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.

Information provided by Speedway Motorsports

For Kurt Busch, waiting for the announcement of the 2026 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class felt like race day.

That was before his name was called as a member of the class, joining Harry Gant as a Modern Era choice.

Modified superstar Ray Hendrick earned election to the 2026 class on the Pioneer Ballot, and promoter extraordinaire H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler was recognized as the recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.

The induction ceremony for the new members is scheduled for January 23, 2026.

Busch’s career was characterized by remarkable consistency. The 46-year-old from Las Vegas won at least one NASCAR Cup Series race in 19 of his 21 full-time seasons.

NASCAR Cup Series champion in 2004 at age 26, Busch pushed Ryan Newman to victory in the 2008 Daytona 500 when both drove for Team Penske. Nine years later, Busch won the Great American Race in a Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.

“I felt like it was race mode,” Busch said of his nervousness in waiting to hear his name called. “I had to put the emotional blinders on… Everyone that’s on the ballot is someone who can go into the Hall because of the impact they made on the sport.

“For me, just a blue-collar kid out of Vegas, I never would have imagined this. We were a family where it was just a hobby to race. It was just fun to go to the track as father/son. Dad (Tom Busch) had his car, and I had mine…

“I’m running a Legend Car in 1999 at the (Las Vegas) Bull Ring, September of 1999. In September of 2000, I’m in Jack Roush’s Cup car, qualifying at Dover. Jeff Gordon’s next to me. Dale (Earnhardt) Sr.’s behind me. That’s how fast things happened for me. I don’t know how. I don’t know why.”

Busch blossomed early in his NASCAR career, winning a pole position at Darlington Raceway in his 2001 rookie season and following that with four victories in 2002.

It’s appropriate that Busch’s first career NASCAR Cup victory would come at Bristol, a track he came to dominate with six victories spread over a span of 17 years—and where he added to Bristol lore by making a “Snow Angel” after winning in uncharacteristically cold and snowy conditions in 2006.

From 2002 through 2022, Busch amassed 34 Cup wins. In 2004, he won the first championship under NASCAR’s Playoff format, then known as the Chase.

Driving the No. 97 Ford for Jack Roush, Busch weathered a bizarre accident when the right-front wheel separated from his car as he was approaching pit road. Busch continued onto pit road while the tire rolled onto the racing surface.

But a quick fix in the pits propelled Busch to a fifth-place finish in the race and his only Cup championship, by eight points over Jimmie Johnson.

Through the first decade of his career, Busch fought to find a balance between his elite talent and the mercurial temperament that cost him rides with Roush and Roger Penske. Ultimately, he won Cup races with five different owners—Roush, Penske, Stewart-Haas, Chip Ganassi and finally at Kansas Speedway in 2022 with 23XI Racing.

“The late Jim Hunter (NASCAR executive) said it best to me once when I was in some trouble,” Busch recalled. “He said, ‘Son, you can get in as much trouble as you want, because you have that much talent to dig yourself out of these holes you’re putting yourself in.

“But wouldn’t it be better if you didn’t dig those holes, and you could just stay on top, riding with your talent?’ It took a lot of lessons, but this was a fun announcement, and I can’t wait to tell more stories.”

Kurt and Kyle Busch hold the record for most Cup victories accumulated by brothers with 97.

The only driver to win a Cup race in cars of four different manufacturers—Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge and Toyota—Busch was named on 61 percent of ballots during a closed session on Voting Day at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the same percentage Gant received.

In stark contrast to Busch, Gant was a late bloomer who didn’t race in NASCAR’s top division until age 33. It wasn’t until age 40 that Gant ran his first full season the Cup Series in 1980.

Dubbed “Handsome Harry” for his striking good looks, Gant won 18 times in 474 starts on NASCAR’s top tour with a versatility that spoke volumes about his talent.

Gant, now 85, was a standout on such big tracks as Daytona, Darlington, Atlanta, Charlotte, Talladega, Pocono and Michigan—with victories at each of those venues—but he also conquered the venues of a mile of less at Richmond, Rockingham, Bristol, North Wilkesboro, Dover, Martinsville and Phoenix.

Gant also triumphed on the road courses of Watkins Glen and Sonoma, proving he could wheel a stock car at any sort of venue.

