, Governor Crist will be joining a long list of high-profile guests who have helped kick off the Great American Race."

Gov. Crist

As grand marshal, Crist will deliver the four most famous words in motorsports -- "Gentlemen, start you engines" -- to start NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious race. In addition, Crist will attend the drivers' meeting prior to the waving of the green flag for the Daytona 500.

Crist, a native of St. Petersburg, graduated from Florida State University in 1978 and earned his law degree from the Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Ala. In 1992, he was elected to the state senate where he served for six years before being elected Commissioner of Education for the state of Florida in 2000.

In 2002, Crist was elected Florida's Attorney General and on Nov. 7, 2006, was elected as the 44th governor of Florida.

"I am thrilled to serve as grand marshal at this year's Daytona 500," Crist said. "As the fourth-most recognized sporting event in the world, the race adds to the tremendous economic impact motorsports has on our state. In fact, Daytona International Speedway and the national headquarters of its parent company, International Speedway Corporation, contribute more than $2 billion in annual economic impact to our economy."

Tickets for Speedweeks 2009 and the Daytona 500 are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.