[DAYTONA BEACH, FL] February 15, 2026 – Miss America 2026 Cassie Donegan spent an unforgettable weekend at Daytona International Speedway, taking part in a wide range of marquee events during NASCAR Speedweeks and performing the National Anthem at the America 250 Florida Duel.
Cassie delivered a powerful performance of the National Anthem ahead of the America 250 Florida Duel on Thursday, February 12, which aired live on FS1. The moment held deep personal meaning for her, rooted in lifelong memories of attending races with her family.
“I grew up attending local races, some of which my uncle even drove in, and watching NASCAR regularly on the back porch with my great grandpa. Those were some of my favorite days of my childhood,” Cassie said. “So, getting to be at Daytona and perform the national anthem at the America 250 Florida Duel is beyond exciting. It feels full-circle, and I can imagine my Papa would be just as thrilled as I am for this special moment.”
Throughout the weekend, Cassie was immersed in nearly every aspect of race festivities. She served as an honorary race official at the Daytona 500, participated in VIP events, official press conferences, and live interviews from the Hard Rock Bet Fanzone, and engaged with fans during the NASCAR Experience and official Q&A sessions. She also had the honor of delivering the starting command for the Fresh From Florida 250 Race.
Beyond the track, Cassie spent time giving back to the Daytona Beach community, visiting local schools and a hospital while in town.
Race weekend concluded with Tyler Reddick capturing the Harley J. Earl Trophy, winning the 2026 Daytona 500.
Cassie’s presence at Daytona marked a key moment in the multi-year partnership between the Miss America Organization and Daytona International Speedway, first announced during the Miss America 2026 Competition in September 2025. The collaboration brings together two iconic American institutions dedicated to celebrating excellence, tradition, and national pride.
Miss America joined a star-studded lineup of performers and dignitaries throughout Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth, including Grand Marshal Nate Bargatze, honorary pace car driver Kurt Russell, and country superstar Miranda Lambert, who performed the pre-race show ahead of the Daytona 500.
From honoring tradition on the track to connecting with the community beyond it, Cassie’s time at Daytona reflected the spirit of Speedweeks and the enduring legacy of Miss America on one of motorsports’ biggest stages.
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About Miss America
Miss America’s mission is Empowering Women to Lead with Purpose as the nation’s premier empowerment platform for young women. Founded in 1921, the iconic Miss America program is also America’s largest provider of tuition-only scholarship awards for women, distributing all scholarships through the Miss America’s Scholarship Foundation Inc. a tax-exempt nonprofit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.