Miss America 2026 Cassie Donegan will perform ahead of the pair of races
that set the field for the DAYTONA 500
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 10, 2026) – Daytona International Speedway announced today that Cassie Donegan, Miss America 2026, will perform the National Anthem before the America 250 Florida Duel at DAYTONA on Thursday, Feb. 12.
“Having Miss America perform our national anthem before the America 250 Florida Duel at DAYTONA is a powerful way to celebrate the best of American tradition,” said Frank Kelleher, President of Daytona International Speedway. “This collaboration emphasizes the American pride rooted in this event and we can’t wait for our fans to experience what is sure to be an impactful moment of the race weekend right before we set the field for the 68th running of The Great American Race.”
In addition to her appearance in front of the America 250 Florida Duel at DAYTONA crowd to perform the National Anthem, Cassie will take part in several events at Daytona International Speedway and in the community leading up to the 68th running of The Great American Race.
“I grew up attending local races, some of which my uncle even drove in, and watching NASCAR regularly on the back porch with my great grandpa. Those were some of my favorite days of my childhood,” said Cassie Donegan, Miss America 2026. “So, getting to be at Daytona and perform the national anthem at the America 250 Florida Duel is beyond exciting. It feels full-circle and I can imagine my Papa would be just as thrilled as I am for this special moment. I cannot wait to be part of an event that celebrates a sport so many, my family especially, have loved for generations.”
Daytona International Speedway and the Miss America organization first announced their multi-year partnership at the 2026 Miss America competition in September 2025. This collaboration showcases how both American institutes are committed to inspiring impact, celebrating excellence, and strengthening communities nationwide.
Miss America joins a star-studded list of performers and dignitaries already announced for Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth. GRAMMY Award-winning comedian Nate Bargatze will serve as the Grand Marshal for the 68th running of The Great American Race, while acclaimed actor Kurt Russell will be the honorary pace car driver. Country superstar Miranda Lambert will perform the pre-race show prior to the DAYTONA 500.
Fans can attend the America 250 Florida Duel at DAYTONA and witness Cassie perform her rendition of the National Anthem during Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth. For ticket options and more information on the America 250 Florida Duel at DAYTONA, as well as all Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth events, including the DAYTONA 500, log onto www.DAYTONA500.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.
About Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a state-of-the-art motorsports facility and was awarded the SportsBusiness Journal’s prestigious Sports Business Award for Sports Facility of the Year in 2016. Daytona International Speedway is the home of The Great American Race – the DAYTONA 500. Though the season-opening NASCAR Cup Series event garners most of the attention – as well as the largest audience in motorsports – the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex, also known as the World Center of Racing, boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe. Some of the exciting racing events include January’s Rolex 24 At DAYTONA and Roar Before The Rolex 24, February’s DAYTONA 500 and Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth, March’s Bike Week At DAYTONA featuring DAYTONA Supercross and the DAYTONA 200, the August Coke Zero Sugar 400 weekend, and much more. The Speedway grounds are also used extensively for other events that include concerts such as Welcome to Rockville, sporting events including CLASH DAYTONA, civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo shoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training.
About NASCAR
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 15 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico 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 five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.
For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook.
About Miss America
Miss America’s mission is Empowering Women to Lead with Purpose as the nation’s premier empowerment platform for young women. Founded in 1921, the iconic Miss America program is also America’s largest provider of tuition-only scholarship awards for women, administered by the Miss America’s Scholarship Foundation Inc. a tax-exempt nonprofit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
