Coca-Cola 600 Pre Race Ceremonies More Than Just About the Race
Few moments in motorsports rival the pageantry and emotion of Coca-Cola 600 pre-race ceremonies at Charlotte Motor Speedway. From an awe-inspiring military tribute to the roar of fighter jet flyovers and the sound of 40 engines firing up for NASCAR’s longest race, the spectacle sets the tone for an unforgettable Memorial Day weekend tradition. For […]
Few moments in motorsports rival the pageantry and emotion of Coca-Cola 600 pre-race ceremonies at Charlotte Motor Speedway. From an awe-inspiring military tribute to the roar of fighter jet flyovers and the sound of 40 engines firing up for NASCAR’s longest race, the spectacle sets the tone for an unforgettable Memorial Day weekend tradition.
For drivers, it’s more than just pre-race rituals—it’s a moment to reflect, honor and soak in the energy of one of the sport’s most patriotic weekends. Here’s what some of NASCAR’s biggest stars have to say about what makes the Coca-Cola 600 pre-race experience so special:
Kyle Larson, No. 5, Hendrick Motorsports
“The pre-race stuff for the (Coca-Cola) 600 is really impactful. They do a great job. There’s just a lot of honor and remembrance that happens before the race with the military. You’re usually with the family of a fallen member you’re representing on your race car, hanging around them and taking pictures. Just the meaning of that whole day is extra special. NASCAR and the promoters at the (Coca-Cola) 600 do a great job with the pre-race ceremonies.”
AJ Allmendinger, No. 16, Kaulig Racing
“Well, I think it’s just the reason that we’re there for the Coke 600. Memorial Day Weekend, what that represents, what that means, to have a name on the side of a race car, to share that with their family, it means more than motorsports. I think sometimes, I’ll be 100% honest, I get lost. You know what our job is, you’re out there to win, and that’s all you focus on, but there’s a brief moment there of all the pre-race stuff at the (Coca-Cola) 600 where racing doesn’t mean anything, and that’s very important.”
Chase Briscoe, No. 19, Joe Gibbs Racing
“The Coca-Cola 600 pre-race is unlike anything else we have in the sport. You have all the military stuff out there, helicopters landing in the infield. People literally jumping out of helicopters, it’s just a super cool pre-race. It’s a super long one too, and just the atmosphere, the intensity is constantly ratcheting up at the Coke 600. It’s unlike anything else we do, it’s really cool. My son always loves watching the helicopters come down and hover literally 50 feet above the car, it’s one that I always try to sneak out on the grid for and watch a little bit of it before we get out for the driver’s meeting. Just a super cool event and an awesome atmosphere.”
Chris Buescher, No. 17, RFK Racing
“I think it’s just the action, right? It’s everything that’s going on. All of the flyovers and the drop-ins, it’s just way bigger, on a proportion scale, than any other pre-race ceremony we do, and it’s a showstopper, right? It’s a heck of a way to fire off our race.”
Erik Jones, No. 42, Legacy Motor Club
“The 600, I think, is probably our longest pre-race, but it’s also our neatest, just with the action of the military and the show that they put on, before the race is, is pretty unique to the 600. A lot of fun to watch. I tell people all the time, when they’re talking about going to a race at the 600, it’s a really fun race to go to, just from even the pre-race that they put on and that weekend is a lot of fun. So it’s always cool to see the show that they have, and it’ll give you goosebumps watching everything they’ve got going.”
Tyler Reddick, No. 45, 23XI
“I think everything that they do in pre-race for the (Coca-Cola) 600, all the military presence that we have with us on the grid, everything they do to honor and recognize, those at the racetrack. The flyover, when they drop in, just all the steps they do to take to recognize those in our military, I think, is what makes it really special.”
Michael McDowell, No. 71, Spire Motorsports
“The Coca-Cola 600 Pre-Race is unlike any weekend. Just the military presence that we have, the helicopters, people jumping out of planes, it’s wild, and it’s always a special moment. Not just cool, but somber of just being thankful and appreciative to all the men and women who have served our country and honoring the ones who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. There’s an energy in the crowd, in that pre-race that’s really special.”
Daniel Suárez , No. 99, Trackhouse Racing
“The Cola 600 pre-race is special because it’s certainly different from everything else. We have a lot of people from the Army, family members from people who have served in the past and the people who are serving currently, so it’s just very special. It’s a race that honors them and brings a lot of emotion. Every race, you have excitement, but in the Coca-Cola 600, in the beginning, you don’t get excited, you get emotion and it’s a little bit different, The the military members getting out of the helicopter and all the different things is there, there’s a lot of emotion because, there is a lot of things that these people have gone through and, it’s also their family, so it’s quite special.”
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.
MORE INFO:
Fans can connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway and get the latest news by following on X and Instagram, or becoming a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.
