Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian is riding high. His recent contract extension bumps his salary to $10.3 million and keeps him with the team through 2030. This well-deserved reward follows the Longhorns’ Big 12 win and their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. Now, Sarkisian’s success extends beyond the NFL.

Sarkisian is taking the spotlight at NASCAR’s Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Texas. As NASCAR gets ready for its first road-course race of the season, Sarkisian will be honored before the big event. He’s joining a star-studded lineup, including a popular Netflix actor, as part of the pre-race festivities that are sure to have a strong Longhorns presence.

Coach Steve Sarkisian joins stars at NASCAR

The excitement is building for this weekend’s NASCAR race at COTA in Austin, Texas. University of Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian will be the honorary starter, waving the green flag to kick off the race. Sarkisian joins a celebrity-packed roster that includes Breaking Bad fame Giancarlo Esposito, and race car driver Ryan Blaney. NASCAR COTA shared a photo of the trio, hinting at a friendly camaraderie.  Esposito even posted a story on Instagram calling Sarkisian a “legend,” to which the coach responded with a “Pleasure to meet,” showing a growing mutual respect.

Texas fans will recognize another familiar face at the event. Cameron Dicker, the former Texas kicker known as “Dicker the Kicker” and current Charger, delivers the pre-race invocation. It looks like Austin is ready for a thrilling race weekend!

NASCAR honor is fuel to the coach’s winning streak

Sarkisian, fresh off a thrilling season with the Texas Longhorns, is no stranger to success. He recently led his team to a Big 12 Championship victory, their first in almost 15 years, and even secured a spot in the College Football Playoffs. Though they fell to the Washington Huskies in the Sugar Bowl, Sarkisian’s leadership has revitalized the Longhorns program. Now, he’s adding race weekend honorary starter to his list of accomplishments–a fitting honor for a coach who clearly knows how to drive his team toward victory.

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However, he won’t have to travel far to enjoy the action at this year’s NASCAR COTA. The track sits just a short drive from the University of Texas campus in Austin. This will be the fourth Cup Series race at COTA, and the first road course challenge of the season, putting drivers to the test. This event is even more special for Sarkisian, as it comes shortly after his induction into the East-West Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame in 2024. It’s a well-deserved honor to recognize his contributions to football.

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