Derek Carr to participate in Las Vegas NASCAR event

While the mayor of New Orleans is trying to push a Russell Wilson trade to the Saints, the folks in Las Vegas are embracing their quarterback.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on Tuesday that Raiders’ quarterback Derek Carr will participate in the Pennzoil 400 in Las Vegas this coming Sunday. Carr will do the long-standing tradition of commanding racers to start their engines just before the race.

Often, a local celebrity does those honors on the NASCAR circuit. Carr embraced the move from Oakland to the desert when the team relocated in 2020, with him and his family moving to the Las Vegas area shortly after the Raiders’ final season in Oakland ended.

During the last season, Carr said he loved playing in Vegas because it felt like a college town due to the fan support (even in an empty stadium!). He also said he and his wife joked about him someday running for office in the city as his family plans to stay there long after his playing days are complete.

While Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson has Las Vegas on his four-team short list, it seems like the city and its current quarterback are doing just fine together.