A 600-Mile Ride of Freedom, Honor & Remembrance

“Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.” – Unknown

Nearly 400 miles away from Charlotte Motor Speedway, the site of the NASCAR Cup Series’ longest race, the Coca-Cola 600, sits the 639 acres that make up Arlington National Cemetery.

To the naked eye, the sight might consist of rows upon rows of white marble headstones. But with each solitary grave, these resting places represent the very core of the freedom that we stand upon as Americans.

Arlington is the final resting place for combatants and veterans of the Revolutionary War, Civil War, both World Wars, the Vietnam War, the Iraq War and many others throughout the nation’s military efforts.

Atop a hill on the property lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Initially built in 1921, it became the resting place of an unidentified World War I soldier on Nov. 21, 1921. The sarcophagus stands as a memorial to thousands of soldiers whose bodies have not been recovered, or whose remains could not be identified.

As a part of its NASCAR Salutes Together With Coca-Cola program, an annual tradition has seen the defending Coca-Cola 600 winner visit Arlington, where they take part in the ceremony of changing the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The annual tradition is a small sample size of a special tribute NASCAR pays to the fallen each Memorial Day, with the Coca-Cola 600 serving as the pinnacle of its homage. Pre-race military demonstrations, driver introductions by active soldiers and red, white and blue as far as the eye can see are many of the sights to take in prior to the race. The race also pauses briefly after stage two as the cars stop on pit road for a moment of silence to honor the fallen.

Another notable tradition can be identified on each driver’s car. In place of the driver’s last name on the windshield banner is the name of a fallen soldier, along with their ranking.

“The Coca-Cola 600 is one of the most meaningful races of the year because of how deeply it honors our military,” Alex Bowman told Frontstretch. “From pre-race ceremonies to the moment of silence, everything is built around showing respect and gratitude to those who’ve served — and especially to those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice. It’s bigger than racing — it’s about honoring real heroes.”

Along with a special red, white and blue livery aboard his No. 48, Bowman will be carrying the name of Hospital Corpsman Second Class Michael Richard Kempel.

A native of Akron, Ohio, Kempel enlisted in the United States Navy after high school, providing medical care to wounded soldiers. He was said to distract those soldiers from their injuries through his sense of humor. Outside of the military, Kempel was also an avid car enthusiast and the proud owner of a 1964 Ford Galaxie 500, a car he won with at a drag racing event in Ohio.

On Aug. 27, 1970, Kempel, who was a petty officer, was part of a platoon in Vietnam when they unknowingly entered an enemy minefield. One mine exploded, wounding several soldiers, who Kempel immediately tended to in the face of danger. Kempel then stepped on another mine, significantly injuring himself. Despite this, he crawled to the point Marine of the platoon to administer care before succumbing to his injuries at the age of 22. He was awarded the Silver Star by the President of the United States for his heroic actions.

“Having a fallen service member’s name on our Coca-Cola 600 car is truly an honor,” Bowman said. “We had a video call last week with Michael’s family, and it was really special to hear stories about him. We also got to show them the paint scheme with his name on the windshield, which made the moment really special. It’s something I don’t take lightly, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to honor his legacy.”

Bowman’s Hendrick teammate William Byron will be honoring Corporal Garry Dwight Barbee. Barbee is the uncle of Jason Gray, a truck driver for the No. 24 team at HMS. Two weeks into his service for the Army at Pleiku, Vietnam, Barbee sacrificed his life for his country at the young age of 20 on Aug. 2, 1969. A member of Company B of the 1st Battalion in the 1st Infantry.

Several wars and conflicts will be tied into the stories of each serviceman and servicewoman recognized in Charlotte. Some, like HM2 Kempel and Cpl. Barbee, paid the ultimate price in the 1960s and 1970s in Vietnam. Others were more recent, such as Private First Class Specialist James Waters, whose name will ride along on Michael McDowell‘s No. 71.

