2018 600 Miles of Remembrance

Memorial Day weekend marks a very special time in the NASCAR community, the beginning of the NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola campaign that runs through the July 4th weekend. In honor of Memorial Day, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers in the Coca-Cola 600 will carry the name of a fallen military member on their cars. Read more about these 51 heroes who gave their lives defending the United States of America.

No. 00 car, Lance Cpl. Osbrany Montes De Oca, United States Marine Corps

Hometown: North Arlington, New Jersey
Date of birth: 10/15/1992
Date of death: 2/10/12 (Helmand Province, Afghanistan)
Note: Osbrany Montes De Oca, 20, was killed on February 10, 2012 in the Helmand Province, Afghanistan, just 10 days after having been promoted. Family members say Montes De Oca had joined the Marine Corps with his twin brother Osmany in December 2010. Montes De Oca was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force that was based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

No. 1 car, SSGT Scott Sather, United States Air Force

Hometown: Clio, Michigan
Date of birth: 6/21/1973
Date of death: 4/8/2003 (Iraq)
Note: Scott Sather's final assignment was as a Special Tactics Team Member with the 24th Special Tactics Squadron at Pope AFB, North Carolina, from December 1998 until he was killed in action during the opening days of Operation Iraqi Freedom on April 8, 2003. Scott Sather is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

No. 2 car, GySgt. Chris Eckard, United States Marine Corps

Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina
Date of birth: 11/13/1979
Date of death: 2/20/2010 (Helmand Province of Afghanistan)
Note: After two deployments, GySgt. Eckard re-enlisted and volunteered to join the Explosive Ordnance Disposal community. GySgt. Eckard attended and completed EOD School with honors and requested to be stationed at 2nd EOD Co, Camp Lejeune, N.C. While serving at 2nd EOD Co he deployed to Ramadi, Iraq in the summer of 2007; Fallujah, Iraq in the summer of 2008 and again to Afghanistan in the fall of 2009. GySgt. Eckard was killed on February 20, 2010, near Patrol Base Barcha in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan while conducting EOD operations in the support of a dismounted patrol.

No. 3 car, Senior Chief Petty Officer William Ryan Owens, United States Navy

Hometown: Peoria, Illinois
Date of birth: 3/5/1980
Date of death: 1/29/17 (Yemen)
Note: William Ryan Owens died Jan. 29 of wounds received during a raid conducted in Yemen. An estimated 14 al-Qaeda terrorists were killed during the raid, according to a release by the U.S. Central Command. Owens enlisted in the Navy on Aug. 24, 1998. After initially training as a cryptologic technician (communications), he served his initial tour of duty at the Office of Naval Intelligence in Suitland, Maryland, before attending basic and advanced SEAL training in Coronado, California, completing training in December 2002. He was on his fifth team tour when he was killed.

No. 4 car, Lance Cpl. Patrick Adle, United States Marine Corps

Hometown: Bel Air, Maryland
Date of birth: 3/8/1983
Date of death: 6/29/04 (Baghdad, Iraq)
Note: L.Cpl. Patrick Adle was a former star football and lacrosse player at Fallston High School. He loved his family, friends and was an avid surfer. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at the age of 18 because he wanted to protect his family and his country. On his second Tour in Iraq, Patrick was killed by an IED on June 29th, 2004 while conducting combat operations near Baghdad.

No. 6 car, Sgt. Jonathon Hunter, United States Army

Hometown: Columbus, Indiana
Date of birth: 10/25/1993
Date of death: 8/2/2017 (Kandahar, Afghanistan)
Note: Sgt. Jonathon Michael Hunter excelled on and off the football field in high school. After graduating, he pursued a career in music before studying one year at Indiana State University. In April 2014, Jonathon joined the U.S. Army. Upon completion of basic training and airborne school he was assigned to Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he immediately distinguished himself as an outstanding paratrooper and leader. Sergeant Hunter proudly and willingly served his country and fellow Paratroopers in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel beginning in July 2017. Sergeant Jonathon Hunter was killed in action on August 2, 2017 in Kandahar, Afghanistan when a vehicle-borne IED attacked his convoy.

