HAMPTON, Ga. (Feb. 16, 2016) – A star-studded lineup of celebrities with close Georgia ties will welcome fans visiting Atlanta Motor Speedway during next weekend’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 NASCAR weekend.
Movie stars, athletes musicians and even Miss America herself will be on hand, as the historic track, hosting its record 101st 500-mile race, becomes NASCAR’s hub of activity at its annual Atlanta stop.
Leading off, Robert Patrick, an actor born in Marietta, Georgia who has worked with some of the top actors and directors in his field for the past 30 years, will serve as the grand marshal, attending the Sprint Cup Series drivers’ meeting, giving the drivers’ command and riding in a pre-race grand marshal pace lap.
On the big screen, Patrick has appeared in iconic films like “Terminator 2,” “Die Hard 2,” “Wayne’s World,” “Walk the Line” and “Flags of our Fathers.” Patrick’s TV resume includes roles in “The Sopranos,” “The Outer Limits,” “Elvis,” “The Unit,” “The X-Files,” “True Blood” and “Sons of Anarchy.” He can currently be seen as Agent Cabe Gallo in the ensemble “fun-cedural” “Scorpion” on CBS.
In addition to his acting success, Patrick is a lifelong supporter of the U.S. military and the USO. The grandson of an Army veteran who served during World Wars I and II and the Korean War, Patrick grew up with a profound respect for troops. Devoted to giving back, he regularly makes USO hospital visits and has participated in four USO tours to seven countries since 2008. Fans can meet Patrick on the AMS Fan Stage at 11:55 a.m. on Sunday morning.
Next up, Mark Wills, the chart-topping and multi-platinum selling country music recording artist who calls Blue Ridge, Georgia home, will perform the Salute to Folds of Honor pre-race concert prior to Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500. Wills’ No. 1 smash hits include “Wish You Were Here,” “19 Somethin’,” “Back at One” and “Jacob’s Ladder.”
Packing on the start power, Robin Meade, host HLN’s “Morning Express,” will sing Sunday’snational anthem prior to Patrick’s giving of the command. Meade is a former Miss Ohio who now calls Atlanta Home and can be seen hosting “Morning Express” Monday through Fridayfrom 6 a.m. to noon on HLN. Fans can see Meade on the AMS Fan Stage at 9:45Sundaymorning.
Also performing on Sunday, Warner Robins, Georgia native and Miss America 2016 – Betty Cantrell – will give a special rendition of “Georgia on my Mind” prior to the start of the race. She will also appear on the AMS Fan Stage at 10:25 a.m.on Sunday.
Baseball Hall of Famer and former Atlanta Brave Tom Glavine will bolster the athletic side of the Georgia host committee. Glavine, who was drafted by the Braves – as well as the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings – in 1984, went on to play 22 MLB seasons, posting 10 All-Star appearances, two National League Cy Young Awards and more than 300 wins as a pitcher. Glavine will appear on the AMS Fan Stage at 12:10 p.m. Sunday afternoon.
From baseball to football, former Denver Bronco and Georgia Bulldog, Champ Bailey, will serve as Sunday’s celebrity pace car driver. Bailey earned consensus All-American honors at the University of Georgia before being drafted by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He went on to play 15 NFL seasons, earning 12 Pro Bowl nods, the most for a defensive back, before retiring in 2014. Bailey will meet fans on the AMS Fan Stage at 10:15 a.m.Sunday morning.
Rounding out the 2016 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Weekend host committee is Lee Haney, a record eight-time Mr. Olympia winner in the International Federation of Bodybuilders. An expert in physical health and fitness, Haney resides with his wife in Fayette County, Georgia and hosts his own program, “TotaLee Fit with Lee Haney” on the Trinity Broadcasting Network.
In addition to the celebrities appearing at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Georgia governor Nathan Deal will offer his own welcome with special video appearances throughout the weekend.
Other notable Georgia-tied appearances during Atlanta’s race weekend include Angela Reign performing the national anthem before Saturday’s Heads Up Georgia 250 XFINITY Series race, Joe Hall performing live in the all-new Park Pavilion entertainment venue on Saturday night and Sprint Cup Series driver David Ragan, from Unadilla, Georgia appearing on the AMS Fan Stage for a Q&A session with Miss zMax at 9:15 a.m. Sunday morning.
For a complete listing of all Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Weekend fan activities, visit http://
NASCAR racing returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway Feb. 26-28, 2016, featuring the Heads Up Georgia 250 XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series Georgia 200 doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 27 and the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Feb. 28. For more information, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at(770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.
