The fashion industry legend will give the command before riders tackle the road course at Daytona International Speedway
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 4, 2024) – Daytona International Speedway announced today that supermodel and actor Tyson Beckford will serve as Grand Marshal ahead of the action-packed, high-speed DAYTONA 200 on Saturday, March 9.
Beckford will say some of the most famous words in motorsports, signaling for riders to fire up their engines as they prepare to battle it out on the vicious road course at The World Center of Racing.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Tyson for one of our fastest and most electrifying events of Bike Week Presented by Monster Energy,” said Daytona International Speedway President Frank Kelleher. “I know his extensive experience and expertise in commanding a room is sure to come in handy when giving the call to fire up those motorcycle engines before the DAYTONA 200.”
Tyson Beckford’s impressive career began after being discovered in Washington Square Park in the early 90s. Shortly after, Beckford made waves as the front model for the esteemed Ralph Lauren brand in their Polo line of male sportswear. From then on, he became one of the most recognizable faces in the fashion industry.
Beckford was named “Man of the Year” in 1995 by the popular cable television music channel VH1 and was recognized as one of People magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People in the World” that same year.
“Daytona International Speedway is the holy land of racing and those who race there are the Gods and Goddesses of their machines,” said Beckford. “I’m looking forward to getting to this iconic racetrack and watching them perform and being part of the MotoAmerica festivities.”
Beckford has appeared in music videos for artists such as Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Ludacris and The Notorious B.I.G. He’s walked the runway for several designer collections during New York, Milan and Paris fashion weeks throughout his career, and recently modeled for Beyonce’s IVY PARK clothing line.
In addition to his long list of personal and professional achievements, Tyson Beckford can now add Grand Marshal for the MotoAmerica DAYTONA 200 at the World Cetner of Racing to his resume.
“I know Tyson is a motorcyclist and MotoAmerica fan and he also enjoys doing track days,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “I think it’s pretty cool to have a Grand Marshall for the Daytona 200 who is a motorsports fan, and a motorcycle rider as well. All of us at MotoAmerica thank Tyson for attending our races at the speedway this year and we’re sure he will enjoy it.”
The DAYTONA 200 takes place on Saturday, March 9, during the final weekend of Bike Week Presented by Monster Energy. Beckford will say some of the most famous words in motorsports just before the race kicks off at 1:00 p.m. ET.
For more information about Bike Week Presented by Monster Energy at Daytona International Speedway, please visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.
Fans can also stay connected with Daytona International Speedway via www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com, on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as the all-new NASCAR Tracks App, for the latest speedway news.
About Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a state-of-the-art motorsports facility and was awarded the SportsBusiness Journal’s prestigious Sports Business Award for Sports Facility of the Year in 2016. Daytona International Speedway is the home of The Great American Race – the DAYTONA 500. Though the season-opening NASCAR Cup Series event garners most of the attention – as well as the largest audience in motorsports – the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex, also known as the World Center of Racing, boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe. Some of the exciting racing events include January’s Rolex 24 At DAYTONA and Roar Before The Rolex 24, February’s DAYTONA 500 and Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth, March’s Bike Week At DAYTONA Presented By Monster Energy, featuring DAYTONA Supercross and the DAYTONA 200, the August Coke Zero Sugar 400 weekend, and much more. The Speedway grounds are also used extensively for other events that include concerts (Welcome to Rockville, Heroes Honor Festival, etc.), sporting events (DAYTONA Soccer Fest, CLASH DAYTONA, etc.) civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo shoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.