No. 7 car, Staff Sgt. Thomas J. Dudley, United States Marine Corps

Hometown: Tega Cay, South Carolina
Date of birth: 8/28/1981
Date of death: 7/7/2011 (Helmand Province, Afghanistan)
Note: Thomas “TJ” Dudley graduated from Fort Mill High School in 2000, where he played football before becoming involved in the school's JROTC and drill team. SSgt. Dudley enlisted in the United States Marine Corps when he was 18. During his career, SSgt. Dudley deployed six times to numerous locations including twice to Okinawa, Japan, twice to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan. It was during his second deployment to Afghanistan that he was killed when he fell from his helicopter during enemy fire in the Helmand Province. Dudley inspired a younger brother to join the Marines and a younger sister to join the Navy. In 2009, TJ’s unit was selected to assist with the pre-race flyover for the Coca-Cola 600. He received two used tires from Dale Jr.’s car when he was able to meet the crew.

No. 9 car, Cpl. John Chester Robertson, United States Marine Corps

Hometown: New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Date of birth: 11/13/1940
Date of death: 3/22/1966 (Quang Ngai)
Note: John Chester Robertson served during the Vietnam War. Robertson was a Corporal and served with the 3rd Marine Division, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, G Company. Robertson was killed March 22, 1966 in South Vietnam, Quang Ngai province. Robertson is buried at Edgewater New Smyrna Cemetery in Edgewater, Florida, and is honored on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial.

No. 10 car, Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler, United States Army

Hometown Monticello, Utah
Date of birth: 8/24/1989
Date of death: 8/16/2017 (Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan)
Note: Aaron Butler served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and was an Eagle Scout. He graduated with honors from the Army Green Berets Special Forces Qualification Course in 2016. He was a four-time Utah high school state wrestling champion.

No. 11 car, Sergeant First Class Jonathan Dozier, United States Army

Hometown: Chesapeake, Virginia
Date of birth: 9/30/1977
Date of death: 1/9/2008 (Sinsil, Iraq)
Note: Jonathan Dozier enlisted in the Army in 1997. From 1998 until 1999, he served in Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division on the DMZ and stateside with the 101st Airmobile Division, where he became Sniper Qualified. He left the Army to attend Middle Tennessee State University in 2000. In 2005, Jon returned to the Army. In 2006, he was assigned to the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment and served in the Scout Platoon as a Sniper Team Leader. In 2007, the regiment deployed to Iraq and fought in Baghdad. Then the regiment was sent to Diyala. Jon and five of his fellow soldiers, as well as a young Iraqi interpreter, were killed in a house that had been rigged with improvised explosives. Jon was interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

No. 12 car, SGT. Ronald A. Kubik, United States Army

Hometown: Brielle, New Jersey
Date of birth: 6/22/1988
Date of death: 4/23/2010 (Afghanistan)
Note: Kubik was a 2006 graduate of Manasquan High School, where he wrote for the school newspaper, took acting classes, wrestled and played football. He learned to skydive, enjoyed whitewater rafting and was an avid fisherman. Kubik was encouraged by his advanced placement teachers to attend law school, but he joined the Army instead. The 21-year-old died in combat April 23, 2010 in Logar Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia.

No. 13 car, Private First Class Charlie Anthony, United States Army

Hometown: Naples, Florida
Date of birth: 2/28/1946
Date of death: 5/12/1969 (Xuan Thanh, Vietnam)
Note: Private Charlie C. Anthony lost his life in combat on May 12, 1969, while assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment of the 11th Light Infantry Brigade in the Vietnam War. Private Anthony was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart posthumously. He attended the former George Washington Carver High School in Naples, where he was a star basketball player and track runner. During the summer of 1968, Charlie C. Anthony was drafted into the United States Army. On March 7, 1969, PFC Charlie C. Anthony was assigned to serve with the 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment of the 11th Infantry Brigade in the Vietnam War; and, at the age of 23, made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States of America when he was killed in action near Xuan Thanh, a small village in South Vietnam.

No. 14 car, Spc. Alan Burgess, United States Army

Hometown: Landaff, New Hampshire
Date of birth: 5/20/1980
Date of death: 10/15/2004 (Mosul, Iraq)
Note: Spc. Alan Burgess was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Forward, which was headquartered in Berlin and had armories in six North Country towns. Burgess joined the New Hampshire National Guard in 2002. He was a member of Detachment 1, B Battery.

