MAY 1, 2025 – Christopher Bell, winner of last year’s Memorial Day weekend NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina, visited Arlington National Cemetery and toured the Pentagon today.
At the cemetery, he visited several grave markers, including that of Medal of Honor recipient Army Maj. Audie Murphy. Army Col. Michael Binetti, chief of staff of Arlington National Cemetery, told Bell about the valor that led to Murphy receiving the nation’s highest military decoration.
Bell and his wife, Morgan, also watched the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Bell then placed a wreath at the tomb.
Afterward, Bell reflected on the experience.
“It was pretty surreal just being here at Arlington cemetery,” he said. “You really can’t put it into words. It makes you put things in perspective and makes you understand there are much bigger things in the world … seeing all the headstones, thinking about the freedoms that we have.”
He continued: “It just hits hard whenever you see how many are here, how many people have paid the price for us to live in the country that we live in and to have the things that we have, the freedoms we have. It’s the greatest nation in the world, and a reminder that freedom isn’t free.”
The visit is part of the speedway’s military appreciation program, known as Mission 600, which leads up to their flagship race, the Coca-Cola 600.
Every year, the speedway offers military-focused events during the Coca-Cola 600 race weekend, including a luncheon and program for Gold Star families, recruiting and community outreach booths from all military branches, band and drill performances and a keynote address by a military leader.
The event also features a special tribute called, “600 Miles of Remembrance,” in which all 40 race cars prominently display the name of a fallen service member. At the 200-mile mark, the race pauses for a moment of silence to honor those service members who made the ultimate sacrifice and their families.
As part of Mission 600, in partnership with the services, NASCAR drivers visit military installations in the weeks leading up to the race to educate the NASCAR community about the day-to-day lives of service members and give military personnel a chance to interact with the drivers.
In addition to Bell’s visit today, other scheduled and completed Mission 600 events this year include:
- April 8 – NASCAR M600: Joey Logano visited the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
- April 23 – NASCAR M600: Daniel Suarez visited the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
- May 1 – NASCAR M600: Denny Hamlin will make a virtual visit to service members in Germany.
- May 7 – NASCAR M600: Austin Dillon will visit Naval Station, Norfolk, Virginia.
- May 13 – NASCAR M600: Chase Elliott will visit Coast Guard Station, Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.
More About Christopher Bell
Bell, 30, a Norman, Oklahoma, native, drives the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. He has 12 career Cup Series wins, most recently claiming victory in March 2025 at Phoenix Raceway.
The Phoenix win marked his third consecutive victory, making him the 29th driver in history to accomplish that feat. Bell earned his first career win in 2021 at the Daytona International Speedway road course in Daytona Beach, Florida.
In October 2022, he won at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia to clinch his first premier series Championship 4 appearance. Bell previously drove the No. 95 Toyota full time for Leavine Family Racing in 2020 during his rookie campaign.
He spent the previous two seasons in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Joe Gibbs Racing and now has 19 career Xfinity Series wins. Bell won the 2017 Craftsman Truck Series championship and has seven career Truck Series wins.
Bell said he plans to race in this year’s Coca-Cola 600.
By David Vergun, DOD News