Thu, 28 Feb 2019, 10:46 AM Hagan, Pritchett Named Co-Grand Marshals of Pennzoil 400 NASCAR Cup Series Race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Courtesy of Allison McCormick, Don Schumacher Racing

BROWNSBURG, Ind. -- NHRA Drag Racers Matt Hagan and Leah Pritchett will have the prestigious honor of serving as co-Grand Marshals of the Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube on Sunday, March 3 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Hagan, a two-time NHRA Funny Car world champion, will join forces with his fellow Pennzoil-powered Don Schumacher Racing Top Fuel teammate Leah Pritchett, a seven-time event winner, where they will take their talents from the dragstrip to the famed Las Vegas oval track. The NHRA speedsters will give the official command to start engines for the 267-lap Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Leah Pritchett

"If someone would have told me that I'd have the opportunity to be a Grand Marshal of the Pennzoil 400, I would've never believed them," said Pritchett of the iconic duty. "It's such a prestigious race and to be a part of the Pennzoil family is incredible. Their support of our team is so far reaching. From the backing of the technology they put into our cars to involving us in their other levels of motorsports, it's a dream come true. Being a Grand Marshal at a Cup Series race, it really doesn't get bigger than that. I'm very honored and I look forward to seeing some of our crossover fans and introducing NHRA drag racing to a new crop of fans on a great stage in motorsports."

Matt Hagan

"To be the Grand Marshal at the Pennzoil 400 is a huge honor," said Hagan, who picked up Funny Car win No. 30 at the most recent stop on the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour. "Pennzoil had us out at the event last year doing some cross-promotion. They do such a great job of getting their drivers out there and in front of fans, and we're proud to be partnered with them and banner their brand here at DSR.

"I tried the whole circle track thing growing up," he added. "My family actually owns a half-mile oval and my dad was always pushing me to race those cars, and after I crashed about four cars he was like 'never mind, you don't have a future in this,' (laughs). I have a lot of respect for those guys and what they do. It's going to be fun to get out there and hopefully meet a lot of NASCAR fans and convert them over to NHRA fans."

Fans can watch the Don Schumacher Racing teammates give the command to fire engines by tuning into FOX at 3:30 p.m. ET.