‘Duck Dynasty’ family members play their part before Texas race
When ducks fly.
Much of the family that makes up the hit reality-TV series Duck Dynasty actually got to watch the Duck Commander 500 this year at Texas Motor Speedway. Scheduling commitments forced them to miss the race a year ago when rain postponed it to Monday.
The weather played no role in the roles played by some members of the family Saturday evening.
Sadie Robertson, daughter of Willie and Korie Robertson and a former participant on Dancing with the Stars, presented the invocation; Uncle Si Robertson ordered drivers to start their engines; one of the Robertson brothers, Alan, drove the pace car; and Willie and Korie made the trophy presentation.
The family can’t linger this year, either. They have to get to Las Vegas for the opening of the Duck Commander Musical on Wednesday at the Rio All Suites Casino.
Like a real musical?
“Of course, it’s a real musical,” Willie Robertson said. “It’s the story of how we ended up where we ended up. It’s a good story about redemption.”
More specifically, how patriarch Phil Robertson overcame the demon of alcohol abuse to start a duck call business.
The show runs through June.
Playing again
Fort Worth-born Boone Stutz, a former football player at Texas A&M and with the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks, earned a good job in the oil field out of the NFL. A nice living couldn’t fill the competitive void, however.
“As the days went on there was that constant desire to compete while I still could,” said the 32-year-old, who graduated from Arlington High School.
A friend at Texas A&M suggested he look into NASCAR for a second career. He graduated from Stewart-Haas’ development team last year and is now a starter again. On Saturday, the former long snapper made his home debut as a gasman on the pit crew of Danica Patrick for Stewart-Haas Racing.
How does feel to be a rookie again? It’s a lot of carrying stuff around. It’s definitely a treat to be on this team.
Can A&M alum Johnny Manziel play in the NFL? I think so. He’ll get rid of that rookie [phase]. If he’s able to settle in, he’ll surprise some people.
Could Johnny be on a pit crew? Oh, yeah. He definitely could be a tire changer.
Quotable
“There’s nothing sexier than a woman with a gun, unless it’s pointed at me.”
— Texas country music performer Casey Donahew, for a receptive audience during a concert preceding the Duck Commander 500 on Saturday.
This story was originally published April 11, 2015 at 9:02 PM with the headline "‘Duck Dynasty’ family members play their part before Texas race."