Former NFL Star to Drive Pace Car For NASCAR Cup Race at Charlotte

One former NFL star will pace the field to begin Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Torry Holt, a seven-time Pro Bowler who played in the NFL for 11 seasons, will be the honorary pace car driver.

Holt will be behind the wheel of the pace car prior to NASCAR's return to the Charlotte oval for the fall Chase race. Previously, NASCAR's top three series competed on the Charlotte Roval, a road course that spanned across the 1.5-mile oval surface and through the track's infield.

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The race is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Who is Torry Holt? A Look at Sunday's Honorary Pace Car Driver

Holt has not competed on an NFL gridiron since 2010. However, during his 11-year career, Holt solidified himself as an elite wide receiver.

Holt was synonymous with being a wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams, formerly the St. Louis Rams, from 1999-2008. A former player at NC State, Holt was a first-round draft pick as he was selected sixth overall by the Rams in 1999. 

Holt was a part of the Rams' Super Bowl XXXIV-winning team when they defeated the Tennessee Titans on January 30, 2000 to claim the championship. Holt was a Pro Bowl selection in seven different seasons and retired with the 10th most receiving yards.

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Holt also had a record six straight seasons with 1,300 receiving yards.   

In 2009, Holt played for the Jacksonville Jaguars and later signed a deal to play for the New England Patriots in 2010, but was ultimately placed on injured reserve for the Patriots and subsequently retired after.

Bank of America 400 to be Critical Chase Race For Cup Series

The NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America 400 marks the sixth race of the Chase. With just five races remaining in the 2026 season, the battle for the championship is coming down to the wire.

Kyle Larson, who has finished no worse than fifth in the Chase with two victories, holds a 40-point lead over Denny Hamlin for the championship lead. Hamlin, who started the Chase as the points leader with a 25-point advantage, is aiming to bounce back from a 16th-place finish at Las Vegas.

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Christopher Bell enters Las Vegas third in the standings, 55 points behind Larson for the lead. The driver of the No. 20 aims to rebound from a 23rd-place result last Sunday at Las Vegas.

Coverage of Sunday's Bank of America 400 will be on USA Network or can be listened to on the Performance Racing Network (PRN).