Arnold Palmer Grand Marshall for Homestead Race

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (Oct. 26, 1999) – Arnold Palmer, one of the top athletes of the 20th century, has been named Grand Marshal of the inaugural Pennzoil 400 presented by Kmart November 14, the debut of NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The golfing legend will give the command to start the engines for the 400-mile race, which is the only new event on the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup schedule.

"I am honored to be the Grand Marshal for the first NASCAR Winston Cup race in Miami," said Palmer. "NASCAR has enjoyed tremendous growth over the past decade, and the addition of the vibrant South Florida market is another great step for the sport."

The Pennzoil 400 weekend (Nov. 11-14) also includes the HotWheels.com 300 at Miami on Saturday, the season finale for the NASCAR Busch Series. Tickets are still available for both events by calling (305) 230-RACE.

Palmer won 92 championships over a spectacular career, including seven major titles. He won the Masters Tournament four times (1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964), and was named the Associated Press "Athlete of the Decade" for the Sixties.

"Arnold Palmer has enjoyed popularity and success that few athletes ever attain, and we are honored to have him as our Grand Marshal for the inaugural Pennzoil 400," said Curtis Gray, President of Homestead-Miami Speedway. "His achievements have gone beyond the golfing world, yet he has retained a down-to-earth common touch that has endeared him to generations of Americans."

The Pennzoil 400 presented by Kmart weekend opens with NASCAR Winston Cup Series practice on Thursday, November 11. Friday’s schedule features qualifying, with the 1999 NASCAR Busch Series finale, the HotWheels.com 300 at Miami, set for Saturday. The Pennzoil 400 presented by Kmart takes the green flag at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 14.