Hendrick Motorsports Top Prospect Suffers Major Crash
What’s Happening? Hendrick Motorsports developmental driver Corey Day suffered a scary crash last night during the High Limit Racing event at Eagle Raceway in Nebraska. During the A Feature during Tuesday night festivities, the 19-year-old was racing eventual winner Buddy Kofoid for the lead with five to go. On the backstretch, Day caught the outside […]
Hendrick Motorsports developmental driver Corey Day suffered a scary crash last night during the High Limit Racing event at Eagle Raceway in Nebraska.
During the A Feature during Tuesday night festivities, the 19-year-old was racing eventual winner Buddy Kofoid for the lead with five to go. On the backstretch, Day caught the outside retaining wall and flipped over the turn three walls into the track’s catch fence.
Day exited his No. 14BC sprint car quickly, telling Flosports, “I’d redo that one, but I was trying.” The sprint car racing prodigy went on to reflect on how grateful he was to be unharmed in a post on X, stating, “First off, I sit here thanking the man above for keeping me safe, and allowing me to be able to race another day.”
When Day is not racing Sprint Cars, he is the top prospect for Hendrick Motorsports, racing part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series alongside the ARCA Series and Trans-Am Series. So far, his first season racing in NASCAR has not been great; despite speed in qualifying, Day shows that he is slowly adjusting to pavement racing.
Prior to his time with HMS, Day made his name racing in Sprint Cars, and he still does so when his schedule allows him to. He often competes in the High Limit Series, which is part-owned by fellow HMS driver Kyle Larson.
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Daytona 500 tickets officially on sale for 2026 race. Prices: $135-473
Is it ever too early to plan? Maybe, but it’s never too early to buy. Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 Daytona 500, scheduled for Feb. 15 at Daytona International Speedway. “We’re ready to invite everyone back to The World Center of Racing with tickets officially going on sale,” Speedway president Frank Kelleher […]
Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 Daytona 500, scheduled for Feb. 15 at Daytona International Speedway.
“We’re ready to invite everyone back to The World Center of Racing with tickets officially going on sale,” Speedway president Frank Kelleher said.
In keeping with the schedule from recent years, Daytona’s 2026 NASCAR visit will include five days of qualifying and racing, from Wednesday (Feb. 11) through Sunday the 15th.
PRIME TIME NASCAR on Amazon Prime, a mixed bag of good reviews and frustration
Tickets are available here through the Speedway’s website. After Wednesday’s announcement, the website was showing a price range of $135 to $473 for tickets in the grandstands, which hold 100,500 seats. Multi-day packages, as well as other specialized tickets, are also available.
Up next at Daytona: Coke Zero Sugar 400
Before all that, however, is another big Daytona event, the Aug. 23 Coke Zero Sugar 400, which will again be the final race of the 26-race Cup Series regular season, preceding the 10-race playoffs.
That Saturday night race will be preceded by a 250-mile Xfinity Series race on Friday. Tickets for both are also available on the website.
Jimmie Johnson “Feeling More Comfortable” in NASCAR Ownership Role With Legacy Motor Club
Jimmie Johnson has transitioned from seven-time champion to hands-on team owner, now more focused on running Legacy Motor Club than racing — as shown by his reduced part-time Cup schedule. Given Johnson’s long-standing identity as a racer, Steve Letarte pressed him on NASCAR’s Inside the Race about how comfortable he felt juggling boardroom discussions against […]
Jimmie Johnson has transitioned from seven-time champion to hands-on team owner, now more focused on running Legacy Motor Club than racing — as shown by his reduced part-time Cup schedule.
Given Johnson’s long-standing identity as a racer, Steve Letarte pressed him on NASCAR’s Inside the Race about how comfortable he felt juggling boardroom discussions against competition talk. Johnson admitted it didn’t come naturally, but the challenge intrigued him. He spent more time on the business end, drawn by the learning curve and fresh terrain.
His taste for team operations sharpened during his IndyCar stint, where he leased cars from Chip Ganassi. Reflecting on that chapter, Johnson said, “Through that (IndyCar) journey, I was like, ‘Wow, this is more competitive and more interesting and also an area for me to grow.’ And so for these first few years, I have been far more involved on the business ops side and trying to find sponsorship.”
That pull toward management has only grown, especially with Legacy’s new alliance with Toyota. Johnson noted, “The deep connection that I’ve been able to forge and build there [at Toyota] — our collective competition group, some new and familiar faces inside that competition group. I’m feeling more comfortable with it and certainly spending more time now that the business side is shored up.”
Legacy, in many ways, marks the revival of Petty Enterprises, one of NASCAR’s most storied operations. Maury Gallagher, chairman of Allegiant Air and former owner of GMS Racing, acquired Richard Petty Motorsports in 2021, rebranding it as Petty GMS Racing. Johnson came aboard at the close of 2022, and the team entered 2023 under a new banner — Legacy Motor Club — fielding two full-time Cup entries.
