MIAMI, Fla. – As his full-time NASCAR Cup Series comes to a close, Kevin Harvick will be honored by several individuals who have made an impact on his career prior to the start of the 4EVER 400 Presented by Mobil 1, Homestead-Miami Speedway announced today. Senior Advisor to NASCAR Mike Helton and Stewart-Haas Racing crew chief Rodney Childers and his family will serve as key dignitaries in getting the race started on Sunday afternoon. GRAMMY® Award-winning superstar and Trackhouse Racing co-owner Armando Christian Perez, Pitbull, will serve as the honorary pace car official, riding along at the front of the field as the stars of the Cup Series prepare for one of the final races of the season.
“As we honor Kevin in his final race here with us at Homestead-Miami Speedway, it was only fitting that some of the people most important to him in his career join the festivities to pay tribute to his legacy,” said Al Garcia, Homestead-Miami Speedway President. “The Childers family and Mike Helton are the perfect representatives to honor Kevin’s surefire Hall of Fame career.”
Helton will serve as the Honorary Starter for the NASCAR Cup Series 4EVER 400 Presented by Mobil 1. Helton and Harvick have developed a close bond over his career, and Helton will wave the green flag as Harvick crosses the start/finish line for his final Cup Series race in South Florida.
Harvick’s crew chief Rodney Childers and his family – wife Katrina and twin sons Brody and Gavin – have been named the Grand Marshals for the event. They’ll stand alongside Harvick’s car on the grid to honor Harvick one last time at the iconic track by saying the most famous words in motorsports to signal the field to fire their engines.
Pitbull, also known as “Mr. 305” and “Mr. Worldwide,” will ride along as the pace car leads the field to green as the Honorary Pace Car Official for Sunday’s race. He recently released his new Spanglish album, TRACKHOUSE. The title is a reference to the Cup Series team Trackhouse Racing, which he joined as a co-owner in 2021.
Pitbull is currently performing alongside Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin on The Trilogy Tour, which will canvas North America throughout the fall.
All of the South Florida vibes will be felt at the track as Cedric Gervais is set to provide the pre-race entertainment, while Manu Manzo will perform the National Anthem and Puerto Rican rapper Miky Woodz will serve as the honorary event official for the race.
“It’s exciting to have a group that truly represents the vibrancy of South Florida serve as our dignitaries for the 4EVER 400 Presented by Mobil 1,” said Garcia. “Cedric Gervais will bring the party atmosphere to pump up the crowd before the race. Manu Manzo will show why she’s one of the best talents in music during her rendition of the National Anthem, and it’s wonderful to have such a popular performer as Miky Woodz join us as the honorary event official during this incredible weekend.
“And Pitbull is Mr. 305. We can’t get any more South Florida than having him help lead the field to green!”
Grammy-winning DJ and Miami Beach resident Cedric Gervais will get the party started as the pre-race entertainment during the Playoff race weekend. Gervais won a Grammy as a producer for best remix for his version of the popular Lana Del Rey song “Summertime Sadness” in 2013. He also has 5.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify and had acting roles in the films “Mile 22,” “Deepwater Horizon,” “Patriot’s Day,” and “Pain & Gain.”
Latin entertainment artist Manu Manzo, who will perform the National Anthem prior to the start of the race, was a nominee for Best New Artist at the 2015 Latin Grammy Awards. Manzo released her new album “Luna En Geminis” in May of this year.
Puerto Rican Rapper Miky Woodz will serve as the honorary event official for the 4EVER 400 Presented by Mobil 1. Woodz is most popular for his songs “Estamos Clear,” “Alcoba,” “En Lo Oscuro Sin Perse,” and “Tarde o Temprano.” He’s collaborated with other Latin, Puerto Rican, Dominican and Venezuelan artists and producers such as Bad Bunny, Wisin & Yandel, Natti Natasha, Ozuna, Noriel, Farruko, and more. Woodz also has 5.4 million monthly listeners on Spotify and is one of the biggest Latin music artists in the game today.
Homestead-Miami Speedway brings fans the ultimate summer experience in the heart of fall, with an on-site beach party at the Larry’s Hard Lemonade Beach Bash featuring water activities, beach games, and a live DJ, creating an atmosphere fans will enjoy amidst the action-packed racing. Fans can also explore the Midway, which includes all the merchandise haulers, partner activations, and more.
The NASCAR Playoffs October race weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway begins with a doubleheader on Saturday, Oct. 21, leading off with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Baptist Health Cancer Care 200 followed by the NASCAR Xfinity Series Contender Boats 300. The NASCAR Cup Series 4EVER 400 Presented by Mobil 1 will cap off the weekend’s action on Sunday, Oct. 22.
Tickets are available for purchase via phone at 866-409-7223 or online at www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com
Additionally, fans can view the full 2023 NASCAR Cup Series schedule and purchase tickets at nascar.com/tickets, and can stay connected to Homestead-Miami Speedway on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
About NASCAR
Celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2023, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Sprint Race, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Pinty’s Series (Canada), NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 12 countries and more than 30 U.S. states. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).
About Homestead-Miami Speedway
Founded by Miami businessman, racing enthusiast and philanthropist Ralph Sanchez, Homestead-Miami Speedway has been open since 1995 following an initiative to spur economic recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. The 650-acre facility features a 1.5-mile oval and 2.21-mile road course which also hosts on-track events nearly 300 days per year and generates more than $301 million annually for the region. NASCAR crowned champions in all three of its national series at Homestead-Miami Speedway for 18 straight years (2002-19). Homestead-Miami Speedway is home to Fast Lane Friday, which serves as a legal drag racing event open to all car enthusiasts 18 and older with a valid driver’s license and proof of registration and insurance. Located inside of Turn 3 on a 20,000 square foot beach, Larry’s Hard Lemonade Beach Bash is exclusively offered for fans at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Open to all ages, the beach sits on the spring-fed 7-acre lake which spans the width of the backstretch and offers live entertainment, beach and water activities, and unique food and beverage options all while taking in the race action. For more information on Homestead-Miami Speedway, please visit www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com
