Mark Dantonio Named Grand Marshal of Quicken Loans 400

It is always a great honor to be named the grand marshal of a parade or some kind of race and now Michigan State head football coach Mark Dantonio will have that great honor. That makes me kind of jealous. I have always wanted to tell a bunch of “athletes” to start their engines.

According to College Football Talk, the Michigan International Speedway offices issued a press release stating that Dantonio had accepted the role of grand marshal at the Quicken Loans 400 on June 14.

Being named the grand marshal of one of the biggest races in the Midwest is a huge honor and it just proves how much of an impact Dantonio has made for the Spartan football program.

“I’m both thrilled and honored to have been named grand marshal of the Quicken Loans 400,” Dantonio said. “I’m looking forward to witnessing one of the premier events in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. It will be very exciting to visit Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR’s fastest track and one of racing’s top venues, and experience the race-day atmosphere. MIS is a valuable asset to the state, both in terms of providing a boost to the state’s economy as well as great media exposure.”

With Dantonio being one of the few college football coaches to be named grand marshal at a NASCAR race, it makes you wonder what’s next? A game being played at a race track? Oh wait, Tennessee and Virginia Tech are already doing that in 2016.

What are your thoughts on Dantonio being named grand marshal or the possibility of more football games being played at nontraditional venues? Let us know in the comments.

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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports

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