roger penske has been named Grand Marshal of the 74th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, an honorary role that puts him front and center at one of endurance racing’s signature events. The appointment was confirmed in statements released ahead of the race, with duties that include delivering the command for IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship drivers to start their engines and taking a pre-race lap of the circuit to acknowledge fans. The announcement lands amid Team Penske’s 60th anniversary season celebrations, as the organization prepares for its next major test at Sebring.
Grand Marshal duties: start command and a pre-race lap
In his Grand Marshal role, roger penske is slated to give the call that launches the field into competition, a ceremonial moment that signals the final turn from build-up to race. Organizers also said he will complete a pre-race lap of the circuit designed to recognize spectators in attendance. The positioning is deliberate: a high-visibility role tied directly to the race’s opening heartbeat and the fan experience surrounding it.
Team Penske momentum and a Sebring title defense on March 21
The honor arrives as Team Penske marks its 60th anniversary season in 2026. The team opened the year with a win by the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsports entry in the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona in January, a result that also extended the group’s streak to three consecutive Rolex 24 victories.
Attention now shifts to March 21, when the team is set to look to defend its title at Sebring. Event officials framed the timing as especially meaningful, noting it comes nearly 60 years to the day after the team claimed its first-ever Sebring win. The Grand Marshal selection ties directly into that narrative of continuity—past achievement, present form, and the next challenge on the calendar.
Officials and Penske react as Sebring highlights a milestone season
Matt Muha, president and general manager of Sebring International Raceway, said the selection fit the moment for the series, the venue, and the defending champions.
“It’s only fitting that in Team Penske’s 60th season, and with a Porsche Penske Motorsports team back as defending champion of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, that one of the most significant individuals in the history of motorsports will serve as the grand marshal of this year’s race, ” Muha said. “It is an honor for Sebring and the entire IMSA organization to have Mr. Penske here to give the command to start engines and to be recognized by Sebring fans for his many achievements. ”
Penske also pointed back to his personal history at the track while acknowledging the anniversary year for his organization.
“I have great memories of racing at Sebring as a driver and our race teams certainly have quite a history of competing at the track, ” Roger Penske said. “As we celebrate Team Penske’s 60th anniversary season in 2026, I am honored to be named Grand Marshal for this year’s Twelve Hours of Sebring race. ”
Quick context: Penske’s Sebring history as a driver and team owner
Before the establishment of his racing team in 1966, Penske—native of Shaker Heights, Ohio—competed in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring for four consecutive years from 1961 through 1964. His first effort included a class victory and a fifth-place overall finish while co-driving with Bob Holbert in a Porsche RS61; he followed with another fifth-place overall result and a second-place finish in class alongside Bruce McLaren.
In 1963, Penske and co-driver Augie Pabst won their class and finished fourth overall. In 1964, his final Sebring start as a driver, he partnered with Jim Hall and finished fourth in class and 18th overall.
Team Penske’s first Sebring appearance came March 26, 1966, when Ben Moore and George Wintersteen drove a Chevrolet Corvette Stingray to a class victory and a ninth-place overall finish.
What’s next: Sebring stage set for ceremony, then racing
With March 21 now circled, the next visible steps will come in the pre-race build-up at Sebring, where roger penske is expected to deliver the start command and take the ceremonial lap in front of fans. From there, focus turns immediately to competition, with Team Penske aiming to defend its Sebring title as its 60th anniversary season continues.
