The Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is a particular race for a lot of causes. It is one among NASCAR’s crown jewel races, in addition to the longest race on the schedule. With lots of NASCAR’s groups being based mostly out of the Charlotte metropolitan space, it is as near a house sport as you will get in NASCAR.
However maybe probably the most particular side of the Coke 600 has nothing to do with racing. That is as a result of the race is held the Sunday earlier than Memorial Day, and NASCAR and its groups be certain that to place America’s most somber vacation on the forefront of the weekend.
Ryan Blaney, who gained the Coca-Cola 600 and the NASCAR Cup Sequence championship in 2023, says that NASCAR is “second to none” with regards to honoring those that made the final word sacrifice whereas serving in america navy.
Blaney’s father, Dave, competed within the Coca-Cola 600 all through Ryan’s childhood. Attending these races was Blaney’s first glimpse of a weekend that is about rather more than racing.
“It is a particular weekend,” Blaney instructed Yardbarker. “I obtained see it once I was youthful and Dad was racing. It isn’t only a race occurring. You must perceive what Memorial Day weekend is about.”
Since 2021, the winner of the earlier 12 months’s Coca-Cola 600 has been afforded the chance to journey to Arlington Nationwide Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, the place over 420,000 service members have been laid to relaxation. That journey contains an opportunity to take part in a wreath laying ceremony on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
“Truthfully, earlier than I gained (the Coke 600), I did not know they took the winner to Arlington,” Blaney stated. “I obtained to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (and) do the wreath laying ceremony. Simply being part of all that was actually, actually particular.
“I will inform you, it places it into perspective for you. It places into perspective how small you truly are within the grand scheme of issues of what truly issues. Lots of people have laid down their life to allow us to to what we do on a week-to-week foundation.”
Each driver within the Coca-Cola 600 can have a fallen service member using with them, because the names of stated service members will adorn the windshield of each automotive on the observe.
“I believe NASCAR does the perfect job out of any sport, whether or not it is honoring our present navy members, or remembering those that misplaced their lives,” Blaney stated.
On a weekend that options three of probably the most prestigious auto races on the planet — Formulation 1’s Monaco Grand Prix, IndyCar’s Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 — it is vital to take a step again and keep in mind those that gave their lives so we could be free to get pleasure from, amongst different issues, racing.
