NASCAR Chief Starter, Kim Lopez Has Been Flag Official For The Most Important Races In The History of NASCAR

November 5, 2026

This article was last updated by Aditi Rai on November 5, 2026

Kim Lopez is a NASCAR official who, in 2015, became the first woman and the first person of Hispanic origin to serve as the flag official for the Daytona 500.

Lopez has officiated at numerous NASCAR events, including the XFINITY Series races and the Camping World Truck Series.

As a chief starter, Kim has waved flags for countless winning drivers in numerous races for the past twenty years.

The NASCAR official is dedicated to her role and highly skilled, bringing years of experience to her work.

However, she is a very private person, and there is limited information about her online.

Kim Lopez Developed an Interest in Cars At a Young Age

Kim Lopez has flagged many games for the truck series and two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in the 2014 season.

In 2007, she flagged her first race, becoming the woman ever to officiate in a national NASCAR series.

NASCAR Managing Director Chad Little has praised her work, expressing admiration by :

Kim will serve as chief starter because she’s among the best in the world at what she does. She has pursued her dreams in uncharted territory and we’re excited to see her dreams come true when she flags the Daytona 500.

NASCAR even highlighted her on , celebrating this first for the series.

Kim Lopez just became the first woman and first Hispanic to wave the Green Flag at the Great American Race.

— NASCAR (@NASCAR)

Growing up in the Bronx, New York, she developed an early interest in cars through time spent in her uncle’s workshop.

Her uncle ran a shop in Jersey where he restored old cars, and she would watch him work.

Lopez acknowledged that she was a diligent student in school and excelled academically.

The NASCAR chief starter shared that she focused on doing well in school so she could spend her summer vacations at her uncle’s shop, watching him work on old cars.

In a , she revealed that her parents were initially uncertain about her decision to apply to NASCAR.

However, her skills led to her selection for the job at NASCAR, and her parents felt a deep sense of pride in her accomplishment.

Nonetheless, Lopez pursued her dream of working in NASCAR, overcoming the challenges of being a Hispanic woman in the industry.

In Case You Didn’t Know

• Kim Lopez has the honor of waving the checkered flag as the chief starter when the winner crosses the finish line.
• Lopez could not attend the 2014 Daytona 500 because she had just given birth to her daughter three weeks before the race.
• Kim is among the best chief starters and has waved flags for many of the most significant races in the sport’s history.

• Check other Articles on

Mahima is an inquisitive soul with a passion for books, music and movies- especially when it comes to overanalyzing them. An avid learner who likes learning anything and everything, with a slightly competitive streak, Mahima values meaningful conversations and finds joy in life's little quirks.

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