When you go to a NASCAR race, celebrities are always around.  The drivers themselves are stars.  The tracks schedule giants from a variety of fields to officially participate in pre-race festivities.  Sometimes you never know who you might see or who might show up.  This week NASCAR is racing at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California just a short distance from Hollywood.  What stars are going to be there?

For the NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Saturday, American Idol star David Archuleta performs the National Anthem prior to the start of the Royal Purple 300.   Howie Mandel, host of Deal of No Deal and judge on America's Got Talent, serves as the Grand Marshall - giving the command to start engines.  Actress Molly Ringwald is the honorary starter and waves the green flag to get the race underway.

On Sunday, Juan Pablo Montoya starts from the pole for the Auto Club 400.  Before the race, Christian Slater the star of the upcoming FOX comedy show Breaking In will serve as the Grand Marshall.  Just like Mandell, he will give the command for Gentlemen to start their engines.  Richard Marx, a singer-songwriter who has 13 number 1 hits to his credit, will perform the National Anthem.

Some stars have already shown up to make the NASCAR-Hollywood connection.  Fitness guru and personal trainer Jillian Michaels who is on NBC's The Biggest Loser worked out on Friday with driver Mark Martin who is well known for his own fitness training regimen.  Plus some of the drivers made their own TV appearances while in southern California.  Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne and Joey Logano attended American Idol. Jeff Gordon appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres daytime talk show.  Sprint Cup Champion and California native Jimmie Johnson got to do some acting.  Well sort of.  He played himself in a taping of FOX's Breaking In which will air on April 20.

When NASCAR comes to town.  The stars always come out.  Not being too far from Tinseltown just helps.

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