Hollywood is coming to Bristol.
Academy Award winning actor Brad Pitt will serve as a Grand Marshal alongside Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 19. Pitt will participate in the famed pre race ceremonies and help give the command to fire engines before the NASCAR Cup Series takes to the track under the lights.
The appearance comes at an exciting time for Pitt, who has developed an unexpected connection with motorsports. Pitt starred as fictional Formula 1 driver Sonny Hayes in F1: The Movie, bringing the actor even closer to the racing world.
Now, Pitt is heading to one of NASCAR’s most legendary venues.
Bristol’s half mile concrete oval is known for its incredible atmosphere, tight racing and massive crowds. With the NASCAR playoffs in full swing, the Night Race will also serve as the third race of the 10-race Chase for the Cup Series championship, meaning the stakes will be extremely high for the championship contenders.
Pitt’s appearance also has a special connection to Bass Pro Shops. The actor grew up in Springfield, Missouri, the same city where Morris founded Bass Pro Shops in 1972. That connection helped make the announcement even more fitting for one of NASCAR’s biggest nights.
The timing also lines up with Pitt’s upcoming movie Heart of the Beast, which is scheduled to hit theaters on September 25. Pitt stars as Special Forces officer James Belmont, who becomes stranded in the Alaskan wilderness alongside his combat dog after a plane crash.
While Pitt won’t be behind the wheel at Bristol, NASCAR fans will get to see one of Hollywood’s biggest stars officially kick off one of the most anticipated races of the season.
The Bass Pro Shops Night Race begins at 7:30 p.m. ET on September 19.
And with Pitt giving the command to start engines, Bristol is about to get a little more Hollywood.