Each Memorial Day weekend, during the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR drivers do more than race; they carry the legacy of fallen heroes on their windshields in a powerful tribute to the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our lives. As part of NASCAR’s 600 miles of remembrance, every car on the track carries the name of a fallen service member across its windshield, ensuring their legacy lives on in front of thousands of fans and millions watching around the world.
For drivers, this tribute is more than just a decal, it’s a powerful reminder of the freedoms they have, the sacrifices made and the families who continue to carry on their loved ones’ memories. Here’s what some of NASCAR’s biggest stars had to say about the honor of carrying these names into battle on race day:
Noah Gragson, No. 4, Front Row Motorsports
“It is very important to not only myself, but everybody in the NASCAR community, to be able to represent our men and women in the military, both right now and the ones that have fallen. It's extremely impactful for me to be able to carry a fallen soldier on the race car and have their families out to the racetrack and be able to spend time with them and get them into a different atmosphere. Our world that they might never experience and be able to represent their family members in such an impactful way.”
Justin Haley, No. 7, Spire Motorsports
It's obviously super special to honor them, and more importantly, I think it's awesome to bring their families out each and every year and share their experience and the emotion and everything that goes with it. So, it's always cool to have their name on the car, bring their families out, show them this experience and give them the windshield after the race.
Chase Elliott, No. 9, Hendrick Motorsports
“It's extremely meaningful. Obviously, I think it's probably more meaningful than we all even recognize or appreciate during the day, but when you look at that and just what that really signifies, it's a big deal. Especially having family members or friends of that person at the racetrack, too. I think it makes the moment all the more special.”
Ty Dillon, No. 10, Kaulig Racing
“Having the fallen soldier on your car makes the whole week different because, usually we get to meet the family or learn the story of the soldier that we're representing and, you want to go out and honor their name, and you feel like you have something bigger to fight for on that day. Not that we all don't give our all every single weekend, but when you're honoring somebody else in your car, there's another sense of pride in getting the job done for them since, they laid their life on the line to even give us the opportunity to be able to race cars on the weekend. So, it's so much bigger than just that weekend. I think that's the most special point of the Coke 600 weekend.”
Bubba Wallace, No. 23, 23XI
“I think NASCAR is probably the top sport that gives back to the military and honors our military in a fantastic way, going above and beyond for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. For us to be able to represent a family name, a fallen soldier is very humbling for sure.”
Cole Custer, No. 41, Haas Factory Team
“Oh, it means a ton. I think that one of the coolest things that we do in NASCAR is really honoring the military and getting to see those families at the racetrack, and it's definitely a really special weekend whenever we have to honor the military members.”
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47, Hyak Motorsports
“To have a fallen hero on our windshield at the Coke 600 is a great feeling. Being able to meet the families that come to the racetrack, host them, let them know we appreciate the sacrifice that they gave as a family to our country and if we could win with them there, it would be so cool. So that's what we'll try and do.”
Alex Bowman, No. 48, Hendrick Motorsports
“That's always just super meaningful. You want to win every week, but just having somebody's name on your car like that means a lot. A lot of times, the family is there, or you get to meet the family, or at least talk to the family before the race and it just kind of brings things into perspective. It kind of just makes the whole event a little more meaningful.”
Cody Ware, No. 52, Rick Ware Racing
“I think it's really just an incredible experience to be able to see families and loved ones of people who have died in service of the country. To be able to have them have not just an enjoyable experience but also a time that they see that people are recognizing the sacrifice made by their family member.”
Carson Hocevar, No. 77, Spire Motorsports
“It means the most seeing the family's reaction. We have ties to it but being able to bring in the family and see them care so much, just to see their name on the car that we drive every single day, them to come into our world and be appreciative, and care that their names on that car, it means a lot to me.”
TICKETS:
Fans can purchase Coca-Cola 600 weekend tickets online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Kids 12 and under get in all weekend for just $10.
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