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Olympic gold medalist Caeleb Dressel to be honorary starter for Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones08/21/24brianjones_93
Caeleb Dressel
Aug 4, 2024; Nanterre, France; Caeleb Dressel (USA) in the men’s 4 x 100-meter medley relay final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Paris La Défense Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Caeleb Dressel will be at Daytona International Speedway this weekend to be part of the Cook Zero Sugar 400 festivities. The race track announced that the nine-time Olympic gold medalist will be the honorary starter for the NASCAR Cup Series race. Dressel grew up in Green Cove Springs, Florida which is 75 miles north of Daytona.

Dressel comes to Daytona after having a strong showing at the Paris Olympics. The former Florida Gators swimmer won two gold medals and one silver and is now tied for the second most Olympic gold medals after Michael Phelps.

“After his triumphant return to the Olympic stage this summer, we’re eager to welcome Caeleb Dressel to the World Center of Racing for the Coke Zero Sugar 400,” Frank Kelleher President of Daytona International Speedway, said in a statement, per Jayski.com. “With Dressel being a native of Florida and graduate of the University of Florida, we couldn’t be prouder to welcome him back home as an Olympic champion and have him join us here at Daytona for one of our biggest events of the year.”

Caeleb Dressel talks leadership role ahead of Olympics

Before the Olympics, Dressel talked about being a leader for Team USA. “I mean, I just view myself as someone on the team,” he said, per Olympics.com. “I don’t think there needs to be any extra titles for anybody on the team. You know, we’re all in the same boat for a reason. I don’t look at anybody different. I hope anybody wouldn’t look at me any different.

“I feel very comfortable with that leadership role, whatever you want to call it. If people want to come to me as a teammate, I want to call it that… If people want to come to me as a teammate, because that’s how I see everybody. I don’t think that word lightly. And if I can offer them advice or anything, or if they want to watch me swim underwater or watch some of my videos on YouTube, that is fine. At the end of the day, I’m still just a teammate.

Dressel will likely see an intense battle as only two races remain before the regular season ends. 23XI will be a team to watch as Tyler Reddick is looking to win the regular season championship, and Bubba Wallace needs a strong showing to clinch a playoff spot.