When he’s on the court at Rupp Arena, John Calipari leads five players at a time. The University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach will have 43 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers following his lead to the green flag on June 29 at Kentucky Speedway. The speedway on Wednesday announced Calipari as the honorary pace car driver for the Quaker State 400.
“It’s kind of like walking out in the Final Four and having your team behind you, excited and ready to go,” he said in a news release. “The last time I was part of this event it was incredible. This is a great thing that brings our people together. The state of Kentucky takes great pride in the facility like it does in basketball, like it does in horse racing, like it does in bourbon.”