In January of this year, Johnson stepped into the role of majority owner following a restructuring that brought Knighthead Capital Management into the fold. With that, his responsibilities grew exponentially, pulling his focus toward boosting the team’s competitive edge.
As a result, his energy is now firmly rooted in Legacy’s evolution, working to elevate performance and broaden the team’s profile. Though he once likened himself to a rookie again, reminiscent of 2002, Johnson now seems to be finding his footing in the boardroom as comfortably as he once did on the track.
Chase Elliott Foundation ‘DESI9N TO DRIVE’ Returns for Ninth Year
The design features symbols of hope and healing, including pediatric oncology references, gold childhood cancer ribbons, a stethoscope, heart monitors and bandages. The car is also brightly decorated, including clouds of encouragement like “Cure Cancer” and “Helping Kids Like Me.” It also includes the Bible verse Psalm 46:5, “God is within you, you will not […]
The design features symbols of hope and healing, including pediatric oncology references, gold childhood cancer ribbons, a stethoscope, heart monitors and bandages.
The car is also brightly decorated, including clouds of encouragement like “Cure Cancer” and “Helping Kids Like Me.” It also includes the Bible verse Psalm 46:5, “God is within you, you will not fail.”
“It’s a privilege to once again team up with Chase and his foundation to support the incredible work being done at Children’s,” said Emily Schneider, Senior Director of Marketing at NAPA. “We’re excited to unveil the inspiring designs on the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet and are proud to play a part in driving awareness and support through this year’s sweepstakes.”
New study shows majority of sports fans accept cannabis sponsorships
A new study shows that the majority of U.S. sports fans in the 24 states where recreational cannabis use is legal are giving cannabis companies the green light to sponsor their favorite teams and leagues. The study, by Newport, R.I.-based Performance Research in partnership with Potomac, Md.-based Full Circle Research, claims that over half of […]
A new study shows that the majority of U.S. sports fansin the 24 states where recreational cannabis use is legal are giving cannabis companies the green light to sponsor their favorite teams and leagues.
The study, by Newport, R.I.-based Performance Research in partnership with Potomac, Md.-based Full Circle Research, claims that over half of major league sports fans surveyed find it acceptable to see cannabis brands sponsor teams or leagues.
The study surveyed more than 1,000 adults over the age of 21 between April 23-26 through an online panel. Participants self-identified as watching professional sports either “regularly” or “occasionally.”The results showed that 45% of respondents reported using CBD and THC products in the last year, a figure that is similar to the general public at 42% and 43%, respectively.
Though CBD and THC are both compounds found in cannabis, THC is psychoactive, which effects how the brain operates while producing a “high” sensation. CBD is a nonpsychoactive component that does not create the “high” sensation but often has medicinal properties.
The study says the majority (at least 53%) of fans’ views on leagues and teams are either positively affected or do not see any significant change due to a CBD or THC partnershipfor most leagues.
More than half of NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, UFC, NASCAR, pro golf and pro tennis fans found it acceptable for CBD brands to sponsor teams and leagues. At least half of MLS, UFC, NHL, pro tennis, NASCAR and NBA fans found it acceptable for THC brands to sponsor leagues and teams. Fewer than 50% of sports fans said they thought it was acceptable for THC brands to sponsor pro golf, the NFL and MLB.
“I think there’s no longer a justifiable reason to be shy about this,” Jed Pearsall, president and founder of Performance Research, told SBJ. “I think those on the sales side can aggressively sell these opportunities and those on the sponsor side should realize that these opportunities will be welcome where they go. Sports has a way of normalizing things, and that’s good for the cannabis industry, and those marketing with it.”
However, the visibility of cannabis sponsorships is still very low. Only 17% of pro sports fans are aware of CBD or THC brands that currently sponsor teams and leagues, according to the study.
Though cannabis partnerships have yet to permeate the mainstream in the same way as alcohol brands, some teams and leagues have begun diving into the nascent category, primarily with CBD-related brands.
MLB signed a deal with CBD brand Charlotte’s Web in 2022 to become the official CBD of the league. The Cubs added Mynd Drinks as its CBD partner in 2023 and two months later the Royals signed a deal with Pure Spectrum CBD. The Nets and Liberty partnered with Mynd Drinks last year following the NBA lifting marijuana from the banned substances list for players in 2023. UFC signed Love Hemp Group as its CBD sponsor in 2021. NASCAR’s Richard Childress Racing signed cannabis producer 3Chi as a sponsor in 2022. CBD Kratom was named the official CBD and Kratom partner of the UFL in 2024.
(via @nbcsportsauthentic/TT)
