NASCAR’s 2026 season may officially end at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 8, but the sport already has another event on the calendar three days later.
On Wednesday, NASCAR and Ford announced the creation of the “Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic,” a new exhibition race scheduled for Nov. 11 that will feature six NASCAR drivers competing in Ford sports cars while representing each branch of the United States military.
Advertisement
The event was unveiled aboard the USS Midway in San Diego during NASCAR’s race week festivities surrounding this weekend’s inaugural Naval Base Coronado event.
While several details remain unknown, including the track that will host the race and the six drivers who will participate, the announcement signals another expansion of NASCAR’s growing relationship with military organizations and patriotic events.
NASCAR and Ford Expand Their Veterans Day Partnership
According to the announcement, the Veterans Day Classic will operate as a standalone event separate from NASCAR’s regular-season schedule.
Ford’s track-only Mustang Dark Horse R race cars will be used for the competition. The event is designed to honor all six branches of the U.S. military and will take place on Veterans Day itself, giving NASCAR a national platform after the championship season has already concluded.
Advertisement
Ford also plans to showcase its limited-edition red, white and blue Super Duty Proud to Honor package during the event, with a portion of proceeds supporting Blue Star Families.
NASCAR has long maintained close ties with the military through race sponsorships, flyovers, enlistment programs and military appreciation initiatives, making the Veterans Day Classic a natural extension of that relationship.
A New Tradition Could Be Taking Shape
The timing of the announcement is notable.
NASCAR’s championship race is scheduled for Nov. 8 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, which traditionally would have marked the end of the sport’s competitive calendar.
Advertisement
Instead, NASCAR and Ford are creating a standalone showcase that gives drivers another opportunity to compete while shining a spotlight on military service members and their families.
“The Veterans Day Classic race this November is going to be the start of a great new tradition that I’m super proud to be a part of,” Ford Performance CEO Mark Rushbrook said in a statement. “And these events will give us a real way to show up for our troops. And to do that during America’s 250th feels incredibly meaningful.”
For now, NASCAR fans will have to wait for additional details regarding the location, format and driver lineup.
NASCAR has experimented with exhibition events before, but few have been built around a mission larger than racing itself. Whether the Veterans Day Classic becomes an annual tradition remains to be seen, but NASCAR and Ford are clearly betting that the concept has staying power.
Read the full article here
