DETROIT – Native Michigander, Super Bowl champion and one of the newest members of the Detroit Lions has been named Grand Marshal of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear on Saturday, June 3. TJ Lang, the former Eastern Michigan Eagle and Birmingham Brother Rice graduate, will participate in activities throughout the day on Saturday at the Grand Prix, including giving the famous command, “Drivers, Start Your Engines,” before the start of the first Chevrolet Dual in Detroit Verizon IndyCar Series race that afternoon (3:30 pm on ABC and WXYZ-TV in Detroit).
Lang, who was named to the 2016 Pro Bowl as one of the top players at his position of offensive guard, played the first eight seasons of his career with the Lion’s rival, the Green Bay Packers, after being drafted in the fourth round (109th overall) in 2009 out of Eastern Michigan University. The Lions signed Lang as a free agent in March in one of the team’s biggest moves of the offseason, providing a homecoming for one of the top Michigan-born players currently competing in the National Football League (NFL).
As the Saturday Grand Marshal, Lang will be a part of the busiest day on track with all four series competing at the Grand Prix as the Verizon IndyCar Series, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli and the SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks will all host races. Lang will participate in the pre-race ceremonies before the Chevy Dual in Detroit, give the command for drivers to start their engines and participate in pre- and post-race ceremonies for the Verizon IndyCar Series’ first Dual in Detroit race of the weekend.
“Being back in Michigan, it’s an honor to have the opportunity to represent my team, this city and the tradition of the Grand Prix,” said Lang. “Having grown up in Metro Detroit and knowing our team’s proud connection to the auto industry, this community thrives on our relationships with sporting events. I’m looking forward to meeting the drivers, taking in the event and being part of a special day for Belle Isle and the City of Detroit.”
At Eastern Michigan, Lang played on both sides of the ball. As a freshman he played in all 11 games as a defensive lineman before moving to offensive tackle as a sophomore and starting all 36 games over the next three years. His senior year on defense Lang recorded 59 tackles, 8.5 sacks and a fumble recovery along with playing all 12 games as an offensive tackle.
Born in Royal Oak, Mich., Lang has played in 119 games over the course of his NFL career and he became a Super Bowl champion in 2011 when the Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“We are excited to welcome TJ Lang back home to Detroit as our Saturday Grand Marshal for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear,” said Bud Denker, Chairman of the Grand Prix. “TJ is one of the best in the NFL at his position and we’re excited to have him join the Lions this season. We’re looking forward to giving him a proper homecoming to the Motor City as we celebrate the Grand Prix with TJ and his family, June 2nd through the 4th on Belle Isle.”
Tickets for the 2017 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear are on sale now. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.DetroitGP.com or call 866-464-PRIX (7749).
ABOUT THE CHEVROLET DETROIT GRAND PRIX PRESENTED BY LEAR
The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear is a 501(c)3 organization and a subsidiary of the Downtown Detroit Partnership. Scheduled for June 2-4, 2017, the event will include the Chevrolet Dual in Detroit featuring the cars of the Verizon IndyCar Series, the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic with the exotic sports cars of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the high-flying trucks of the SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks and the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli in the Motor City 100. Partners for the 2017 Grand Prix include General Motors, Lear Corporation 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.