Comedian Nate Bargatze Serves as Daytona 500 Grand Marshal

Bargatze considered making a joke about the number of feet in 500 miles, but ultimately kept his remarks straight.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Comedian Nate Bargatze served as the grand marshal for the 2026 Daytona 500 race. Bargatze considered making a joke about not knowing how many feet are in 500 miles, but ultimately decided to keep his remarks more straightforward. The appearance at the Daytona 500 is the latest high-profile gig for the popular stand-up comedian, who has found success with Netflix specials, a Grammy win, and an upcoming starring role in a new movie.

Why it matters

Bargatze's appearance at the Daytona 500 as grand marshal highlights his growing mainstream popularity and the continued crossover between comedy and other entertainment sectors like sports and film.

The details

Bargatze said he initially thought about making a joke about not knowing how many feet are in 500 miles, a riff on his popular 'Washington's Dream' sketches on 'Saturday Night Live.' However, after testing the joke out at a recent show in Indianapolis, Bargatze decided to keep his remarks more straightforward for the Daytona 500 command to start the engines. Bargatze also considered making a joke about veteran driver Jimmie Johnson, but ultimately opted for a more generic approach.

  • Bargatze served as grand marshal for the 2026 Daytona 500 race on February 16, 2026.
  • Bargatze recently won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for 'Your Friend, Nate Bargatze.'

The players

Nate Bargatze

A popular stand-up comedian who has found success with Netflix specials, a Grammy win, and an upcoming starring role in a new movie.

Jimmie Johnson

A veteran NASCAR driver who Bargatze considered making a joke about during his Daytona 500 appearance.

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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 (newser.com)

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

— Nate Bargatze, Comedian (newser.com)

What’s next

Bargatze will resume his 'Big Dumb Eyes World Tour' this week with a show in Rockford, Illinois. He is also set to host the ABC game show 'The Greatest Average American' in the near future.

The takeaway

Nate Bargatze's appearance as grand marshal at the Daytona 500 is the latest high-profile gig for the popular comedian, showcasing his growing mainstream popularity and the continued crossover between comedy and other entertainment sectors.