8:17 p.m. ET — Petty Officer 1st Class Officer William Kimberl, Petty 1st Class Officer Andres Reyes and Petty Officer 2nd Class Aaron Schwartz give the command to fire engines.
8:15 p.m. ET — Two minutes before the command to fire engines is supposed to be given, and Michael Waltrip has yet to get in his car. He’s doing a standup for Fox’s broadcast.
8:11 p.m. ET — The country music group Little Big Town is performing the national anthem.
8:10 p.m. ET — Tonight’s invocation is being said by Dr. Tim McNeil, of the First United Methodist Church.
8:07 p.m. ET — Very somber moment on the Fox broadcast, as John Roberts and Darrell Waltrip pay tribute to Christopher Myers, the 19-year-old son of fellow host Chris Myers, who was killed in an automobile accident Feb. 16.
8:05 p.m. ET — Five minutes away from the invocation and national anthem.
8 p.m. ET — Fox’s coverage of the race has started.
At the rate they’re wreckin’ , the 500 may be a war of attrition.