Anthony Mackie delivered a great command at the Daytona 500 without saying 'Avengers, assemble!'
02/16/2025 02:10 PM
Captain America made an appearance at the 2025 Daytona 500 on Sunday at Daytona International Speedway, and he delivered in a big way – even if it’s not quite what he was hoping.
NASCAR named Anthony Mackie the Daytona 500 grand marshal, meaning he was set to deliver the race-opening command, “Drivers, start your engines!” Many actors and other celebrities have served in this role before, including Pitbull, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Charles Woodson and Owen Wilson. Mackie was promoting his new film, Captain America: Brave New World, which opened this weekend.
At a pre-race press conference, Mackie revealed the command he wanted to give — “Avengers, assemble!” — which probably would have garnered laughs but according to Sportsnaut‘s Matt Weaver, he was discouraged from that command.
Mackie says he used to be Jimmie Johnson guy 'but he left and did another thing.'
Says he views Denny Hamlin as a superhero now because 'he has a heavy foot' and does it for the people. https://t.co/GqFmH48PPr
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) February 16, 2025
Still, Mackie delivered a thrilling “Drivers, start your engines!” command ahead of the Daytona 500’s green flag. And he did it while wearing an awesome Captain America-themed Daytona 500 jacket, a gift from the track.
A command fit for a Captain. pic.twitter.com/Hp2xlQmBG2
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 16, 2025
.@DAYTONA President Frank Kelleher presents Daytona 500 Grand Marshal Anthony Mackie a one-of-a-kind leather jacket. The jacket's design commemorates Mackie's Daytona 500 role and his movie character "Captain America". #NASCARpic.twitter.com/KwZroHtGsc
— Deb Williams (@DebWilliams72) February 16, 2025
