Coca-Cola 600 Pre-Race Festivities to Feature Military Salute, Larry the Cable Guy and Darius Rucker
CONCORD, N.C. (May 25, 2011) - During the pre-race show for the
52nd running of the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 29, Charlotte Motor
Speedway officials will salute the U.S. armed forces with a military
demonstration, special awards, military band performances and a
presentation with Medal of Honor recipients. The pre-race festivities
will also include an appearance by Larry the Cable Guy, voice of Mater
in Disney*Pixar's "CARS 2" and the singing of the national anthem by
Capitol Records recording artist Darius Rucker.
Gates will open at 12:30 p.m. An approximate timeline of
pre-race events follows:
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
The U.S. Army Drill Team will perform along with the 82nd
Airborne Division Chorus, followed by a simulated military invasion by
U.S. Army Special Forces troops from Fort Bragg, N.C. The soldiers will
repel into the infield from Little Bird helicopters and will fire a
Howitzer gun to eliminate a suspicious target. Once the mission is
complete, 600 troops from Fort Bragg will march toward the start/finish
line from Turns 1 and 4 to secure the area.
4:30 p.m. - 5:10 p.m.
Country music singer Darryl Worley will perform a 30-minute
concert that will include his single "How You Forgotten?", about the
events of Sept. 11, 2001. Medal of Honor recipients Hector Cafferata
(Korea), Gary Littrell (Vietnam) and Walter Marm (Vietnam) will be
recognized on stage, after which Lee Greenwood will perform his
patriotic anthem, "God Bless the U.S.A."
5:10 p.m. - 5:20 p.m.
Defending VisitMyrtleBeach.com NHRA Four-Wide Nationals champion
and Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Top Fuel points leader Del Worsham
will perform a ground-shaking burnout down pit road in his Team Al-Anabi
Top Fuel dragster.
Vietnam War veteran and former Post Commander of the American Legion,
Dale Punch, will be honored with the Stonewall Jackson Award. Presented
by Charlotte Motor Speedway annually since 1992, the award recognizes
standards of patriotism through personal support of the military and
personal service to sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty.
5:20 p.m. - 5:25 p.m.
A host of VIPs will grace the pre-race stage, including
blue-collar comedian and the voice of Mater in the upcoming Disney*Pixar
summer comedy "CARS 2," Larry the Cable Guy who will serve as Honorary
Pace Car Driver. North Carolina Speaker of the House Thom Tillis will
serve as host to Grand Marshal Beth Harwell, Tennessee Speaker of the
House and Honorary Starter Bobby Harrell, South Carolina Speaker.
One lucky fan will also drive away in a brand new Toyota Camry
as the winner of Charlotte Motor Speedway's Text-to-Win contest. Four
finalists will earn the opportunity to compete on the frontstretch to
determine the fastest fan. The fan who posts the quickest time in the
special competition to pack a Camry for race day with a cooler full of
Coca-Cola, grill, charcoal and groceries; put on their Toyota Racing
gear; jump in the driver's seat and start the engine will win the keys
to the car.
5:25 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
The 43 drivers in the Coca-Cola 600 get the introduction of a
lifetime when U.S. military members serving abroad present the
competitors on the world's largest HDTV. Following the one-of-a-kind
driver introductions, a Wounded Warrior will ride around the track with
each of the NASCAR drivers during his introduction.
5:45 p.m. - 6:05 p.m.
The U.S. Army Black Daggers parachute team will perform a jump
over the speedway, while the 82nd Airborne Chorus sings "The Armed
Forces Medley." Jim Daly, president of the non-profit group Focus on the
Family, will give the invocation. Country music star and former lead
singer of Hootie and the Blowfish, Darius Rucker, will perform the
national anthem.
Additionally, the Presentation of Colors will be performed by
the U.S. All Army Color Guard and a bagpipe performance of "Amazing
Grace" will be given by the Charlotte Fire Department Pipes and Drums.
A 21-gun salute and "Taps" will be performed by soldiers stationed at
Fort Bragg. During the national anthem, more than 100 family members of
Fort Bragg soldiers will unfurl an 11,250-square-foot American flag on
the frontstretch grass. The final fly-over before the start of the race
will include a B-2 Stealth Bomber flown by pilots from the 509th Bomb
Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.
Tickets for all races at Charlotte Motor Speedway can be purchased
online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling the speedway
ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Fans can purchase two
frontstretch tickets with the best views of the world's largest HDTV for
just $99 to the Coca-Cola 600.
For daily updates on May race activities, connect with Charlotte
Motor Speedway by following on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CLTMotorSpdwy
or become a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/charlottemotorspeedway.
Coca-Cola 600 Pre-Race Festivities to Feature Military Salute, Larry the Cable Guy and Darius Rucker
Reviewed by Admin
on
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
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