Slayer lead vocalist and bassist Tom Araya has been tapped to serve as the Grand Marshal for the upcoming Würth 400 presented by Liqui Moly. The NASCAR Cup Series race is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 3, at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas.
As part of his official pre-race duties, Tom Araya will deliver the traditional command for drivers to start their engines ahead of the 2:30 p.m. CT green flag. The event, which will be broadcast on FS1, PRN, and SiriusXM, coincides with the Texas Motor Speedway’s 30th-anniversary season.
“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 will be joined at Sunday’s race by other notable dignitaries. Dallas Mavericks star and 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg will serve as the Honorary Pace Car Driver. The 19-year-old phenom, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and led all rookies in scoring average (21.0), will pilot a 2026 Chevrolet Corvette to lead the field onto the track.
In addition, 101-year-old U.S. Marine veteran Don Graves will perform the national anthem. As a survivor of the World War II assault on Iwo Jima, this will mark his third time singing at the Fort Worth venue.
The Würth 400 anchors a tripleheader racing weekend at the speedway. Fans can also catch the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series SpeedyCash.com 250 on Friday, May 1, and the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Andy’s Frozen Custard 340 on Saturday, May 2.
