Global music superstar Ed Sheeran and University of Iowa sports legends Kirk Ferentz and Caitlin Clark will perform ceremonial pre-race roles during the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend on July 21-23 at Iowa Speedway, featuring an NTT INDYCAR SERIES doubleheader.
Sheeran and longtime University of Iowa football coach Ferentz will be in the spotlight before the Hy-Vee One Step 250 presented by Gatorade on Sunday, July 23. Sheeran will serve as the official starter and wave the green flag to start the 250-lap race, while Ferentz will give the command to start engines.
Iowa basketball star Clark, the reigning Naismith College Player of the Year, will give the command to start engines as the grand marshal of the Hy-Vee Homefront 250 presented by Instacart on Saturday, July 22. Hy-Vee CEO Jeremy Gosch will wave the green flag to start that 250-lap race.
Live coverage of the Hy-Vee Homefront 250 presented by Instacart starts at 3 p.m. ET Saturday on NBC and Peacock and 2:30 p.m. on the INDYCAR Radio Network. The Hy-Vee One Step 250 presented by Gatorade will be broadcast live at 3 p.m. ET Sunday on NBC, Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network.
Sheeran is one of the most accomplished singer-songwriters in the world, with five multiplatinum, critically acclaimed albums under his belt. The British performer is a four-time Grammy Award winner and has amassed more than 94 billion streams and sold over 65 million albums globally, making him one of the world’s biggest-selling artists. Sheeran will perform trackside on the Hy-Vee stage following the race Sunday.
Ferentz has won the Big Ten Coach of The Year award three times, and 25 players have received All-America honors under his tutelage. Many of his former Hawkeyes have gone on to enjoy successful careers in the NFL, including current stars Micah Hyde, Brandon Scherff, George Kittle and TJ Hockenson.
Nearly four months after captivating the nation with a record-breaking season and a memorable run to the NCAA Tournament final, Clark’s star power continues to burn bright on and off the court. She became the first player in Division I women’s basketball history with more than 1,000 points and 300 assists in the same season. Her generosity off the court also has impacted local communities through her charitable efforts.
Two Iowa natives who were contestants on popular television talent shows will sing the national anthem before each race. Jon Mero, a former contestant on “The Voice,” will perform Saturday, while “American Idol” season 16 champion Maddie Poppe will sing before the race Sunday.
To purchase 2023 Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend tickets and to learn more about the event, visit https://www.hyveeindycarweekend.com/.