FORT WORTH, TEXAS – October 26, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) — Film and television star John Krasinski, who stars as a former Navy SEAL in the upcoming, real-life motion picture thriller “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi,” has been named the Grand Marshal for the AAA Texas 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, November 8, at Texas Motor Speedway.
Krasinski, an actor, writer and director, will give the command for the Sprint Cup Series drivers of the 43-car field to start their engines in front of a crowd that annually comprises one of the largest-attended, single-day sporting events in Texas.
“It’s a huge honor to be asked to serve as this year’s Grand Marshal,” said Krasinski. “I am really excited to be going to NASCAR and seeing Jeff Gordon race for one of his last outings.”
Krasinski will be joined on the Grand Marshal stage by three of the heroes from the CIA annex security team that fought off Islamic militants on September 11, 2012, in Benghazi, Libya. Mark “Oz” Geist, Kris “Tanto” Paronto and John “Tig” Tiegen are elite ex-military operatives that were part of the small security team that helped ward off the terrorists that attacked U.S. diplomatic facilities in Benghazi and were responsible for saving many American lives.
Paramount Pictures’ “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi“ is directed by Michael Bay and opens in theaters on January 15, 2016. Click here to view the movie trailer www.thirteenhoursmovie.com.
Krasinski is perhaps best known for his role as the charming boy-next-door Jim Halpert on NBC’s Emmy®-winning smash hit “The Office” for nine seasons. He won Screen Actor Guild Awards in 2007 and ’08 for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.
In addition to his acting, Krasinski remains very active as a director and producer. He directs and stars in the upcoming film “Like it Once Was,” alongside Anna Kendrick, Richard Jenkins, Margo Martindale and Sharlto Copley.
Through his own Sunday Night banner, Krasinski executive produces Spike TV’s “Lip Sync Battle” with Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Merchant. The hit show was recently renewed for a second season.
His recent film credits include the Gus Van Sant-directed “Promised Land,” also in which he stars and co-wrote with Matt Damon; Disney Pixar’s “Monster’s University” in which he lent his voice; legendary Japanese filmmaker Hiyao Miyazaki’s latest animated film “The Wind Rises;” and Cameron Crowe’s “Aloha.”
His additional film roles include performances in the uplifting family film “Big Miracle;” “Something Borrowed;” Nancy Meyers’ “It’s Complicated;” Sam Mendes’ “Away We Go;” the animated smash hits “Monsters vs. Aliens” and “Shrek the Third;” George Clooney’s “Leatherheads;” Ken Kwapis’ “License to Wed;” Christopher Guest’s “For Your Consideration” and Bill Condon’s “Kinsey.”
“13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi” is directed by Michael Bay from a screenplay by Chuck Hogan, based on the book ’13 Hours’ by Mitchell Zuckoff and members of the Annex Security Team. Produced by Erwin Stoff and Michael Bay. The film stars James Badge Dale, Krasinski, Max Martini, Pablo Schreiber and Toby Stephens.
Tickets for the AAA Texas 500, the middle race of the three-race Eliminator Round in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, begin as low as $49 are available by visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com or by calling the speedway ticket office at 817.215.8500.
