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Three-time Coca-Cola 600 winner Bobby Allison is Grand Marshal
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SC U.S. Senator Jim DeMint will wave green flag to start race
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AL House Speaker Seth Hammett is Honorary Race Director
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50th running of Coca-Cola 600 will honor
American Armed Forces
NASCAR legend and three-time winner of the Coca-Cola 600 Bobby Allison
will serve as the Grand Marshal for the 50th running of the
Coca-Cola 600 at famed Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Joining him as race
officials for the Memorial Day weekend extravaganza are South Carolina
U.S. Senator Jim DeMint as Honorary Starter and Alabama House Speaker
Seth Hammett as Honorary Race Director.
A spectacular pre-race show honoring members of America’s Armed Forces
will precede the Memorial Day weekend Sprint Cup classic, one of the
largest sporting events in the nation.
“We are really excited about having three-time Coca-Cola 600 winner
Bobby Allison serve as Grand Marshal for this year’s race—the 50th
running of the Coca-Cola 600,” said Coca-Cola Consolidated spokesman
Lauren Steele. “In addition, we are honored to have such distinguished
public servants and American leaders like Senator Jim DeMint of South
Carolina and Alabama Speaker Seth Hammett serve as race officials.”
“Again this year, preceding the race there will be a special tribute to
our nation’s men and women in our Armed Forces,” Steele added. “All of
us at Coca-Cola join NASCAR fans across the nation in expressing our
thanks and support for the members of the United States Armed Forces who
are serving to protect our freedoms in Iraq, Afghanistan and throughout
the world. It is only appropriate on Memorial Day weekend that we pay a
special tribute to America’s military.”
More than 1,500 members of the military will participate in the pre-race
show. Soldiers from Fort Bragg will utilize Chinook and Blackhawk
helicopters as well as ground artillery to conduct military maneuvers
and secure the frontstretch for a special delivery. In addition, more
than 100 relatives of active soldiers will unfurl a giant American flag
in the shape of the United States.
As race officials, Allison, DeMint and Hammett will be honored at a
pre-race event, attend the official drivers meeting, address the crowd
of nearly 180,000 fans, participate in the pre-race spectacular and
present the trophy in Victory Lane.