Gant will be remembered most prominently for the feat that earned him another moniker — “Mr. September.”

From Sept. 1 through Sept. 22 of 1991, Gant drove the iconic Leo Jackson-owned Skoal Bandit to four straight wins, at Darlington (the second of his two Southern 500s), Richmond, Dover and Martinsville, tying the Modern Era record for consecutive victories.

Gant wasn’t finished. In 1992 he won twice, with his victory at Michigan in August making him the oldest driver to win a Cup race, at age 52.

Two years later, at 54, he was the top qualifier at Bristol, becoming the oldest driver ever to win a Cup pole.

Ray Hendrick led the Pioneer ballot with 31 percent of the vote. Early NASCAR Cup Series driver Bob Welborn was second in the balloting.

Nicknamed “Mr. Modified,” Hendrick won more than 700 Modified and Late Model Sportsman races in a career that spanned 38 years (1950-1988). Driving the iconic red No. 11, Hendrick won five track championships at South Boston Speedway in his native Virginia.

Though he never won a Modified championship, Hendrick finished in the top 10 in the standings nine times from 1960 through 1969. He is credited with 20 combined Modified and Sportsman victories at Martinsville Speedway alone.

Hendrick was named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers and one of NASCAR Modified’s All-Time Top 10 Drivers.

Born in 1928 in Denton, North Carolina, Welborn passed away in 1997 at age 69.

Wheeler, 86, is a man of many and varied talents. He was a boxer, a scholarship football player at the University of South Carolina and a sportswriter for the Columbia (S.C.) Record before joining the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company’s public relations staff.

But Wheeler is best known for his 33-year tenure as President and General Manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway, where his innovative—sometimes outrageous—ideas brought a new vision to the promotion of stock car racing.

Wheeler’s legendary stunts included school buses jumping over (and crashing into) lines of cars and full-scale Memorial Day weekend “battles” in the speedway’s infield grass, complete with startling pyrotechnics.

NEW YORK, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, New York Racing Team announced a partnership with Fanatics Sportsbook to become the primary sponsor of the team’s No. 44 Chevrolet, driven by star driver J.J. Yeley for two of the NASCAR Cup Series’ most prestigious races – the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway and the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway.

The Fanatics Sportsbook No. 44 Chevrolet will take to the track – first in Music City on Sunday, June 1 and next in The Valley on Sunday, November 2 – decked in the company’s signature Lava Red and Black paint scheme and adorned with the Fanatics Sportsbook logo on the hood and sides of the car. It’s only fitting that Fanatics Sportsbook will grace the car for the first time in Tennessee, as the state was the first to experience the sportsbook upon its launch in 2023.

In celebration of this partnership, Fanatics Sportsbook will have exclusive new customer offers for the Nashville and Phoenix races, along with expanded NASCAR betting capabilities, such as race parlays, to finish on the podium, exacta and trifecta betting. Fanatics Sportsbook will also offer unique JJ Yeley specials and live betting markets on Raceday.

According to Fanatics Sportsbook, Yeley is +800 to have a Top 10 Finish at Nashville Superspeedway and customers will also be able to place wagers on J.J. Yeley’s Starting Grid Position, Chevrolet-specific placement, first lap results, and much more. NASCAR fans can download the Fanatics Sportsbook app on iOS and Android and begin their Fanatics betting experience.

“We are proud to partner with John Cohen and the New York Racing Team,” said Selena Kalvaria, CMO of Fanatics Betting and Gaming. “The partnership with New York Racing Team is an incredible branding opportunity and an inflection point for us as we continue to build the fastest growing sportsbook in America.* We are going to develop exclusive content for NASCAR fans and curate an elevated experience for our customers at each race that only a brand like Fanatics can offer. Our employees and customers can’t wait to cheer on the No. 44 Fanatics Sportsbook Chevrolet toward the checkered flag at Nashville Superspeedway and Phoenix Raceway.”

