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Ross Butler Named Honorary Starter for NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race

Renowned actor will wave green flag for Sunday’s Season Finale at Phoenix Raceway

Lights, camera, green flag! Hollywood’s Ross Butler will open Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship action with a wave of the green flag.

NASCAR and Phoenix Raceway announced today that the actor, musician, and activist has been named honorary starter for the NASCAR Cup Series season finale on Sunday. He’ll officially send drivers across the start/finish line to chase their championship dreams in front of a sold-out crowd live on NBC.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ross Butler to Phoenix Raceway this weekend,” said Phoenix Raceway President Julie Giese. “His presence at the track will bring a smile to many NASCAR fans as he waves the green flag to the start the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race.”

Butler’s thriving acting career is going full speed ahead, including his reprised role as ‘Trevor’ in the final installment of the wildly successful Netflix franchise, To All the Boys. In television, you may know him as Zach Dempsey in the Netflix original series, 13 Reasons Why. The series was named one of the streaming service’s most popular offerings overall, earning the top spot on the platform’s Top 10 viewership list.

Butler is also known for his outspoken views on stereotypical Asian-American roles and the outstanding need to have nuance in representation within the industry. He continues to break the norms of culturally specific narratives with the hopes of further diversifying and paving the way for future generations. Butler is also an avid outdoorsman, and passionate about everything, from scuba diving to motorcycles and motorsports.

“I can’t wait for Sunday,” Butler said. “I’ve always had an interest in motorsports, so when the opportunity was presented to me, I couldn’t have been more excited to not only be the honorary starter for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship, but to be at the track and experience all the thrills and chills of race day with the fans!”

Grandstand seats for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race sold out in May, but a limited number of seats remain for Friday and Saturday’s action.

NASCAR championship Weekend begins Friday, Nov. 4, with a doubleheader featuring the ARCA Menards Series West and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race is Saturday, Nov. 5, along with Busch Light Pole Award Qualifying for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race.

Fans are encouraged to secure their tickets now at www.phoenixraceway.com while supplies last!