Sports
Sports

Kenan Thompson to serve as grand marshal for NASCAR race at AMS

Kenan Thompson, one of two black men on ‘Saturday Night Live,” pushed for adding a black woman to the cast.
Kenan Thompson, one of two black men on ‘Saturday Night Live,” pushed for adding a black woman to the cast.
By Juliakate E Culpepper
Feb 2, 2018

Atlanta native and “Saturday Night Live” cast member Kenan Thompson will serve as the grand marshal for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR announced Friday.

The race will be held on Feb. 25 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton.

Thompson will meet with fans, attend the pre-race drivers’ meeting and take over grand marshal duties during the race.

“Atlanta Motor Speedway is my home track, and being grand marshal at the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 is a great honor,” Thompson said in a statement. “I’ll make my city proud.”

About the Author

Juliakate E Culpepper
More Stories

Keep Reading

Gainesville tight end Trent Wilcox (89) scores a receiving touchdown against Hughes defensive back Jalen Hoskins (37) during the first half in their quarter-final game of the GHSA Class 5A state playoffs at Langston Hughes High School, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Fairburn, Ga. (Jason Getz / AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

In delayed quarterfinal playoff game, Gainesville knocks out top-ranked Hughes

39m ago

The last mile to Atlanta: The two-team race for the Celebration Bowl

A final showdown stands between Jackson State, Prairie View A&M and the biggest spotlight in HBCU football. 

Culinary request restarts the basketball rivalry between Georgia State and Kennesaw State

On Saturday at 3 p.m. in VyStar Arena, Kennesaw State will host Georgia State, the third meeting in the last three years between the two in a recently-renewed rivalry.

The Latest

Gainesville tight end Trent Wilcox (89) scores a receiving touchdown against Hughes defensive back Jalen Hoskins (37) during the first half in their quarter-final game of the GHSA Class 5A state playoffs at Langston Hughes High School, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Fairburn, Ga. (Jason Getz / AJC)

In delayed quarterfinal playoff game, Gainesville knocks out top-ranked Hughes

39m ago

The last mile to Atlanta: The two-team race for the Celebration Bowl

Culinary request restarts the basketball rivalry between Georgia State and Kennesaw State

Featured

Ja’Quon Stembridge, shown here in July at the Henry County Republican Party monthly meeting, recently stepped from his position with the Georgia GOP. (Jenni Girtman for the AJC)

Credit: Jenni Girtman

A viral confrontation and a sudden resignation shake up Georgia GOP

The man behind the vigilante sting operation that apparently netted a teenage GOP official says he has no regrets.

Why the Atlanta school board voted to close and repurpose some schools

Sixteen schools will be repurposed under the APS Forward 2040 plan as enrollment falls and the district seeks better resources for students.

Small-town Georgia DA brings almost as many RICO cases as Fulton’s Fani Willis

Griffin Judicial Circuit has brought 13 RICO indictments since June 2020.