Shane van Gisbergen delivered a thrilling end to the Round of 12 last Sunday. Now, the Round of 8 opener at NASCAR’s Las Vegas Motor Speedway is on top of people’s minds. Eight lucky drivers in the Cup Series and in the Xfinity Series will try their best to score Championship 4 seats. But while the championship battle has fans on edge, the weekend will get even more exciting with some special guests set to make an appearance.

The Grand Marshals at NASCAR’s Las Vegas

At the previous Cup Series race in Las Vegas in March, we witnessed the ‘God’ at the 1.5-mile circuit. Morgan Freeman issued the call to drivers to fire up their engines. For the upcoming South Point 400 race, we have another star in line. The latest Hollywood heartthrob, Glen Powell, will serve as the Grand Marshal for the NASCAR Las Vegas Cup Series event.

Powell will also engage in pre-race festivities at Las Vegas as part of the promotion of his new film, The Running Man, from Paramount Pictures. Lately, on a blockbuster ride with movies like Top Gun: Maverick, Anyone but You, and Hit Man, Powell has had a storied career in Hollywood that goes back to his debut movie Spy-Kids 3-D: Game Over in 2003.

Glen Powell confessed his excitement about donning the new NASCAR role. “It was an absolute yes when I was asked to serve as Grand Marshal for the South Point 400. I’ve grown up around a love of speed and competition, and NASCAR racing embodies that passion like no other. To be part of this tradition in Las Vegas, with all the energy and excitement of the fans, is going to be an unforgettable experience.” 

On the other hand, the Focused Health 302, the NASCAR Las Vegas Xfinity Series Playoff Race, will have a NASCAR dignitary as its Grand Marshal. Award-winning motorsports journalist Holly Cain will do the honors of issuing the call to Xfinity drivers.

A mother of two and a two-time cancer survivor, Cain has been a respected voice for over 30 years. Her career includes writing for The Tampa Tribune, The Dallas Morning News, and The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. She currently writes for the NASCAR Wire Service, covering the sport’s biggest stories and championship moments.

Who will sing the National Anthem at Las Vegas?

What is a NASCAR event without a melodious touch? The musical department for the NASCAR Las Vegas Motor Speedway festivities this weekend will be handled by country star Britnee Kellogg. She will perform the national anthem ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race on Sunday, October 12.

Kellogg is a vibrant vocalist with over 1.4 million followers on TikTok. She has been captivating audiences nationwide with her touching lyrics and energetic performances. Her 2024 debut full-length album, She’s Come a Long Way, was a unique one, as it showcased her personal journey and displayed her ability to connect with listeners through raw, relatable storytelling. This fall, Kellogg will also appear as one of 12 artists featured on The Road, a new reality music competition series.

When will the races be broadcast on television?

On Saturday, October 11th, the practice and qualifying for the Cup Series race will start from 4:30 p.m. ET. Fans can watch it on TruTV. The Xfinity practice and qualifying will begin earlier, from 2 p.m. ET onwards, streaming on the CW app.

The Focus Health 302 Xfinity race will flag off at 7:30 p.m. ET on the same day, to be streamed on The CW and can be radioed on PRN and SiriusXM.

Sunday comes the big race, the South Point 400, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET. NBC and USA Network will broadcast the event, while the radio coverage remains the same.

So what are you waiting for? Book your tickets and grab a hot dog as the Round of 8 arrives at Las Vegas Motor Speedway!