The 1980 "Miracle on Ice" U.S. Olympic Hockey Team will be the grand marshals for the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, Feb. 23 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The group will include most members from that historic team, which shocked the Soviet Union in the semifinals before defeating Finland to win the gold medal in Lake Placid, N.Y.
Carnell Johnson will perform the national anthem before the start of the 267-lap race. The 38-year-old Las Vegan, who is a trained bass-baritone singer, has become a Vegas celebrity for his work as a mainstay with the Vegas Golden Knights, earning the moniker "Golden Pipes."
Musical guest The Jets will perform as part of the speedway's race-day festivities, performing the pre-race concert that leads up to the official Driver Introductions that are set for 11:50 a.m. Pacific Time.
The Jets enjoyed worldwide success during the late 1980s and early 1990s, performing three world tours, and producing eight top 10 hits.
The group now has its own show in Vegas, "The Jets 80s & 90s Experience." Performances take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at the V Theater at the Miracle Mile Shops at the Planet Hollywood Resort.
In addition, a flyover of four F-16 'Vipers' from the 64th Aggressors Squadron (64 AGRS)/57th Adversary Tactics Group (57 ATG)/57th Wing, stationed at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, will provide aerial entertainment.
LVMS's spring 2020 NASCAR Weekend begins with the Strat 200 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race on Friday, Feb. 21, continues with the Strat qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series Boyd Gaming 300 on Saturday, Feb. 22, and finishes with the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, Feb. 23.
That NASCAR action will be preceded by the Star Nursery 150 ARCA Menards Series West race at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Thursday, Feb. 20.
Also on Feb. 20, two-time and reigning NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Busch will make his return to The Bullring to compete in the Star Nursery 100 Super Late Model Open Comp.
"Miracle on Ice" U.S. Hockey team to be grand marshals for Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube on Feb. 23
Carnell Johnson, The Jets and F-16 'Vipers' also part of pre-race festivities
Wednesday, February 12, 2020