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John Cena named honorary pace car driver for Daytona 500

Jerry Lai / Reuters

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Wrestling star and actor John Cena will serve as the honorary pace car driver for the season-opening Daytona 500.

Daytona International Speedway made the announcement Friday, more than a week before the Feb. 21 race.

Cena, a 15-time WWE champion, will lead the 40-car field to the green flag in a Toyota Camry. Cena most recently starred in the Golden Globe-nominated ''Trainwreck'' as well as ''Sisters'' with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. He also will host Fox's upcoming reality competition series ''American Grit,'' in which contestants work together to complete a variety of military-grade and survival-themed challenges. The series premieres April 14.

Cena served as honorary starter for the 2012 Daytona 500, a race that was delayed a day because of rain.

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