MIAMI -- With NASCAR’s elite dreaming of taking the checkered flag at the Sprint Cup Series Championship finale this Sunday, it’s fitting that a “Dreamgirl” will be on hand at Homestead- Miami Speedway to first perform the national anthem. Tony Award-winning actress Anika Noni Rose—voice of lead-character Tiana in Disney’s upcoming film “The Princess and the Frog”— will honor America prior to the Ford 400.

“I am honored to be part of an amazing and longstanding American pastime,” said Rose. “I can’t wait to hear her sing the anthem,” said Homestead-Miami Speedway President Curtis Gray. “To have a star of the big screen and Broadway—and now a Disney princess—join us for NASCAR’s Championship- weekend says amazing things about the allure of appearing on motorsports’ biggest stage at THE Championship Track.”

Rose shared a Grammy nomination—alongside Beyoncé Knowles and Jennifer Hudson— for the soundtrack of “Dreamgirls.” She also was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award and two NAACP Image Awards, and performed the Grammy-nominated original “Patience” with Knowles and Hudson at the 79th Academy Awards.

Classically trained at the San Francisco American Conservatory Theater, Rose pursued her drama career in New York City and wasted little time transitioning to the stage in the Broadway production of “Footloose.” Other recent roles include HBO’s “No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” Film audiences will reunite with Rose this month when she lends her voice to Princess Tiana in Disney’s animated comedy “The Princess and the Frog.” MEDIA NOTE: Anika Noni Rose will be available to the press Sunday at 11:30 a.m. in the infield Media Center at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

ABOUT THE MOVIE
Walt Disney Animation Studios presents the musical THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG, an animated comedy set in the great city of New Orleans. From the creators of “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin” comes a modern twist on a classic tale, featuring a beautiful girl named Tiana (ANIKA NONI ROSE), a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again, and a fateful kiss that leads them both on a hilarious adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana. THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG marks the return to hand-drawn animation from the revered team of John Musker and Ron Clements, with music by Oscar-winning composer Randy Newman.

It’s motorsports history in 2009 as Homestead-Miami Speedway becomes the first venue ever to host all of North America’s premier motorsports championships: the IndyCar, Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car and Firestone Indy Lights Series during the NextEra Energy Resources SPEEDJAMsm Championships; and NASCAR’s Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series during Ford Championship Weekend Nov. 20-22. Great seats for all 2009 Championships are available now by calling (866) 409-RACE or visiting THEChampionshipTrack.com.

Media Contact: Jay Rand - (305) 230-5233 - jrand@HomesteadMiamiSpeedway.com