Comedian Nate Bargatze Serves as Daytona 500 Grand Marshal

Bargatze's 'Big Dumb Eyes World Tour' set a record for biggest one-year gross by a comedy performer.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Comedian Nate Bargatze served as the grand marshal for the 2026 Daytona 500 race. Bargatze, known for his popular 'Washington's Dream' sketches on 'Saturday Night Live' and his record-breaking 'Big Dumb Eyes World Tour', kept his pre-race comments straight instead of trying out some of his signature big, dumb jokes. Bargatze is also set to star in an upcoming comedy film 'The Breadwinner' and host the ABC game show 'The Greatest Average American'.

Why it matters

Bargatze's appearance as grand marshal at the Daytona 500 highlights his rising star power in the comedy world, with his stand-up tour breaking attendance records and his upcoming film and TV projects showcasing his crossover appeal beyond just stand-up.

The details

Bargatze considered making a joke about not knowing how many feet are in 500 miles, a riff on one of his popular 'Washington's Dream' sketches, but ultimately decided to keep his pre-race comments more straightforward. He also thought about making a joke about veteran driver Jimmie Johnson, but opted against it. Bargatze is set to resume his 'Big Dumb Eyes World Tour' this week in Rockford, Illinois, and will also be hosting the new ABC game show 'The Greatest Average American'.

  • Bargatze served as grand marshal for the 2026 Daytona 500 race on February 15, 2026.
  • Bargatze's 'Big Dumb Eyes World Tour' set a record for biggest one-year gross by a comedy performer.
  • Bargatze's comedy film 'The Breadwinner' is set to open in theaters on May 29, 2026.

The players

Nate Bargatze

A popular stand-up comedian known for his 'Washington's Dream' sketches on 'Saturday Night Live' and his record-breaking 'Big Dumb Eyes World Tour'.

Jimmie Johnson

A veteran NASCAR driver who Bargatze considered making a joke about during his pre-race comments.

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What they’re saying

“At first, I thought about doing like, how many feet are in 500 miles. Nobody knows.”

— Nate Bargatze, Comedian (kob.com)

“It's going to be insanity. It's been a dream to be asked to do this.”

— Nate Bargatze, Comedian (kob.com)

What’s next

Bargatze is set to resume his 'Big Dumb Eyes World Tour' this week in Rockford, Illinois, and will also be hosting the new ABC game show 'The Greatest Average American'.

The takeaway

Nate Bargatze's appearance as grand marshal at the Daytona 500 showcases his rising star power in the comedy world, with his stand-up tour breaking records and his upcoming film and TV projects demonstrating his crossover appeal beyond just stand-up.