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Photo for Headline Surfer® / Ray Lewis, shown at left, had the honor of waving the green flag to strt tyhe 2013 Daytopna 500 from Daytona International Speedway. The previous year's honorary starter was another big man, WWE superstar John Cena as shown in the video above.
DAYTONA BEACH -- Size matters when it comes to waving the green flag to start the world-famous Daytona 500 from Daytona International Speedway. And what better strongman than Ray Lewis, the Baltimore Ravens All-Pro NFL linebacker.
Lewis was the honorary starter of the Daytona 500 with Patrick on the pole for the 43 cars in the first Sprint Cup race of the season. Patrick would finish in the top 10 and Jimmie Johnson would win the race. For Lewis, his job was over in a matter of seconds with the race cars zooming across the start finish line as they headed into turn 1 of the super speedway.
Lewis, a University of Miami product, led the Baltimore Ravens to a win in Super Bowl XLVII earlier in February. The 13-time Pro Bowl linebacker played his entire professional career with the Ravens, helping the franchise to two Super Bowl wins (XXXV, XLVII). He was honored as NFL Defensive Player of the Year in (2000 and in 2003.
The fiery linebacker, a Central Florida native, was only the second linebacker to win Super Bowl most valuable player award (XXXV) and the first to win the award on the winning Super Bowl team. Lewis announced his plans to retire the previous fall.
"It doesn't get any bigger than Ray Lewis -- the leader of the Super Bowl-winning team," said Joie Chitwood, president of Daytona International Speedway President. "We can't wait to see him on the flag stand waving the green flag to start 'the Great American Race' and the new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season."
"It doesn't get any bigger than Ray Lewis -- the leader of the Super Bowl-winning team," said Joie Chitwood, president of Daytona International Speedway President. "We can't wait to see him on the flag stand waving the green flag to start 'the Great American Race' and the new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season."
Past honorary starters for the Daytona 500 include NASCAR Hall of Famers Bobby Allison and Richard Petty, actor Ashton Kutcher, comedian Whoopi Goldberg and singer Mariah Carey. WWE superstar John Cena had the honor in 2012.
As a treat for Headline Surfer visitors who enjoy the 24/7 internet newspaper's Wrestling ReWind reports, here's a video package of WWE superstar John Cena, the 2012 honorary starter for the Daytona 500:
Videos: John Cena is shown at Daytona International Speedway for the 2012 Daytona 500 where he was the honorary flag waver to start the race. Cena and NASCAR driver Carl Long on Monday Night Raw before the 500.
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RECAP:
97. Baltimore Ravens LB Ray Lewis waves green flag to start 2013 Daytona 500