No. 15 car, Staff Sgt. Allen Robert McKenna Jr., United States Army

Hometown: Noble, Oklahoma
Date of birth: 7/17/1983
Date of death: 2/21/2012 (Kandahar, Afghanistan)
Note: Allen was a father first in life. He loved his boys, Allen, Mickey and Waylon. He was a devoted husband to his wife. He was stationed in Alaska most of his eight years in the Army and that was the perfect place for an avid outdoorsman like him. At home and on deployments he was a storyteller. People would gather round just to hear one of his many stories or hear him sing a song with his guitar. He also loved writing songs and poetry.

No. 17 car, Technical Sergeant John Chapman, United States Air Force

Hometown: Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Date of birth: 7/14/1965
Date of death: 3/4/2002 (Takur Ghar, Afghanistan)
Note: Tech. Sgt. John Chapman enlisted in the Air Force on Sept. 27, 1985, as an information systems operator and later volunteered to be a combat controller, tasked to solve air and ground problems across the spectrum of conflict and crisis.His first Special Tactics assignment was at the 1721st Combat Control Squadron, Pope AFB, North Carolina. Next, Chapman spent three years at the 320th Special Tactics Squadron in Okinawa, Japan. Later, as a team leader, Chapman prepared personnel for their roles as Special Tactics operators on the battlefield, conducting precision strike, personnel recovery, and global access with special operations teams around the world.

No. 18 car, SGT Eric Toth, United States Army

Hometown: Glasgow, Kentucky
Date of birth: 4/16/1983
Date of death: 3/30/2005 (Iraq)
Note: Eric Toth died while in Iraq proudly serving his country. He was a member of the A Battery 1st Battalion 623rd Field Artillery Kentucky Army National Guard in Tompkinsville, Kentucky. He was an employee of Federal Mogul in Glasgow.

No. 19 car, Corporal Cody A. Putman, United States Army

Hometown: Lafayette, Indiana
Date of birth: Aug. 31, 1981
Date of death: Apr. 12, 2007 (Baghdad, Iraq)
Note: Cody died April 12, 2007, when his patrol encountered an improvised explosive device. Cody, a fellow service member, and two Iraqi interpreters were killed in the explosion. Cody joined the Army in March 2005. He attended basic training and advanced individual training at Fort Knox, Kentucky and airborne school in Fort Benning, Georgia. His permanent duty station was at Fort Richardson, Alaska.

No. 20 car, Cpl. Nicholas Roush, United States Army

Hometown: Middleville, Michigan
Date of birth: 1/19/1987
Date of death: 8/16/2009 (Herat Province, Afghanistan)
Note: Cpl. Nicholas Roush, 22, was killed while conducting a mission in Herat province, Afghanistan. He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in April 2009 as a member of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan. This was his first deployment to Afghanistan. He was a Psychological Operations Specialist. Roush joined the Army in 2007. He was assigned to 1st Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne), 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

No. 21 car, First Lieutenant Leevi Barnard, United States Army

Hometown: Ararat, Virginia
Date of birth: 10/5/1980
Date of death: 5/21/2009 (Dora Market, Baghdad)
Note: First Lieutenant Barnard was killed in action as the result of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. The incident occurred supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Barnard was a Field Artilleryman from the 1-113th Battalion, NCARNG, supporting the 252nd Battalion as a Fire Support Officer. Having a minor in Arabic Studies from UNC-Charlotte, Barnard could read and write Arabic and inherently understood the people and customs of the region. He was uniquely gifted for his mission because of his superior cultural knowledge, warm personality and genuine desire to help the Iraqi people.