Nashville Superspeedway is Middle Tennessee’s racing jewel. The 1.33-mile D-shaped track with 14 degrees of banking is the largest concrete-only track in NASCAR and the perfect track for a prime time race. The sponsorship will see Fanatics Sportsbook featured on Yeley’s No. 44 Chevrolet in the Cracker Barrel 400 on Sunday, June 1 at 7 PM ET, broadcast live on Prime Video. The No. 44 Fanatics Sportsbook car will return at the end of the season to compete at the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, November 2, 2025, which will air live on NBC. For up to date news and information on the Fanatics Sportsbook No. 44 Chevrolet follow @FanaticsBook on X and @FanaticsSportsbook on Instagram.

About Fanatics Betting and Gaming
Launched in 2021, Fanatics Betting and Gaming is the online and retail sports betting subsidiary of Fanatics, a global digital sports platform. The Fanatics Sportsbook, now the fastest growing sportsbook in America*, is available to 95% of the addressable online sports bettor market in the U.S. Fanatics Casino is currently available online in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Fanatics Betting and Gaming operates twenty-two retail sports betting locations, including the only sportsbook inside an NFL stadium at Northwest Stadium. Fanatics Betting and Gaming is headquartered in New York with offices in Denver, Leeds and Dublin.

“Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER
(CO/DC/IA/IL/KS/KY/LA/MD/MI/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA/VT/WV/WY), www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), (800)-327-5050 or gamblinghelplinema.org (MA), Call (877)8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), or Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), (888) 789-7777 or ccpg.org (CT), or 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), morethanagame.nc.gov (NC), 1800gambler.net (WV)

*Compared across all sportsbooks accounting for 98.5% of national handle.

Contact: Kevin.Hennessy@betfanatics.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4eaf4697-d15e-401d-a1f4-4deb7fdb0461

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9cbe9d06-356f-4bb5-82d7-0b44cebacd11

Fanatics Sportsbook No. 44 Chevrolet

Fanatics Sportsbook will sponsor the No. 44 Chevrolet from New York Racing Team for two upcoming NASCAR Cup Series events.

New York Racing Team

New York Racing Team

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The NASCAR Hall of Fame will induct Kurt Busch, Harry Gant and Ray Hendrick in the Class of 2026, the hall announced Tuesday.

JJ 700: Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson is set to mark a significant milestone at the Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS) on May 25 with his 700th Cup Series start. It’s a poignant moment for Johnson, returning to the venue where he kickstarted his Cup Series journey back in 2001.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN: Johnson got his first taste of NASCAR Cup Series competition by running three races in 2001 with Hendrick Motorsports in the No. 48 Power of Pride Lowe’s Chevrolet, a car co-owned by Rick Hendrick and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon. Johnson’s first start was Oct. 7, 2001, at Charlotte, followed by races at Homestead and Atlanta that same year. While the results – finishes of 25th, 29th, and 39th – were modest, it marked the beginning of a legendary career.

HOUSE JJ BUILT: Johnson has earned legendary status at Charlotte Motor Speedway with four victories in the Coca-Cola 600 (2003, 2004, 2005, 2014), four in the Bank of America 500 events (2004, 2005, 2009, 2016), and four All-Star Race wins (2003, 2006, 2012, 2013).

OCT. 7, 2001 IN HISTORY: On October 7, 2001, President George W. Bush launched US military operations in Afghanistan, marking the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom as a direct response to the September 11th terrorist attacks. Johnson was just 26 years old at the time.

KENSETH AT CHARLOTTE: Competition advisor Matt Kenseth’s most significant accomplishment at Charlotte Motor Speedway is winning the Coca-Cola 600 in 2000 as a rookie. He remains the only rookie to win that prestigious race. In addition to his 2000 victory, Kenseth also won the pole for the fall 500-mile event race in 2015 and the All-Star Race in 2004. He also finished fourth in the Coca-Cola 600 in 2005.

RICHARD PETTY AT CHARLOTTE: “The King” made 64 starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway, beginning with the track’s inaugural race in 1960 and continuing through his retirement in 1992. During that span, he claimed five victories (1961, 1975, 1977, and 1983), earned three pole positions, recorded 23 top-five finishes, 31 top-10s, and led a total of 1,702 laps.

CLUB MEMBERS WHO SERVED: This Memorial Day weekend, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB takes time to honor and recognize those who have served—and continue to serve—in the United States Armed Forces.

