DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 3, 2026) – Daytona International Speedway today announced that acclaimed comedian, actor, creator and best-selling touring artist Nate Bargatze will serve as the Grand Marshal for the 68th running of the DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, February 15, 2026.
The GRAMMY Award-winning (2026), #1 touring comedian in the world (2024 and 2025) and two-time Saturday Night Live host is now making the jump to the silver screen this spring with his first feature film. He created, co-wrote, produced, and stars in the family-friendly comedy “The Breadwinner” for TriStar Pictures, scheduled to be released theatrically on May 29, 2026. Starring opposite Bargatze is Mandy Moore and an incredible lineup of comedic actors including Colin Jost, Zach Cherry, Martin Herlihy, Kate Berlant, Kumail Nanjiani and Will Forte.
“The Breadwinner” is a family comedy that follows the misadventures of Nate Wilcox, whose wife Katie (Moore) lands a once-in-a-lifetime deal on “Shark Tank” that takes her on a prolonged business trip – and now the lifelong breadwinner has to fend for his family as a first-time stay-at-home dad. With three young daughters and little experience handling their day-to-day needs, Nate finds out quickly that running the household is the toughest gig he’s ever had.
Widely known as “The Nicest Man in Stand-Up,” Bargatze has become one of America’s most beloved comedic voices, selling out arenas nationwide and earning Grammy recognition. His clever, and wildly relatable storytelling has made him a favorite among fans of all ages—qualities that align perfectly with the excitement, tradition, and national spotlight of the DAYTONA 500.
“There is nothing quite like the anticipation of the DAYTONA 500 — the roar, the energy, the sense that something special is about to happen,” said Frank Kelleher, President of Daytona International Speedway. “Nate Bargatze’s nationwide popularity, family-friendly humor, and authenticity embody that same spirit with a style that resonates with all. He’ll bring a memorable spark to the command, amplifying the emotion and excitement of one of the biggest moments in motorsports.”
Bargatze is a record-breaking and chart-topping comedian both on the stage and screen. His most recent Netflix special, “Your Friend, Nate Bargatze,” is currently the most watched standup special on Netflix in the past 52 weeks. His “Big Dumb Eyes World Tour” set a record for biggest one-year gross by a comedy performer in history and has broken over 40 total arena attendance records.
In addition to giving the command to fire up the engines for the DAYTONA 500, Bargatze will also participate in a Fan Q&A session in the Hard Rock Bet Fanzone that morning. Details, including the time of his appearance, will be added to the Daytona International Speedway website when available.
Tickets are selling fast for the DAYTONA 500, NASCAR’s most prestigious event. Those wishing to attend in person should act quickly to book their experience for The Great American Race. Premium hospitality opportunities and Hard Rock Bet Fanzone/Pre-Race admissions are also available for purchase.
For ticket information on the DAYTONA 500, as well as all Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth events, log onto www.DAYTONA500.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.
About TriStar Pictures’ The Breadwinner
Directed by Eric Appel. Written by Nate Bargatze & Dan Lagana. Produced by Jeremy Latcham, Nate Bargatze and Dan Lagana. Executive Producers are JoAnn Perritano, Michael Musgrave and Tyler Zacharia. The film stars Nate Bargatze, Mandy Moore, Colin Jost, Zach Cherry, Martin Herlihy, Kate Berlant, with Kumail Nanjiani and Will Forte.
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 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 such as Welcome to Rockville, sporting events including CLASH DAYTONA, civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo shoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training.
About NASCAR
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 14 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 Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico 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 five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.
For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook.
