Greatest Athlete of All Time will experience Honda’s “Fastest Seat in Sports”
Barber Motorsports Park and ZOOM Motorsports announced today that former Auburn University running back and Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson will be this year’s Grand Marshal for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama held April 5 – 7.
Jackson, a Birmingham, Ala. native, played college football and baseball at Auburn University where he won college football’s highest individual honor, the Heisman Trophy in 1985. Jackson ran the 40-yard dash in 4.12 seconds, which is still the fastest NFL Combine 40-yard dash on record. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers then drafted him as the first pick in the first round of the 1986 NFL draft. He went on to play running back for the Los Angeles Raiders and left field for the Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, and California Angels.
Jackson was the first athlete to be named an All-Star in two major American sports and his name is widely recognized for the famous “Bo Knows” advertising campaign by Nike. More recently, Jackson was named the “Greatest Athlete of all Time” by ESPN.
“We are honored to have such a well respected athlete as our grand marshal and his presence will add to the fun-filled weekend,” stated Rick Humphrey, vice president of ZOOM Motorsports, the exclusive event promoter of the Barber Motorsports Park. “It will be exciting to see one of the fastest athletes in the world ride in the ‘Fastest Seat in Sports’.”
Jackson’s duties as grand marshal of the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama include announcing the widely-recognized pre-race command, “Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!” He will also participate in the Honda-sponsored “Fastest Seat in Sports,” which will entail riding with IndyCar legend Arie Luyendyk, Sr. in an IndyCar 2-seater during the warm up laps prior to the start of the race. Broadcast live on NBC Sports Network, Bo will be riding alongside some of the biggest stars of IndyCar including Dario Franchitti, Will Power, Helio Castroneves, Marco Andretti, and more.
“I am excited to be a part of this world-class event in my hometown,” stated Jackson. “I’m really looking forward to taking Honda’s ‘Fastest Seat in Sports’ and compare it to my ride around the state in ‘Bo Bikes Bama.’”
In 2012, Jackson started the “Bo Bikes Bama” campaign to raise $1M for tornado relief recovery efforts from the devastating tornadoes that tore through Alabama in April of 2011. Jackson, along with sports icons Ken Griffey, Jr., Scottie Pippin, and Picabo Street biked for five days through tornado ravished communities. This year, Jackson will continue the trek with “Bo Bikes Bama 2” at the end of April in hopes of meeting a $1M goal for the families affected by the storms.
Tickets for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama start at just $15 and kids 12 and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult. For more information and to purchase tickets, visitwww.barbermotorsports.com.
About Barber Motorsports Park and ZOOM Motorsports:
Barber Motorsports Park opened in the spring of 2003. Since its inception, ZOOM Motorsports, LLC has been the exclusive event promoter for the events at the Park. The 2.38-mile racing circuit is 45 feet wide, with 17 turns and elevation changes of more than 80 feet. The Barber Motorsports Park has been considered one of North America’s finest road courses for car and motorcycle racing, and has served as the venue for several international product launches. The Barber Motorsports Park also features the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. This 144,000 square-foot facility houses more than 1,000 vintage and modern motorcycles from 17 different nations and more than 125 manufacturers. For more information, please visit www.barbermotorsports.com.
Barber Motorsports Park opened in the spring of 2003. Since its inception, ZOOM Motorsports, LLC has been the exclusive event promoter for the events at the Park. The 2.38-mile racing circuit is 45 feet wide, with 17 turns and elevation changes of more than 80 feet. The Barber Motorsports Park has been considered one of North America’s finest road courses for car and motorcycle racing, and has served as the venue for several international product launches. The Barber Motorsports Park also features the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. This 144,000 square-foot facility houses more than 1,000 vintage and modern motorcycles from 17 different nations and more than 125 manufacturers. For more information, please visit www.barbermotorsports.com.
About Bo Bikes Bama:
Bo Bikes Bama is a charity bike ride conceived by sports legend Bo Jackson to address the unmet needs faced by Alabamians from the deadly April 2011 tornadoes. The inaugural event took place in 2012 over five days and raised more than $600,000. All funds raised by Bo Bikes Bama support the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund. Through corporate sponsorships, private donations and registrations to participate in the ride, Jackson aims to raise $1 million to help rebuild Alabama. To donate, text “BOBIKES” to 50555 or donate online at www.bobikesbama.com.
Bo Bikes Bama is a charity bike ride conceived by sports legend Bo Jackson to address the unmet needs faced by Alabamians from the deadly April 2011 tornadoes. The inaugural event took place in 2012 over five days and raised more than $600,000. All funds raised by Bo Bikes Bama support the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund. Through corporate sponsorships, private donations and registrations to participate in the ride, Jackson aims to raise $1 million to help rebuild Alabama. To donate, text “BOBIKES” to 50555 or donate online at www.bobikesbama.com.
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