Carl Garcia, mechanic for the No. 42 team, served in the U.S. Army. Earl Barban, longtime spotter for Johnson, served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves and is a recipient of the Navy Achievement Medal. Zach Casada, mechanic on the No. 43 team, served in the U.S. Army. Shop Foreman Tony Cardamone served in the United States Coast Guard. Additionally, Joshua Horton, a mechanic on the No. 42 team, and Matt Ridgeway, who works in the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB shop, both served in the U.S. Army. Hieu Bui, who is in the IT department, also served in the United States Marine Corps.

NEVER SETTLE: Join ESPN’s Marty Smith and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s co-owner, Johnson for their weekly podcast, “Never Settle”. The podcast airs live on SIRIUS XM NASCAR Radio Ch. 90 at 2 p.m. ET every Wednesday and can be downloaded wherever fans source their podcasts. This week’s guest is Seven-time NASCAR Champion and Hall of Famer Richard Petty “The King”.

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
NO. 42 DOLLAR TREE TOYOTA CAMRY XSE
ALL-STAR RECAP: Last weekend at North Wilkesboro, Nemechek started eighth in the NASCAR Open, needing a top-two finish to advance to his first NASCAR All-Star Race. Thanks to a valiant effort by everyone on the No. 42 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB team, he was able to secure that spot and make the transfer. Starting deep in the field for the All-Star Race, Nemechek delivered valuable track time that helped the team gain insights and continue developing their short track program.

SEVEN STARS FOR JJ: This week, the No. 42 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE driven by Nemechek will feature a red, white, and blue scheme. However, there is a subtle nod to LEGACY MC co-owner, Jimmie Johnson, as he makes his 700th start. On the hood and rear bumper of the Toyota Camry XSE, there are seven stars, representing Johnson’s seven championships.

NEMECHEK AT CHARLOTTE: Nemechek has two attempts in the longest race of the year, with his first coming in 2020 when he finished 16th. In 2024, he finished 30th in the rain-shortened race. He is no stranger to Charlotte with multiple starts across the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Truck Series, where he won in 2021.

POINT STANDINGS: Nemechek and the No. 42 LEGACY MC team enter Charlotte sitting 18th in the point standings, just 10 points shy of the playoff cut line. In the 12 races this season, Nemechek has one top-five, four top-10 finishes, and has led two laps.

HONORING PFC, WALTER “RAY” THETFORD”: The No. 42 team will honor PFC, Walter “Ray” Thetford from the United States Marine Corps. Thetford was from Copiah County, Mississippi. He served and died at the age of 21 in Iwo Jima in 1945. The unit in which Thetford was serving raised the flag on Iwo Jima. His name will ride along with Nemechek and the No. 42 Dollar Tree team during the Coca-Cola 600.

TMACK AT CHARLOTTE: Mack has been atop the pit box calling races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Cup Series for a total of seven events. During the two NXS starts, he recorded two top-10 starts and finishes with driver Michael Annett. In the five NCS starts, he has an average finish of 22.2

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK QUOTE:

“The 600 at Charlotte is always a great weekend – it gives us the opportunity to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. This weekend, we will have PFC Walter “Ray” Thetford riding along with us, who served in the USMC. Our goal is to continue the momentum that we have built up during the last several weeks and bring it into the race this weekend.

“I’m really excited for Jimmie to get his 700th start at Charlotte [Motor Speedway] that’s an amazing career achievement from everything he’s done in the sport, from the seven championships and 83 wins – he’s a super legend, super GOAT.”

TRAVIS MACK QUOTE:
“I love the Charlotte 600 week, we usually have family in town, people visiting the shop from out of town wanting to see the cars. I don’t think people really realize how long that race is until you experience it. This is one of those races where you get a ring if you win; there are a few races that you get a ring. Luckily I was a part of that during the Jimmie Johnson days.

We’ve been working on our mile-and-a-half program ever since Vegas, we keep evolving and improving on our program. Hopefully we can improve it going into Charlotte – hopefully qualify in the top-15 and run inside the top-15 most of the race and get up there and compete for the top-10, top-fives. That’s where you need to be to back into one of these wins. We have our higher downforce package tuned in compared to our low downforce.”

We have Jimmie back to race this race for us at LEGACY, since we’ve improved the cars, I’m excited to see his feedback as well.”