No. 22 car, Staff Sgt. Javier Ortiz Rivera, United States Marine Corps

Hometown: Rochester, New York
Date of birth: 9/7/1984
Date of death: 11/16/2010 (Helmand Province, Afghanistan)
Note: SSgt Javier Ortiz Rivera enlisted in the Marines out of high school in 2002 and served four combat tours, with his first being in Iraq in 2003. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2005, Iraq in 2006 and again in September 2010 to Afghanistan. During his tours of duty, he would take his personal time and conduct Bible studies with any Marine who wanted to attend. Rivera was assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

No. 23 car, Corporal Christopher Ebert, United States Marine Corps

Hometown: Mooresboro, North Carolina
Date of birth: 2/8/1983
Date of death: 9/17/2004 (Anbar province, Iraq)
Note: Ebert grew up in Forest City, North Carolina. Chris and his twin brother, Brian, enlisted in the Marines together immediately after graduating from Chase High School in June 2001. After boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, the brothers were first assigned to Camp Lejeune, then given separate assignments. Chris had various duty stations such as Bahrain and Pax River, Maryland, before moving to Camp Pendleton in California. Cpl. Ebert, an infantryman, was serving in Iraq at the same time as his twin brother, who was in a transportation unit. They were both in the first fight of Fallujah in 2004. Two months later, Chris was killed in action in Fallujah when his vehicle was hit with an improvised explosive device.

No. 24 car, Major Michael Donahue, United States Army

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Date of birth: 11/20/1972
Date of death: 9/16/2014 (Kabul, Afghanistan)
Note: Major Michael Donahue is a respected Liberty alumnus and was an assistant professor of military science for Liberty's Army ROTC program from August 2008 to July 2010. Donahue served three combat tours of duty in the Army in which he was stationed in South Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan. On Sept. 16, 2014 in Kabul Afghanistan, Donahue's life was taken when a Taliban suicide bomber drove a vehicle laced with explosives into a foreign military convoy on the base.

No. 31 car, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Ryan Lohrey, United States Navy

Hometown: Middletown, Indiana
Date of birth: 8/24/1986
Date of death: 7/10/2017
Note: During high school, Ryan developed a deep desire to enter Special Operations, with a budding interest in trauma medicine as well. He entered basic training in 2007. After completing the grueling reconnaissance training pipeline, he deployed with 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, and later with 2nd Raider Battalion. He was a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq.

No. 32 car, Captain Kyle Comfort, United States Army

Hometown: Jacksonville, Alabama
Date of birth: 10/17/1982
Date of death: 5/8/2010 (Helmand Province, Afghanistan)
Note: Comfort was a Fire Support Officer assigned to Company D, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Ga. He was killed in action during a combat operation in Afghanistan. After graduating from Jacksonville State University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Comfort was commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer. He initially served as a company Fire Support Officer and Platoon Leader with the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment and 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, both of the 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He deployed to Iraq from October 2007 to November 2008 with the 101st. He then was assigned into the 75th Ranger Regiment in February 2010 where he served as a Fire Support Officer for Company D, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was on his first deployment to Afghanistan.

No. 34 car, Corporal Charles O. Palmer II, United States Marine Corps

Hometown: Manteca, California
Date of birth: 3/24/1971
Date of death: 5/5/2007 (Anbar Province, Iraq)
Note: United States Marine Corps Corporal Charles O. Palmer enlisted after high school graduation and served for four years. He became a civilian and then re-enlisted in 2005 because he felt at home in the Marine Corps and wanted to serve his country and provide for his family.Cpl. Palmer was killed in action while acting as a Gunner on a Humvee that was struck by a roadside bomb. At the time of his death, he was assigned to the 8th Communication Battalion, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Cpl. Palmer’s family has strong ties to racing and NASCAR. His stepfather, Ron Emmick, owned a company that specialized in go-karts. His step grandmother was one of the first women to drive race cars in California.

No. 37 car Staff Sergeant Robert F. White, United States Army

Hometown: Cross Lanes, West Virginia
Date of birth: 2/20/1971
Date of death: 9/26/2005 (Kandahar, Afghanistan)
Note: Robert was a graduate of Nitro High School, Nitro, West Virginia. He was a scoutmaster, father and husband. Bob served 14 years in the Army with deployments to Egypt, Kosovo and Korea as well as Afghanistan. While he was in Afghanistan to provide protection for the elections, his convoy was hit with small arms fire.

No. 38 car, Sergeant First Class Ricky L. Crockett, United States Army

Hometown: Broxton, Georgia
Date of birth: 1/31/1966
Date of death: 1/12/2004 (Baghdad, Iraq)
Note: Crockett served with the 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina and was killed in action when he was struck by an improvised explosive device while on a mounted patrol, on Jan. 12, 2004, in Baghdad, Iraq.

