DOTM Cast are NASCAR Grand Marshalls

NASCAR has announced that Transformers: Dark of the Moon starts Josh Duhamel, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and director Michael Bay will serve as Grand Marshals for the Daytona 500 on February 20th, 2011. The marketing synergy isn't really a surprise considering three of the Transformers in the movie are NASCAR stock cars, which will also be at the event as pace cars. The full press release is below.

On a related note, Rosie and Bay were at the New York Toy Fair on Monday to promote the toys and movie. While there apparently held has a private screening of DOTM. The rumor is Bay showed around 30 minutes of footage to Hasbro execs but sadly whatever was shown was not for public viewing. A few more images of the pair with Ultimate Prime can be found here.

NASCAR Stock Cars Featured as Characters in “TRANSFORMERS: Dark of the Moon” – First Official Appearance Anywhere

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The stars of “TRANSFORMERS: Dark of the Moon”– Josh Duhamel, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and director Michael Bay – will serve as the Grand Marshals for 53rd running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011, airing at 12 p.m. ET on FOX. As Grand Marshals, the TRANSFORMERS cast will deliver the four most famous words in motorsports – “Gentlemen, start your engines.”

In addition, the modified NASCAR stock cars featured in the movie will make their first public appearance by leading the 43-car field during the pace laps of “The Great American Race,” the kick-off event to the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

The Daytona 500 will not be Bay or TRANSFORMERS’ first introduction to the NASCAR world. In 2009, Bay piloted the official pace car at a NASCAR Sprint Cup race to promote the DVD release of “TRANSFORMERS: Revenge of the Fallen.” NASCAR drivers Jeff Gordon and Ryan Newman also took part, racing with branded images of opposing AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS on their cars and uniforms. Bay credits his vision to include NASCAR stock cars in the new TRANSFORMERS film to this experience.

“We’re honored to have the stars and director from this blockbuster film franchise “TRANSFORMERS: Dark of the Moon” serve as Grand Marshals of ‘The Great American Race,’” Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said.

“As an added bonus for our fans, three cars from the movie will be on location during Speedweeks and we all look forward to watching them lead the field for the 53rd running of the Daytona 500 on the newly paved racing surface.”

In the days leading up to the Daytona 500, race fans can view the TRANSFORMERS NASCAR stock cars at the Chevy Display located in the Midway outside Turn 4.