Sports

Actions

Chiefs' Chris Jones to serve as virtual Grand Marshal for NASCAR race

Posted at 11:01 AM, Jul 22, 2020
and last updated 2020-07-22 12:01:16-04

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A big month for Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones gets even bigger Thursday.

Kansas Speedway has tabbed Jones, who resigned with the Chiefs on a four-year deal worth $85 million last week, as the virtual Grand Marshal for the NASCAR Cup Series Super Start Batteries 400 on Thursday.

That means he'll utter the most famous words in motorsports, "Drivers, start your engines!" before the first of five races scheduled at the 1.5-mile tri-oval in Kansas City, Kansas, during the next three days,

“The Chiefs provided our community a great deal of pride and joy last February, and it is only appropriate to have someone who played such a critical role in their success kick off our race weekend,” Kansas Speedway President Pat Warren said.

Jones, a former second-round pick, was a key member of the Chiefs' Super Bowl LIV-winning squad and has emerged as one of the top pass-rushing interior linemen in the NFL. He has totaled 33 sacks, including 24 1/2 over the past two years, during his four-year NFL career.

The Super Start Batteries 400 will start at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday and be televised live on the NBC Sports Network.

FS1 will broadcast two races Friday evening, the NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series Kansas 200 at 6 p.m. followed by the ARCA Menards Series Dawn 150 at 9 p.m.

There are two more races scheduled for Saturday — the NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series Kansas 200 at 12:30 p.m. on FS1 and the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 250 at 4 p.m. on NBC Sports Network.