DETROIT — A hometown hero and one of the brightest rising stars in the National Hockey League (NHL) has been named Grand Marshal of the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix for Saturday, June 4. Detroit Red Wings star center Dylan Larkin will participate in activities throughout the day on Belle Isle, including giving the famous command “Drivers, Start Your Engines” before the start of the first Chevrolet Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans Verizon IndyCar Series race that afternoon (3:30 pm ET on ABC).
Fresh off an impressive rookie season that saw him score a team-high 23 goals and tally 22 assists, the 19-year-old Larkin gave fans in Hockeytown a lot to cheer about in 2015-2016. Born in Waterford, Mich., and raised in nearby Clarkston, Mich., Larkin is truly a homegrown star. After attending the University of Michigan and being named Big 10 Freshman of the Year in 2014-2015, Larkin decided to pursue his NHL dream and turned professional with the Red Wings, the team he grew up rooting for. Following a strong pre-season camp, Larkin earned a spot on the Red Wings opening day roster and it paid off quickly as he became the first teenager to score a goal in his Red Wings debut since Steve Yzerman in 1983.
Larkin continued to produce throughout the season and became the first Red Wings rookie to lead the team in goals in 36 years while ranking third in goals among all NHL rookies. Larkin was named to the NHL All-Star team and during the skills competition on All-Star weekend he set the record as the NHL’s fastest skater with a time of 13.172 seconds. After playing for Team USA in the Ice Hockey World Championship in Russia this month, Larkin is excited to visit the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, June 3-5 back in the Motor City.
“Growing up in the Detroit area, I know the tradition of the Grand Prix and the excitement it brings to the city,” said Larkin. “It’s going to be fun to visit Belle Isle, meet some of the drivers and get a chance to ride in the pace car. I like to go fast on the ice but not as fast as those guys go on the race course. I’m really looking forward to serving as the Grand Marshal of the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix.”
As part of his duties as Grand Marshal, Larkin will get a chance to witness the busiest day of racing action at the Grand Prix with the Verizon IndyCar Series, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the Trans Am Series and the SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks presented by TRAXXAS all hosting races on Saturday. Larkin will participate in pre-race ceremonies before the Chevy Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans, give the command for drivers to start their engines and ride in the official pace car before the Verizon IndyCar Series race.
“We are excited to welcome Dylan Larkin as our Saturday Grand Marshal for the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix,” said Bud Denker, Chairman of the Grand Prix. “As one of Detroit’s top young sports stars and a hometown hero, we can’t think of a better representative to help us celebrate the start of the summer in the Motor City and bring some added excitement to the Grand Prix.”
ABOUT THE CHEVROLET DETROIT BELLE ISLE GRAND PRIX
The Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix is a 501(c)3 organization and a subsidiary of the Downtown Detroit Partnership. Scheduled for June 3-5, 2016, the event will include the Chevrolet Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans featuring the cars of the Verizon IndyCar Series, the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic presented by the Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers with the sports cars of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the high-flying trucks of the SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks presented by Traxxas and the return of the Trans Am Series in the Motor City 100. Partners for the 2016 Grand Prix include General Motors, Quicken Loans and MotorCity Casino Hotel.
For more information, visit www.DetroitGP.com and follow our social media pages at www.facebook.com/detroitgp, www.twitter.com/detroitgp and www.instagram.com/detroitgp.