ERIK JONES
NO. 43 ADVENTHEALTH TOYOTA CAMRY XSE
JONES CHARLOTTE STATS: Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 will mark Jones’ 11th NASCAR Cup Series start at Charlotte. In his 10 previous runs, Jones has one top-10 with his best finish of seventh in his Coca-Cola 600 debut in May 2017. While the challenge of the longest race of the year has proven to be hard, Jones has run finished inside the top-20 for a majority of his races. Outside of the Cup Series, Jones has a total of six starts on the 1.5-mile oval at Charlotte – five in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and one in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He owns two top-fives in the Xfinity Series with his best finish of second in October 2015 after starting third. He has a best finish of second after starting in the same place in the Truck Series.

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY: In Jones’ first NASCAR start at Charlotte in the Craftsman Truck Series, he made quite the impact and turned heads for the future 2015 Truck Series Champion. After starting second, Jones led 88 of the 139 laps before battling Kasey Kahne in the closing lap to finish just .005 of a second behind Kahne to finish second. The finish is tied for third closest in Craftsman Truck Series history with the 2008 finish between Erik Darnell and Johnny Benson, Jr.

BESHORE AT CHARLOTTE: Beshore has a total of three races on top of the box for the 1.5-mile oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In these three races, he’s scored back-to-back top three finishes in the Coca-Cola 600 in May 2021 and 2022 with Kyle Busch. In last year’s Coca-Cola 600, the team scored a 30th-place result after starting 26th.

MELANOMA AWARENESS INITIATIVE: The Erik Jones Foundation is continuing its longest-standing activation at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend with its distribution of sunscreen samples during the Coca-Cola 600 race weekend. Jones and his team plan to hand out over 5,000 samples of EltaMD products as part of the initiative. Since its first distribution in 2022, the foundation has distributed over 15,000 samples to campers and fans at Charlotte, which equates to approximately $450,000 in product. This is just a small testament to Jones’ commitment to protecting NASCAR and its fans while honoring his personal connection to Melanoma Awareness.

600 MILES OF REMEMBRANCE: As part of NASCAR’s Memorial Day weekend activities, Jones will honor a fallen soldier on his No. 43 AdventHealth Toyota Camry XSE. Riding alongside Jones will be SSG Justin R. Whiting from the United States Army. Born on Sept. 24, 1980, Justin was one of four siblings, most of whom enlisted in the military. Justin’s older sister Amanda joined the military prior to her younger brother’s enlistment in 1999. His younger brother Nathan joined after him and both were deployed to Iraq in 2008 at the same time. SSG Whiting gave his life on Jan. 19, 2008 near the city of Mosul, Iraq.

ERIK JONES QUOTE:

“I’m looking forward to Charlotte and the Coca-Cola 600. It’s honestly such a fun race for a lot of reasons. Obviously being at home is really nice, but also the way that Charlotte Motor Speedway honors our fallen soldiers on Memorial Day weekend. It’s just really special. I’m honored to have U.S. Army SSG Justin Whiting on the car for his family. I’m looking forward to meeting his family over the weekend and really letting them see what this weekend and the Charlotte race are all about. It’s honestly been one of the best mile-and-a-half races over the past few years. I’m ready to put on a show.”

BEN BESHORE QUOTE:

“Honestly, the length of the Coca-Cola 600 doesn’t make our preparation too different from a car setup standpoint. It’s a unique race that you kind of start during the day and then transition to the sunset period and then end at night. You do have to keep that in mind as you’re setting your car up. You’re probably going to run your fastest laps at the end of the race as it cools off. We don’t to put ourselves in a box where you can’t adjust the car and it’s the longest race of the year so you’re never really out of it. You can go a lap down at multiple times during the race and gamble to get your way back on the lead lap. You can fight your way back through after a spin or damage or something. There’s a long time to get back in it, and it tends to get crazy at the end. We just need to keep our head down and keep fighting all night. Coming off of Texas where we had a good run, we’re hoping to carry over some of what we learned there into another intermediate track.”

