By Sunday 
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph traded his cleats for a Corvette this weekend—well, kind of.
On Sunday, June 8, Joseph got the full-throttle NASCAR experience as he took the role of grand marshal for the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway (MIS). For a guy who’d never even been to a NASCAR race before, Joseph didn’t just show up—he showed out.
“That Thing Goes Fast!”
Joseph’s day at MIS wasn’t just about waving to fans and enjoying hospitality tents. Nope, the All-Pro safety jumped straight into the action, hitching a ride in a Corvette and taking a high-speed lap around the track.
“Hey, that thing goes fast,” Joseph said afterward, wide-eyed and grinning. “That was my first time on the track, for real, so I could really feel the pull. … That was amazing.”
And like any competitive athlete with a need for speed, Joseph already has his eye on the driver’s seat next time around. His ride of choice? His own Durango SRT.
“(It) ain’t nothing like the ‘vette, though,” he laughed.
NASCAR Debut, Lions Brotherhood
Joseph didn’t roll solo. He brought the squad along for the ride—including fellow Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey, who was spotted in the back of the media room during Joseph’s press conference, clearly enjoying his teammate’s moment in the spotlight.
Asked who would make the best NASCAR driver on the Lions, Joseph didn’t hesitate: himself.
“For sure I’ll be behind the wheel, if anything,” he joked. “If we’ve got to get out of a jam with something … (laughs).”
Lions Pride Still Runs Deep
Though Sunday was about engines and speed, football was never far from mind. Joseph took a moment to talk about the Lions’ strong 2024 season—going 15-2, despite a tough playoff loss—and what’s ahead for the team in 2025.
“The team’s looking good, man,” Joseph said with confidence.
But changes are in the air. Detroit lost both its offensive and defensive coordinators during the offseason. And just this week, the team was hit with the news that star center Frank Ragnow is retiring—leaving a major hole in the offensive line.
Still, Joseph sounded optimistic. He praised Coach Dan Campbell’s leadership and expressed faith in rookie Tate Ratledge, who could step up in Ragnow’s place.
From Turf to Track
All in all, it was a different kind of Sunday for Kerby Joseph—no helmet, no shoulder pads, just high-octane fun and a chance to command, “Drivers, start your engines!” in front of thousands of fans.
It may have been his first NASCAR event, but if his excitement is anything to go by, it won’t be his last.