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NASCAR to honor military members at Charlotte

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400

DOVER, DE - OCTOBER 04: Members of the United States Air Force take part in pre-race ceremonies for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on October 4, 2015 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)

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For the third consecutive year, NASCAR Cup cars will feature the names of fallen military service members on the front windshield for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Some military members honored will have ties to a member of that team.
U.S. Army sergeant Gregory Allen Belanger, who was killed in Hallia, Iraq in 2003, was a friend of Team Penske employee Darin Russell, engine tuner for Ryan Blaney’s team.

Harold Tussey, whose name will be displayed on Paul Menard’s car, lost his life in the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. The third-class petty officer’s great nephew, Troy Tussey, is a mechanic with Richard Childress Racing.

Among other events that will take place during NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola are:


  • Xfinity teams will display red, white and blue windshield decals on their cars for Saturday’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
  • NASCAR, with Honor and Remember Inc., will display specially prepared Honor and Remember flags representing those who have died in service from each of the 50 United States throughout the Cup garage at Charlotte.
  • Goodyear will again have “Support Our Troops” on the sidewall of its tires this weekend.
  • Owners in the Toyota Owners Hub at Charlotte Motor Speedway will have the chance to write letters of appreciation to military members serving overseas and can sign their name on a Camry race car hood, which will be presented to the USO of North Carolina before the Coca-Cola 600.
  • NASCAR fans are encouraged to use #NASCARSalutes on social media. A special NASCAR Salutes filter will be available on Snapchat for fans.