JIMMIE JOHNSON
NO. 84 CARVANA TOYOTA CAMRY XSE
HONORING 1st LT MATTHEW DAVIS: Matthew Davis was from Drexel Hill, PA and graduated from Pennsylvania State University before joining the United States Marine Corps. Though eligible for a commission, he chose to enlist and served as a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) defense Marine. After completing an overseas deployment and rising to the rank of sergeant, Matt later earned his commission as an infantry officer. As a platoon commander with Boat Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Matt led his Marines through demanding amphibious operations—navigating frigid surf in small rubber craft. He also completed rigorous mountain warfare training and deployed to the western Pacific. Whether among his Marines, his family, or the many others he impacted, Matt consistently brought out the best in those around him.

On the evening of November 7, 1st Lt. Matthew Davis was patrolling near his regimental headquarters at Camp San Mateo on the northern end of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, when he was tragically struck and killed by a drunk driver traveling at high speed. Matt died instantly and did not suffer, and was just 30 years old.

He is survived by his wife Elizabeth, son Logan, and daughter Aubrey, along with his parents, brothers, and family. Matt was honored with a memorial service and a military burial at Quantico National Cemetery. His legacy of service, strength, and selfless leadership lives on in all who knew him.

CARVANA-BASED LIVERY: The tribute extends beyond racing history. As part of NASCAR’s “600 Miles of Remembrance” on Memorial Day weekend, Johnson’s No. 84 will carry the name of 1st Lt. Matthew Robert Davis, USMC, a fallen service member selected in partnership with CarVets, Carvana’s Veteran-focused Employee Resource Group, ensuring every lap is run in honor of a hero’s sacrifice.

LED BY LEGACY, NEON 84: For this milestone start and moving forward, Johnson’s No. 84 Toyota features his signature neon yellow numbers, a nod to his seven-time Championship-winning No. 48 he shared so much success in for the last two decades.

GOAT DRIVE: Before the 600-mile race, Johnson will take a short drive of his own at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with some precious cargo. Johnson and NFL legend Tom Brady will be participating in the “G.O.A.T. Drive” at the Indianapolis 500, leading the field to green in a two-seater INDYCAR before the race. This event, which is being dubbed the “G.O.A.T. Drive,” is a special pre-race ceremony where Johnson and Brady, both considered racing legends, will take a ride in the “Fastest Seat in Sports” live on FOX.

JOHNSON MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Johnson will be available to the media on Saturday, May 24 at 11:45 a.m. in the media center at Charlotte Motor Speedway to talk about his 700th career start and many other topics.

JIMMIE JOHNSON QUOTES:

“To reach my 700th start at the very race and track where my Cup career began makes this moment incredibly special. It’s a full-circle journey, and to share it with fans on Memorial Day weekend while honoring a fallen service member adds even more meaning.”

“This week is going to be very special to me, busy as can be, but I am embracing it and will cherish each moment and interaction. Our LEGACY MC cars were awesome at Texas and Kansas so there is a ton of momentum for our CLUB right now and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the No. 84 Carvana Toyota.”
CLUB APPEARANCES:
JJ ON SIRIUS: Johnson will join the crew for The Morning Drive this week on Friday, May 23 at 9:00 a.m. ET on SIRIUS XM NASCAR Channel 90 live.

JJ IN MEDIA: Johnson joins hosts Mike Forde, Amanda Ellis, and Nate Ryan, for “NASCAR Hauler Talk” where they offer fans a closer look at what happens behind the scenes, from rule changes to officiating decisions, logistics, and broadcasting. Johnson will also join “Rubbin’ is Racing”, a NASCAR podcast hosted by Large and Spider of Barstool Sports. It provides a behind-the-scenes look at the sport, featuring interviews with NASCAR drivers and discussions about the betting aspects of the sport. The podcast is released weekly, typically on Thursdays. Post-race, Johnson will join Steve Letarte for “Inside the Race” after the 600 the week of May 27.

MELIN: On Friday, Nemechek will appear at the new Melin storefront in Birkdale Village (16942 Birkdale Commons Pkwy, Huntersville, NC 28078) from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to sign some autographs and take some photographs with the No. 42 Pye-Barker Toyota Camry XSE.
TUNE IN:
The Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway takes place on Sunday, May 25. The race will start at 6 p.m. EDT and will broadcast on Amazon Prime, MAX, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

LMC PR