The Daytona 500 just got a little bigger.
WWE superstar and actor John Cena will serve as the honorary pace car driver for the 58th annual Daytona 500 (Feb. 21, 1 p.m. ET, FOX) at Daytona International Speedway.
The 15-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion will pace the 40-car field to the green flag in a Toyota Camry.
“John Cena is one of the most iconic WWE superstars in history, a great actor and philanthropist,” Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said in a track release. “We welcome him back to the ‘World Center of Racing’ and our new motorsports stadium, this time to pace the field for the ‘Great American Race.’ ”
Cena has been at the forefront of WWE’s programming for more than a decade, and most recently starred on the big screen in the Golden Globe-nominated “Trainwreck” as well as “Sisters” with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. He next will host FOX’s upcoming reality competition series “American Grit,” in which contestants work together to complete a variety of military-grade and survival-themed challenges.
In addition to his celebrity accolades, Cena is a wish ambassador for Make-A-Wish, having granted more than 500 wishes — more than any other celebrity or athlete in the history of the organization. Make-A-Wish has recognized Cena’s unwavering dedication to children with life-threatening medical conditions with their highest honor, the Chris Greicius Award.