Spc. Waters was a native of Cloverdale, Ind. Shortly after graduating from Whiteland High School, where he was a three-letter athlete, he enlisted in the Army. After serving as an infantry gunner at Fort Drum, he was deployed to Afghanistan. While in Kandahar Province, he perished in an IED attack on July 1, 2011 at the age of 21. Following his sacrifice, his three brothers enlisted, carrying on the legacy Spc. Waters left behind.

Memorial Day weekend has been special for Team Penske, especially in recent years. Winning two Coke 600s since 2020, as well as entering the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 as back-to-back champions with Josef Newgarden, its accolades on one of motorsport’s most historic weekends adds to the pedigree of honoring America’s heroes.

Austin Cindric‘s No. 2 Ford will be carrying the name of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kenneth V. Welch. CW2 Welch was among 23 people killed in a suicide bombing at the US Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, on Sept. 20, 1984. A native of Wyoming, Mich., Welch was the father of two sons at the time of his death.

Ryan Blaney, who won the 2023 Coca-Cola 600, will pay tribute to Sergeant Robert M. Carr. Sgt. Carr was a member of the U.S. Army, serving in Iraq. While in Baghdad on March 13, 2007, Sgt. Carr gave his life for his country at the age of 22. He was remembered by his family as one who always had his dog tags on and someone who loved WWE. He dream was to become a UFC fighter once he got out of the Army. However, his fight was one that was committed to the freedom of his country.

Three-time Cup champion Joey Logano will carry the name of Private First Class Thomas W. Myers, a native of Middlesex, N.J., who served in the U.S. Army. The eighth of 11 children in his family, PFC Myers was the seventh of his eight brothers to enlist. At the age of 26, PFC Myers lost his life in action in Dinh Tuong, South Vietnam, on May 27, 1969. His bravery earned him a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, First Oak Leaf Cluster and Vietnam Battle Citation.

Chase Briscoe will have the honor to pay homage to Staff Sergeant Alan W. Shaw. A man known as an exceptional leader who always brought a smile to peoples’ faces, Shaw was nicknamed Superman by his unit.

Enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1998, SSG. Shaw was serving with the 1st Battalion, 12th Calvary Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Calvary Division from Fort Hood, Texas, in Baqubah, Iraq. On Feb. 9, 2007, he was killed while observing a building for booby traps when an explosion occurred. He was on his fifth tour overall, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. His actions will never be forgotten, and he was recognized with the Bronze Star. Not only was he a tremendous soldier, but he was also known as a terrific father to three children.

Legacy Motor Club has two special soldiers riding along with them for NASCAR’s longest race. On Erik Jones‘ No. 43 Toyota will be the name of Staff Sergeant Justin R. Whiting, a member of the U.S. Army who gave his life on Jan. 19, 2008, in Mosul, Iraq. According to his family, SSG. Whiting had breakfast with his younger brother, Nathan, who was also enlisted, that morning.

John Hunter Nemechek will recognize a soldier who was a member of the unit that raised the flag on Iwo Jima during World War II. Private First Class Walter “Ray” Thetford was killed in action on March 4, 1945 in Iwo Jima while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, dying from wounds he received during the battle.

These heroic, courageous and distinguished men are just a few of the many names who will be honored this weekend, names of whom we should never forget. Without these men and women, freedom would truly not be free.

In a time where so much can divide a nation, where so many things vie for our attention on a daily basis, these are monumental reminders that the freedoms we possess today have not come without a price.

NASCAR has set itself apart from other sports in the way it recognizes the fallen. Each lap comes with recognition that many have fought and continue to fight for the values we cherish as Americans.

So, if you ever get the chance to visit Arlington, or by simply taking a moment to reflect this Memorial Day, may we remember this. Those who lie under the marble tombstones across the 639 acres that make up Arlington, or those who have found a final resting place elsewhere have not died in infamy, nor defeat. They have sacrificed their lives as heroes, the heartbeat of America.

Over 400,000 strong.