No. 41 car, Sgt. Jeremiah 'Jay' Holmes, United States Army

Hometown: North Berwick, Maine
Date of birth: 4/27/1976
Date of death: 3/29/2004 (Balad, Iraq)
Note: Sgt. Jeremiah “Jay” Holmes was a 1994 graduate of Noble High School where he was on the swim team, the debate team, and the band. After high school he served with the U. S. Army and then served with the New Hampshire Army National Guard, 744th Transportation Company and was called to active duty. Jay loved his wife, son and family and enjoyed riding his “Harley,” playing horseshoes, swimming and building things with his father.

No. 42 car, Captain Kimberly Hampton, United States Army

Hometown: Easley, South Carolina
Date of birth: 8/18/1976
Date of death: 1/2/2004 (Fallujah, Iraq)
Note: Army Capt. Kimberly Hampton was an honors graduate from Presbyterian College who never lost a tennis match. She became the battalion commander of the ROTC unit there, a job that prepared her to command the Delta Troop in the 1st Squadron of the 17th Cavalry Regiment in Iraq. She was in her second term of military service when the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter she was piloting was shot down. Hampton, who was based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, was the first female pilot killed in Iraq. Hampton was stationed in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division. She also had served in Korea and Afghanistan.

No. 43 car, Technical Sergeant Scott Duffman, United States Air Force

Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Date of birth: 8/14/1974
Date of death: 2/18/2007 (Afghanistan)
Note: Scott Duffman was born in the Philippines, and was raised in Albuquerque. He enlisted in the Air Force on August 26, 1992, and completed basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas. SrA. Duffman served as a Pararescueman with the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Florida, from October 1994 to January 1997. His next assignment was as a Pararescueman with the 56th Rescue Squadron at Keflavik Naval Air Station, Iceland, and then back with the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron at Hurlburt Field from 1998 to 2001. SSgt. Duffman served as a Special Tactics Team Member, Pararescueman, and Special Tactics Instructor with the 24th Special Tactics Squadron at Pope AFB, North Carolina, from January 2001 until he was killed in the crash of an MH-47 Chinook helicopter near Kabul, Afghanistan. Scott Duffman is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

No. 47 car, Lance Corporal Darrell Schumann, United States Marine Corps

Hometown: Hampton, Virginia
Date of birth: 8/8/1979
Date of death: 1/26/2005 (Rutbah, Iraq)
Note: Darrell J. Schumann was born at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on August 8, 1979, to active duty Air Force parents. He joined the United States Marine Corps in June 2002. LCpl Schumann was first assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Darrell’s deployments covered locations such as Thailand, Okinawa, Japan, Kuwait, and Iraq. During his second deployment to Iraq in 2004 Schumann survived fierce door-to-door fighting in Fallujah and was 10 days away from coming home when he and 30 other service members were killed in what was, at the time, the deadliest single event for U.S. forces since the invasion of Iraq: the CH-53E helicopter crash on January 26, 2005, near Ar Rutbah, Iraq.

No. 48 car, Staff Sgt. Francis “Frankie” Phillips IV, United States Army

Hometown: Oceanside, California
Date of birth: 8/18/1984
Date of death: 5/4/2013 (Maiwand region of Afghanistan)
Note: Frankie joined the Army in April 2004. He anticipated being sent to a Ranger unit after his graduation from Ranger school, but felt the men he was in charge of needed his leadership due to the fact they had never been in a 'war zone.' He wanted to make one more deployment with his men before they transferred him. Frankie was not the only loss on May 4, 2013. We lost Lt. Brandon Landrum 26, SPC Kevin Cardoza 18, SPC Thomas Murach 22, SPC Brandon Prescott 24, as well as an Afghanistan Interpreter. They were on a routine patrol when their vehicle ran over an improvised explosive device. Frankie loved his family and was survived by his wife, Christine, and daughter, Sophia (age 4 at the time of his death).

