As the championship battle heats up at the newly reconfigured Kansas Speedway, actor-comedian Rob Riggle, has decided to join in on the action and has been named Grand Marshal for the Hollywood Casino 400, the sixth race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Riggle recently hosted the 20thannual ESPY Awards on ESPN, which is also airing the Hollywood Casino 400 live from Kansas Speedway on Oct. 21 at 1 PM CT.
“I am so honored to be the Grand Marshal for the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway! I love NASCAR racing and I love going home to Kansas City,” said Riggle, a native of Overland Park, Kan. and a University of Kansas graduate. “I’m not 100% sure what my responsibilities are as Grand Marshal? Do I get my own race car?”
“I’m excited to have Rob at Kansas Speedway and be the Grand Marshal for the Hollywood Casino 400 and to be a part of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup,” said Kansas Speedway President Patrick Warren. “To be able to have Rob come to his home track and be a part of our championship weekend means a lot to me and our fans.”
Riggle was recently added to the “FOX NFL Sunday” pre-game studio show this season, taking over the role of the show’s in-house comedian. He served as a Correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and he has also appeared in several movies, including: this year’s box-office hits Dr. Suess’ The Lorax and 21 Jump Street as well as The Hangover, The Other Guys and Step Brothers. Riggle was a regular on Saturday Night Live (2004-2005) and has appeared in several television shows, including Arrested Development, The Office, Adult Swim’s NTSF:SD:SUV, Wilfred and 30 Rock. He has also appeared on numerous talk shows, including Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Conan and The Late Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Earlier this year, Riggle also took part in the Drive4COPD Pro-Am Celebrity Racing Challenge at Auto Club Speedway to help raise awareness for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Kansas Speedway PR
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