Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell, Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols, author Michael Wallis and YouTuber Derek Bieri have been selected as grand marshals for Tulsa's Route 66 Capital Cruise: Classic Car Centennial Parade on May 30. The event, described by organizers as the largest classic car parade in history, will celebrate the centennial of Route 66. The grand marshals will lead the procession in the first four vehicles.
The parade is set to begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 30, starting from Tulsa's Expo Square. It will proceed north on Yale Avenue before turning west along Route 66 for the spectator route. This event marks a key part of the Route 66 centennial celebrations, with Tulsa positioning itself as the capital of the historic highway.
Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell expressed enthusiasm, stating, “It is a tremendous honor to be a grand marshal for Tulsa’s Capital Cruise, and I cannot wait for May 30.” He highlighted the event's significance, noting, “Tulsa is The Capital of Route 66 and this will be the nation’s signature celebration for the Route 66 Centennial.”
Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols echoed the excitement, calling it “an incredible day in Tulsa’s history.” He added, “I have been very excited for Capital Cruise since the event was announced and am deeply moved to be one of the first cars in the Cruise to represent Tulsa. Tulsa does big things, and Capital Cruise will be one of the biggest yet.”
Michael Wallis, known for voicing the character Sheriff in the Pixar films Cars, Cars 2 and Cars 3, is also the founder of the Route 66 Alliance. He was appointed to the Congressional Route 66 Commission by President Joe Biden in 2023. Wallis remarked, “Route 66 is the heartbeat of America, and Capital Cruise will be the heartbeat of America’s Route 66 Centennial Celebration.”
Derek Bieri, founder of the Vice Grip Garage YouTube channel with nearly 2.5 million subscribers, plans to participate with a special vehicle. He said, “When a guy heard about Tulsa’s Route 66 Capital Cruise, I knew I had to be a part.” Bieri intends to restore a car for the parade, document the process on his channel, and auction it for charity afterward. He will also appear at the Capital Cruise Tailgate & Expo on May 28 and 29 for meet-and-greets.
Leading up to the main event, the Capital Cruise Expo is scheduled for May 28 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and May 29 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Tailgate, presented by Bank of Oklahoma, runs on May 29 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. All events are free and open to the public. More details, including registration for drivers and volunteers, are available at capitalofroute66.com.
