Three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion , Joey Logano , traded his hearth fit for a flak jacket as Mission 600 kicked off its 2025 plan with a visit to , Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune , on Tuesday.
Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Mission 600 is an annual plan that sets owners and local military outposts as a build up to the Coca-Cola 600 on , Memorial Day , Weekend.
Tuesday’s browse, which even comes ahead of the Marine Corps ‘ 250th birthday party later this year, provided the Coca-Cola Racing Family vehicle with an interactive time meeting , Marines , from the 2d , Combat Engineer Battalion. The 2d CEB provides close-combat expert help to the 2d Marine Division in order to improve accessibility, counter-mobility and endurance.
Alongside Charlotte Motor Speedway , President and General Manager , Greg Walter, Logano learned about the squadron’s explosive ordinance features, including watching the preparation and blast of 40-pound maker and crater fees. Following a tour of the base in a UTV and lunch with a team of , Marines, Logano and Walter faced off head-to-head in a heavy-equipment contest designed to create digging pits or undermining anti-tank ponds. The pair drove a JCB High Mobility Engineer Excavator ( Combat Tractor ) and a 30-ton D7 bulldozer to highlight the role engineers may play in combat situations.
” To get to see first, a little bit of how these people train, one, helps us get back and talk to our culture fans to discuss that what they are doing for our safety below in America”, Logano said. ” But, I also take some stuff back to my race team. I get to see the way these teams work and how everyone works together. What these men and women are able to do, I’m proud to be here with the , Marines , and proud to be American”.
For leadership at Camp Lejeune, having someone like Logano visit is great for morale, but also for highlighting what these men and women do in service to the , Marines.
” I think every Marine that chooses to join has a different path as to why they came here”, said Maj.  , Nicholas King. ” Ultimately, it’s a great opportunity, especially around our 250th , Marine Corps , birthday celebration, to really capture that legacy and then show that bond to the future , Marine Corps , and to our civilian counterparts — not just an average civilian, but a , NASCAR , champion.
” The smiles on the Marines ‘ faces, actually getting to meet, interact with him and realize he’s just a genuine, down-to-earth person was something to remember.”
At , Charlotte Motor Speedway,  , Memorial Day , Weekend provides the opportunity to pay tribute to the men and women of the , U. S.  , Armed Forces, particularly those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. With the support of the , U. S. Department of Defense, the patriotic Coca-Cola 600 pre-race show includes representation from all six major branches of the military.
” When you think about the commitment that it takes, the discipline that it takes to be in our military, it makes me proud to live in this country every day,” Logano said”. They’re putting their lives on the line for strangers, people that they’ve never met before. How grateful we all should be to be living in a country like this where, we have people that are willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice.”
___
The Sanford Herald, 2025
Tribune Content Agency, LLC distributed.
