Sgt. Aaron Causey will be Grand
Marshal; U.S. Sen. Tim Scott will serve as Honorary Starter and Tennessee’s Lt.
Gov. Ron Ramsey will serve as Honorary Race Director for the 54th
running of NASCAR’s only 600-mile race on Sunday, May 26.
“It is our pleasure to welcome
these distinguished elected officials, as well as a military hero to the 2013
Coca-Cola 600,” said Lauren C. Steele, senior vice president, corporate
affairs, Coca-Cola Consolidated. “It is exciting to have these state leaders to
recognize America’s servicemen and women at the largest Memorial Day
celebration in the country. We are honored to have a true American hero
announce those famous words: ‘Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!’”
Scott and Ramsey will be honored
at a pre-race event, attend the official drivers meeting, address the crowd of
more than 140,000 fans, participate in the pre-race spectacular and present the
trophy to the winning driver in Victory Lane. Causey will give the race
command, while Scott will wave the green flag over the 43-car field to start
NASCAR’s most challenging race. As Honorary Race Director, Ramsey will ride in
an official pace car.
Causey graduated from EOD school
at Eglin Air Force Base in August 2001 and was then stationed in Aviano, Italy.
He served in Iraq in 2004 along with many other international missions during
his years in Aviano. In 2006, he left the Air Force to continue working in EOD,
transferring to the Army. He deployed to Iraq 2006-08 out of Fort Stewart, Ga.,
then was stationed in Mannheim, Germany 2008-10. Later in 2010, he was
stationed at Fort Drum, NY and deployed to Afghanistan in March 2011. On Sept.
7, 2011, he was performing dismounted operations in an attempt to disarm a
suspected IED when one detonated under him. He ultimately lost both legs above
the knees, two fingers, suffered broken arms and hand injuries, shrapnel wounds
over most of his upper body, loss of tissue, and multiple other serious
injuries. He lives with his wife of three years, Kat. After recovery is
complete, they intend to stay in the DC-metro area and build a new life
together.
Scott is a U.S. senator
representing the great state of South Carolina. His goal is simple: to
positively affect the lives of the American people. That path has taken him
from a successful small businessman, to being elected to Charleston County
Council, the South Carolina State House, the U.S. House of Representatives, and
now the U.S Senate.
Ramsey is serving his fourth term
as Lt. Governor of Tennessee. A small businessman himself, he has become a
leading voice for economic growth in his state and region. He and his wife,
Sindy, live in Blountville.
Continuing its tradition as the
biggest Memorial Day Weekend celebration in America, the Coca-Cola 600 pre-race
show will pay tribute to veterans and active duty members of the U.S. Armed
Forces. The Welcome Home Our Troops Coca-Cola 600 pre-race show will also
include a performance of “I Will Give My All” by country music artist Jamie
Tate and the 82nd Airborne All-American Chorus, a bagpipe
performance of “Amazing Grace” by the Charlotte Fire Department Pipe Band and
“Taps” played by a Fort Bragg bugler. There will also be a 21-gun salute from
the Fort Bragg Firing Squad.
Coca-Cola has been involved with
stock car racing for more than 50 years and has been the official sparkling
beverage of NASCAR since 1998. Through its partnerships with International
Speedway Corporation, Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and Indianapolis Motor
Speedway, Coca-Cola refreshes racing fans at the majority of NASCAR-sanctioned
tracks. A signature part of the brand’s NASCAR association is the Coca-Cola
Racing Family – a group of top drivers that include Greg Biffle, Denny Hamlin,
Joey Logano, Ryan Newman, Danica Patrick and Tony Stewart. The company also
maintains relationships with Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, Kyle Petty and
Elliott Sadler. Coca-Cola Racing Family members make appearances and are
featured in advertising, promotions and packaging.
Tickets for all May 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 excellent views of pit road and the world’s largest HDTV for just
$99 to the May 26 Coca-Cola 600.
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