Tua, Vilma add football flavor at Homestead
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and former Miami Hurricanes linebacker Jonathan Vilma will serve as honorary officials for Sunday’s NASCAR Dixie Vodka 400 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Carrying out the duties of the virtual Grand Marshall for the race, Tagovailoa will help open the race with the famous phrase, “Drivers, start your engines!” Vilma will also help Sunday’s race get going by waving the green flag from high atop the start/finish line in the starter’s stand.
“Having Tua and Jonathan join us for this special weekend is a true honor, and we are thrilled to host them,” Homestead-Miami Speedway President Al Garcia said in a statement. “Tua helped to return the Dolphins to their winning ways last year, and Jonathan was a key member of several successful University of Miami teams, continuing the school’s tradition of greatness.
“We know that many NFL players have recently taken a vested interest in NASCAR, and we are happy that both will have the opportunity to see just how exciting our sport can be.”
Tagovailoa, who was the fifth pick in the 2020 draft, started nine games in his rookie season, helping the Dolphins turn in a 10-6 record while narrowly missing the postseason. The former Alabama Crimson Tide standout completed 186 of his 290 passes for 1,814 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Having helped the Hurricanes win their last national championship in 2001, Vilma served as the anchor for the Miami defense, accumulating 250 total tackles and 18 tackles for a loss over his career.
Vilma, a Coral Gables High School graduate, was drafted by the New York Jets in the first round in 2004 and later went on to help the New Orleans Saints win their first Super Bowl in 2009.
Capping off a 10-year career, Vilma now is an NFL game analyst for Fox.
The Homestead-Miami Speedway will host a limited number of fans for Sunday’s race.