Route 66 Raceway announced Mike Ditka, Pro Football Hall of Famer (class of ’88) and winning coach for the only Chicago Bears Super Bowl triumph, will be the Honorary Starter for NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, June 27-30.
“Da Coach” Ditka will also be joined by Wheeling native Danni Allen, season 14 winner on NBC reality series “The Biggest Loser.” He’ll sing the national anthem.
Both Ditka and Allen will be available for autograph sessions on Sunday.
“Iron Mike” Ditka is one of only two people to ever win the Super Bowl as a player (Dallas, 1972), assistant coach (Dallas, 1977) and head coach (Chicago, 1986). During his 12-year NFL playing career, Ditka was named NFL Rookie of the Year and selected All-Pro six times. As an assistant coach for Dallas, Ditka’s teams reached the playoffs eight times.
Yet, the Bears don’t include them in their mural at Soldier Field portraying their history. And they didn’t retire his number until now. In 1982, “Da Coach” assumed the head coaching job of the Chicago Bears, where he led his teams to six NFC Central titles, three NFC championship game appearances and the Super Bowl XX title (1986) for which he was named Coach of the Year. He earned the same honor in 1988 after coaching the Bears to the NFC championship game. Ditka retired from coaching in 2000.
Allen lost an impressive 121 pounds during her time on The Biggest Loser, and her passion for singing has led her to performing at Nashville’s famed Grand Ole Opry. Allen plans to run the 2013 Bank of America Chicago Marathon as she continues her remarkable journey.
The NHRA Nationals begin with Friday Night on Fire, featuring the first night of qualifying for the stars of NHRA followed by a jet car finale. The following day, All-Star Saturday celebrates Route 66 Raceway’s 15th Anniversary season and the second round of qualifying before Championship Sunday. The weekend wraps up with prestigious Championship Sunday, marking the finale of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals.
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