Transformers Stars to Be Grand Marshals at 2011 Daytona 500

The North American Stock Car Racing series (NASCAR) is all about speed and show, and the Sprint Cup officials have proven just that with their latest decision to bring together the very symbol of NASCAR racing, the season opening Daytona 500, with one the most successful car-related movies in the recent era, Transformers.

As it turns out, the leading actors in the latest Transformers movie, "Transformers: Dark of the Moon", will get to “deliver the four most famous words in motorsports” for the 53rd running of the Daytona 500, according to a statement from NASCAR. And we all know we're talking about the famous “Gentlemen, start your engines!”

Josh Duhamel, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and director Michael Bay were appointed grand race marshals for the event that will kick off on February 20. And if this will be a first experience for Duhamel and Huntington-Whiteley, film director Bay will actually make a return to the world of NASCAR

Back in 2009, when he promoted his “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” movie on DVD, Bay drove the official pace car at the NASCAR Banking 500 Sprint Cup event at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

“We’re honored to have the stars and director from this blockbuster film franchise “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” serve as Grand Marshals of ‘The Great American Race,’” said Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III.

“As an added bonus for our fans, three cars from the movie will be on location during Speedweeks and we all look forward to watching them lead the field for the 53rd running of the Daytona 500 on the newly paved racing surface,” he added.

Additionally for the fans present in the grandstands, the movie versions of the stock cars driven by Jimmie Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya and Dale Earnhardt Jr will make their first public appearance by leading the 43-car field during the pace laps of The Great American Race.