Comedian Nate Bargatze Serves as Daytona 500 Grand Marshal

Bargatze considered making a joke about how many feet are in 500 miles, but decided to keep it simple for the big race.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Comedian Nate Bargatze served as the grand marshal for the 2026 Daytona 500 NASCAR race. Bargatze considered making a joke about not knowing how many feet are in 500 miles, but ultimately decided to keep his pre-race remarks straightforward. Bargatze is currently enjoying a successful stand-up comedy career, having released multiple Netflix specials and winning a Grammy Award.

Why it matters

Nate Bargatze's appearance as grand marshal at the Daytona 500 highlights his growing fame and popularity as a stand-up comedian. His decision to avoid making a joke about not knowing the conversion between miles and feet shows his awareness of the gravity of the occasion and desire to keep things simple for the race.

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 on 'Saturday Night Live.' However, he decided against it after testing the joke out the previous night and finding it fell flat. Instead, Bargatze kept his pre-race remarks simple and straightforward as the grand marshal. Bargatze is currently enjoying a successful stand-up career, having released multiple Netflix specials, won a Grammy Award, and set attendance records on his 'Big Dumb Eyes World Tour.' He is also set to star in his first major film role in the upcoming comedy 'The Breadwinner.'

  • Bargatze served as grand marshal for the 2026 Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 16, 2026.
  • Bargatze tested out the '500 miles' joke the previous night, Saturday, February 15, 2026, during a gig in Indianapolis.

The players

Nate Bargatze

A popular stand-up comedian who has released multiple Netflix specials, won a Grammy Award, and is set to star in his first major film role.

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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

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

— Nate Bargatze, Comedian

What’s next

Bargatze will resume his 'Big Dumb Eyes World Tour' this week with a show in Rockford, Illinois, and he is also set to host the 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, as he continues to find success with his stand-up specials, tours, and upcoming film role.