NASCAR’s ultimate test of endurance occurs every year on the Sunday before Memorial Day. It is NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 — the longest race in NASCAR. The race is not just a test of speed, but a tribute to those who have fallen while serving our great country, the United States of America.
The race is held at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, in the heartland of stock-car racing. Nearly every NASCAR team is based out of the Charlotte metro area. Nearly all drivers live in that same general area. The state has 4 active NASCAR tracks, including Charlotte, Rockingham, North Wilkesboro, and Bowman Gray, which last hosted the Cook Out Clash in 2025 and 2026.
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NASCAR brings its home game to the limelight of pop culture. The Coca-Cola 600 is run in primetime at 6:00 p.m. on the holiday weekend. The event broadcast on Prime is the most-viewed of all Prime-broadcast races, with 2.7 million viewers tuning in last year (2025).
NASCAR Honors United States Service Members
Chase Briscoe’s Car with “1st LT Tyler” Listed on his windshield as a Memorial Day Tribute. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)(Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
The race focuses on honoring fallen service members through a multitude of forms. Most notably, each NASCAR Cup Series car represents a United States Military Veteran. Instead of the usual driver’s name on the windshield of their cars, a veteran’s name is listed on each windshield. The race is hailed as “600 Miles of Remembrance.”
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During breaks in the broadcast, each driver spoke about their designated veteran, with each driver representing one. Their military service was later reflected in the ranks, decorations, and honors attached to their names.
Many paint schemes were patriotic, including those of Chase Briscoe, Tyler Reddick, Austin Dillon, Daniel Suarez, Chase Elliott, and many others.
At the halfway mark of the Coca-Cola 600 at the Stage 2 end, the cars come down pit road to bring the race to a halt. Cars turned off their engines, and a moment of silence was held with a flag displayed on the tri-oval grass in front of the pit lane.
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The event featured a special flyover by four helicopters from the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade. Pre-race, further tributes were held to honor the fallen.
All activities for the Memorial Day weekend event are a part of the NASCAR Salutes Together campaign.
The race ultimately went off, with Daniel Suarez of Spire Motorsports as the winner. Suarez is of Mexican roots, born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. In 2024, Suarez earned his United States citizenship. He also earned his first Crown Jewel race win with the 2026 Coca-Cola 600 victory in a rain-shortened 373-lap event.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on May 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the Racing section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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