Video: NASCAR executive gets pre-race surprise

Shannon O'Donnell sings the national anthem prior to the start of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 at Daytona International Speedway on July 6, 2018 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
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The identity of Friday night’s National Anthem singer was left “TBD” right up until the Xfinity Series race time—for a good reason.

Unbeknownst to NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer Steve O’Donnell, his daughter, Shannon Rose O’Donnell, was scheduled to sing. Steve O’Donnell got the surprise as he was standing in race control. An accomplished singer, Shannon O’Donnell is headed for Belmont University this fall.

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.