Sunday’s STP 500 will mark a fast end to a big weekend for Melissa Joan Hart.
On Friday the actress’s latest film, God’s Not Dead 2 hits the theaters and on Sunday she will lead the field to green as the Honorary Pace Car Driver at Martinsville Speedway.
“I am beyond excited to be the Honorary Pace Car Driver for STP 500 at Martinsville,” Melissa said. “I’ve done some racing in the past, but this will be the first time that I’ve had the chance to drive on a NASCAR track and to be leading the field to green is really going to be awesome.
“I have been a huge NASCAR fan for years and being able to participate in a race on this level is an honor.”
“To be able to have Melissa drive the pace car is a no-brainer for us,” Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell said. “Not only will many of our fans recognize her, but she is also a big NASCAR fan. It’s great anytime you can have both of those come together.”
Having made her first national commercial at age 4, she is now a veteran of television, film and theater. Hart is best known internationally for her starring roles in Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Clarissa Explains It All, and Melissa & Joey
On the big screen, Hart starred in the romantic comedy Drive Me Crazy, for which she won a Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award and she made a memorable appearance in the graduation night comedy Can’t Hardly Wait.
In March 2016, Melissa and her husband, Mark Wilkerson, announced the launch of a new girls’ clothing line called Queen of Harts, available now on their web site, kingofharts.com. Their new girls’ line will join its American-inspired “brother” line, King of Harts, which came to market in 2014 for boys. The debut collection of Queen of Harts focuses on graphic tees designed by talented artists.
It was recently announced that Melissa and Paula Hart’s Hartbreak Films will be collaborating with 44 Blue Productions to develop the docuseries, Sweet Harts. The docuseries will follow the Hart family and their journey as they open up their dream dessert shop.
The STP 500 race weekend April 1-3.
The weekend starts with Virginia Lottery Pole Day on Friday and continues with the Alpha Energy Solutions 250 Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday.
The STP 500 Sprint Cup Series Race is on Sunday, April 3. Tickets start at $55.
