Tom Araya, the iconic bassist and lead vocalist of thrash metal legends Slayer, stepped into the racing world this weekend to serve as the Grand Marshal for the Würth 400. Presented by Liqui Moly, the NASCAR event took place on Sunday, May 3, at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas.
As part of his official duties, Tom Araya delivered the legendary “Drivers, start your engines” command to kick off the race, which also celebrated the venue’s historic 30th-anniversary season. Fans can now find video footage of the appearance circulating online, and you can watch it down below.
When his role in the NASCAR race was officially announced last week, the musician expressed his enthusiasm in a brief statement:
“Excited to be the Grand Marshal for the Würth 400. Slayer, NASCAR reign in speed!” Araya said.
Since co-founding Slayer in 1981, Tom Araya has spent over four decades at the helm of one of heavy metal’s most uncompromising and influential acts. Anchored by benchmark releases like Reign In Blood, the group firmly established their legacy as one of the genre’s iconic “Big Four,” standing alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax. Throughout their career, Slayer has sold over 20 million albums worldwide, released 12 studio albums, and earned two Grammy Awards.
Despite announcing a final global tour in 2018, Slayer has reunited for a series of high-profile performances this year. This run includes a return to the Texas Motor Speedway on October 24 to headline the inaugural Sick New World Texas music festival, which will feature a massive 50-band lineup across four stages. Furthermore, the band is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Reign In Blood by performing the historic album in its entirety during upcoming concerts in Shakopee, Minnesota (September 4), and Los Angeles, California (November 13 and 14).
Tom Araya was joined at Sunday’s race by other notable dignitaries. Dallas Mavericks star and 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg served as the Honorary Pace Car Driver. The 19-year-old former Duke Blue Devils star and No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft paced the Dallas Mavericks and all rookies in scoring this past season, averaging 21.0 points per game.
Another notable figure ahead of the race is Sunday’s national anthem performer, 101-year-old military veteran Don Graves. A U.S. Marine, he is among the remaining American heroes who participated in the successful World War II assault on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. This marks his third appearance at Texas Motor Speedway, having also performed the anthem before last year’s NASCAR Cup Series race.
