Night‑time Stars and Speed on the Daytona Strip

The first race of the NASCAR season, the famous 500‑mile event at Daytona, opened with a splash of pop culture. A country singer lit up the front stretch, a stand‑up comic called the engines to life, and a veteran actor drove the pace car as the field lined up. Miranda Lambert, who first burst onto the music scene in 2003 after a TV talent show, took the stage for a short set of high‑energy songs. She praised the size and excitement of the track, noting how the crowd’s tailgating vibe felt like a concert.Kurt Russell, whose film career began in the 1960s and includes roles with Elvis Presley, was the pace‑car driver. He shared that racing has been a lifelong passion and joked about his upcoming 75th birthday, suggesting the pace‑car job is a fitting challenge for him now. Nate Bargatze, a top touring comedian with several Netflix specials, served as Grand Marshall. He talked about crafting a memorable command for the drivers and highlighted his new movie, “Breadwinner, ” slated for release later that month. The 68th Daytona 500 began at 1:30 p. m. Eastern, broadcast on FOX-TV and available via radio streams.