No. 51 car, Master Sgt. Davy Weaver, Army National Guard

Hometown: Barnesville, Georgia
Date of birth: 2/8/1969
Date of death: 5/18/2008 (Afghanistan)
Note: Davy was killed in action when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device while deployed to Qalat, Afghanistan with the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Georgia Army National Guard, Macon, Georgia. He had previously done tours in Bosnia and Iraq. Weaver volunteered for an extra three months of duty in Afghanistan because he knew there were personnel shortages there. Weaver was an Eagle Scout and loved serving his country.

No. 55 car, Major Samuel Griffith, United States Marine Corps

Hometown: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Date of birth: 6/14/1975
Date of death: 12/14/2011 (Helmand Province, Afghanistan)
Note: Samuel Griffith was an Eagle Scout and was commissioned into the United States Marine Corps in 1997, following his graduation from Penn State University. He served as an F/A-18D’s fighter pilot and later instructed Forward Air Controllers (FAC). Maj. Griffith also served two tours during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was serving as the Officer in Charge with the 4th Air/Naval Gunfire Liaison Company when his unit came under heavy fire and Maj. Griffith was killed by small arms fire while placing a laser on a target. Sam was an avid NASCAR fan and favored Davey Allison and Rusty Wallace. Rusty was in touch with the family when Sam died to express his sympathy. Sam also led a flyover at Martinsville Speedway when flying with the 533rd Air Wing from Beaufort, South Carolina.

No. 66 car, Sgt. Elijah J. Rao, United States Army

Hometown: Lake Oswego, Oregon
Date of birth: 1/10/1983
Date of death: 12/5/2009 (Afghanistan)
Note: At the age of 21 and following the events of 9/11, Elijah decided that he wanted to join the Army. SGT Rao was an intelligence analyst and patrol crew member serving in 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, based out of Ft. Carson, Colorado. His first tour was served in Iraq from November 2006 to December 2007. On December 5, 2009, while on patrol during his second tour, in Nuristan, Afghanistan, he was killed by a roadside bomb. SGT Rao grew up loving racing. As a kid, he competed with his dad and brother driving go-karts on his family’s 1/8th-mile dirt track in the backyard. Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty were favorites in the Rao household.

No. 72 car, Staff Sgt. David H. Stewart, United States Marine Corps

Hometown: Stafford, Virginia
Date of birth: 5/13/1980
Date of death: 6/20/2014 (Helmand province, Afghanistan)
Note: SSgt David H. Stewart was killed in action as a result of a hostile incident while supporting combat operations in Afghanistan. SSgt Stewart joined the Marine Corps reserves in 2000 as a combat engineer. In 2004 SSgt Stewart was mobilized to active duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. SSgt Stewart’s operational deployments included three tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004-2005, 2006-2007 and 2008. He then served as a United States Marine Corps Drill Instructor from 2008-2012 at Parris Island. SSgt Stewart then was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion at Camp Lejeune in which he deployed immediately in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from 2012-2013. He deployed again in early 2014 with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion. He was killed in action when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device.

No. 78 car, First Lieutenant Arlen Del Richardson, United States Army

Hometown: Lawrence, Kansas
Date of birth: 2/6/1943
Date of death: 2/17/1970 (Vietnam)
Note: First Lieutenant Richardson was piloting a UH-1H aircraft as part of a reconnaissance team from B company, 123rd Aviation Battalion west of Quang Ngai. The aircraft reported mechanical trouble and crashed in hilly terrain on the way back to base.

No. 88 car, Captain Nick Rozanski, United States Army

Hometown: Dublin, Ohio
Date of birth: 2/18/1976
Date of death: 4/4/2012 (Afghanistan)
Note: Nick graduated from Dublin High School in 1994, where he played soccer. He loved soccer and coached for nearly 15 years. After high school, Nick went on to The Ohio State University where he received a BA in Communications. In 2003, Nick joined the Ohio National Guard, where he served for 8.5 years. Nick went on to Officer Candidate School where he became a model leader. Nick was very modest about his military service and never wanted the public recognition for it. He was deployed in 2004 to Kosovo, 2007 to Kuwait/Iraq and 2012 to Afghanistan was his final deployment. Nick died from combat injuries sustained in Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment of the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

