PHOENIX (Nov. 4, 2023) – The sparkplug that ignited the Arizona Diamondbacks to the 2023 National League pennant and one of the top comedic actresses of today will serve key honorary roles during Sunday’s sold-out NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway.
The track announced today that Dbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll will be the Honorary Starter, and Emmy and Grammy Award winning actress/comedian/author Tiffany Haddish will be the Honorary Pace Car driver for the historic final race of NASCAR’s 75th Anniversary Season. Carroll will wave the green flag shortly after 1 p.m. MST for a race that will air live on NBC, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
“Talk about two incredibly talented performers,” said Phoenix Raceway President Latasha Causey. “Corbin Carroll was electrifying to watch with the Dbacks this season and there are few human beings funnier than Tiffany Haddish. It’s an honor to have them both with us for Sunday’s historic race.”
Carroll certainly had a rookie season for the ages. The 2023 National League All-Star became the first rookie to ever hit 25 home runs and steal 54 bases in a single season. Carroll was also a force in the postseason, driving in 10 runs and stealing 5 bases. He also went 3-for-4 in the Dbacks’ National League Championship Series Game 7 clincher at Philadelphia, capturing the Snakes’ first National League pennant since 2001.
Haddish is one of the most sought-after comedic actresses of our time and no stranger to NASCAR. She began NASCAR’s 75th Anniversary Season as the Honorary Starter for the 65th running of the DAYTONA 500. She’ll now lead the field to green in a Toyota Camry TRD pace car, providing the perfect ceremonial bookend to the year.
Parking lots Sunday open at 6 a.m. and gates open at 8 a.m. for the sold-out NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race. Diplo presents Thomas Wesley will perform the pre-race concert at 11:45 a.m.
About Phoenix Raceway
Home to NASCAR Championship Weekend since 2020, Phoenix Raceway has been the premier motorsports venue in the Southwest since 1964 and hosts two NASCAR race weekends each year. In 2023, the spring event weekend, March 10-12, kicks off the race season at Phoenix Raceway and features the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards Series. Phoenix Raceway will once again host NASCAR Championship Weekend, November 3-5. During the action-packed, three-day event, champions will be crowned in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series West. Phoenix Raceway also hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including concerts, corporate meetings and conferences, charity events, weddings, holiday events, sport and endurance competitions, and driving schools. For more information, visit www.PhoenixRaceway.com and download the new NASCAR Tracks App at www.phoenixraceway.com/nascar-tracks-app/.
About NASCAR
Celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2023, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Sprint Race, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Pinty’s Series (Canada), NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 12 countries and more than 30 U.S. states. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).