Hegseth will join representatives from the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps to fire the engines for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was named the grand marshal for the Coca-Cola 600, Charlotte Motor Speedway announced on Friday.
Hegseth will join representatives from the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps to fire the engines for NASCAR’s longest race on Memorial Day weekend. Speedway officials announced that Hegseth will also deliver the State of Freedom speech ahead of next Sunday’s race.
Prior to joining the Trump administration, Hegseth was commissioned as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army National Guard after graduating from Princeton in 2003. He participated in numerous active-duty deployments during his military career, including operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“It’s an honor to return to the Coca-Cola 600 as the historic event’s grand marshal,” Hegseth said. “I’ll never forget attending in 2022 — the overwhelming sense of patriotism, the unity of the crowd, and the deep respect shown to our men and women in uniform. This event is a powerful tribute to those who serve and sacrifice for our freedoms. I’m proud to be part of such a strong American tradition that celebrates our military in such an impactful way.”
It’s become one of NASCAR’s most well-known traditions to honor the military at the Coca-Cola 600. Each Memorial Day weekend, NASCAR drivers carry the legacy of fallen heroes on their windshields as part of NASCAR’s 600 Miles of Remembrance program.
President Donald Trump attended last year’s race as a guest of team owner Richard Childress while on the campaign trail for the 2024 election.
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