It’s More Than a Race: NASCAR Drivers Reflect on The Coca-Cola 600’s Powerful Pre-Race Traditions
CONCORD, NC (May 20, 2025) – 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:
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