Homestead-Miami Speedway has named Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas the honorary starter for the Cup Series’ championship race.
Douglas, 21, will wave the green flag for the Ford EcoBoost 400 on Nov. 19 (2:30 p.m. ET on NBC).
A native of Newport News, Virginia, Douglas won gold medals in the 2012 and 2016 summer Olympics.
At the London 2012 Summer Olympics, the she won the team gold as a member of the “Fierce Five,” and also claimed the individual all-around gold. She won the team gold again in 2016.
“I’m so excited to wave the green flag for the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead Miami Speedway,” said Douglas in a press release. “I’ve seen plenty of championships, and the NASCAR championship is definitely going to be one epic event. I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”
Douglas is also the author of “Grace, Gold & Glory: My Leap of Faith” and “Raising the Bar.”