No. 95 car, Specialist Rudy Acosta, United States Army

Hometown: Santa Clarita, California
Date of birth: 5/2/1991
Date of death: 3/19/2011 (Kandahar, Afghanistan)
Note: Rudy Alexander Acosta, the oldest of three children, enjoyed a variety of activities growing up, playing little league, basketball, youth football, and later going on to play high school volleyball and on the CA State champion football team at Santa Clarita Christian School. Prior to graduating, he enlisted in the army as a combat medic through the early enlistment program in 2009. Through his medic training, he developed a passion for medicine, hoping to stay in the Army and train as a surgeon.Rudy served in the 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment in Vilseck, Germany, and was deployed to Afghanistan in July 2010. On March 19, 2011, he was at a U.S. military forward operating base on the Pakistani border when an Afghan contractor opened fire on the American soldiers. Rudy Acosta, age 19, was killed along with another soldier; four more were wounded.

No. 96 car Lance Cpl. Nicholas S. O'Brien, United States Marine Corps

Hometown: Stanley, North Carolina
Date of birth: 5/23/1990
Date of death: 6/9/2011 (Helmand Province, Afghanistan)
Note: Nic grew up in Gaston County, North Carolina and was a member of the varsity baseball and soccer teams. He enlisted in September 2009 after high school. In March 2011 his battalion shipped to Afghanistan. On the afternoon of June 9th, 2011, Nic was leading his squad as Pointman/Sweeper, on a foot patrol through the area. He was hit and killed by a remotely detonated improvised explosive device. On the day Nic's body returned home for the last time, hundreds of people gathered at the airport to pay respect. Thousands more lined both sides of the highway that took him home.

Pace Car 1, Captain Mark Weber, United States Air Force

Hometown: Bartonville, Texas
Date of birth: 7/31/1988
Date of death: 3/15/2018 (Border of Iraq and Syria)
Note: Captain Mark Weber died in the line of duty supporting Operation Inherent Resolve on March 15, 2018. After graduating from high school, Mark left Bartonville, Texas, in June 2007 to attend the United States Air Force Academy where he graduated on May 24, 2011, obtaining a degree in economics. He then went to Robins Air Force Base as a contracting officer, until his adventurous heart led him to assess as a Combat Rescue Officer. He received his coveted maroon beret in July 2016. Through 2017, Captain Weber worked closely with the 308th rescue squadron in Cocoa Beach, Florida, achieving his Team Commander upgrade while continually readying his men for the upcoming deployment.

Pace Car 2, Staff Sergeant Joshua M. Snowden, United States Marine Corps

Date of birth: 7/22/1985
Hometown: Abilene, Texas
Date of death: 7/10/2017 (Leflore County, Mississippi)
Note: Born in Abilene, Texas, Staff Sergeant Snowden played lacrosse at Highland Park High School and immediately enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserves, later graduating from Texas State University in 2010 where he also played lacrosse. Staff Sergeant Snowden continued his military career when he was brought on active duty in July 2012 and remained as such until his passing.He was a true Texan. As Josh would say, “God bless y’all, the United States Marine Corps, the five-time world champion Dallas Cowboys, and God bless Texas.” He was killed in a KC130 crash in northern Mississippi.

Grand Marshal Car 1, Staff Sergeant William “Billy” Kundrat, United States Marine Corps

Hometown: Frederick, Maryland
Date of birth: 4/4/1984
Date of death: 7/10/2017 (Leflore County, Mississippi)
Note: Staff Sergeant Willam Kundrat was killed on July 10, 2017 along with 14 Marines and one Navy Corpsman in a Marine KC130 plane that crashed in northern Mississippi. Billy grew up in Frederick, Maryland and graduated in 2002 from Gov. Thomas Johnson High School, where he played football and lacrosse. That same year he joined the Marine Corps. Billy was also an Eagle Scout and later a troop leader for his sons' Boy Scout troop and his daughter's Girl Scout troop.

Grand Marshal Car 2, Sergeant Dietrich Schmieman, United States Marine Corps

Hometown: Richland, Washington
Date of birth: 1/9/1991
Date of death: 7/10/2017 (Leflore County, Mississippi)
Note: Sgt Schmieman served as an Element Member with Marine Special Operations Team 8232, Marine Special Operations Company Hotel, 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.In January of 2014, he was promoted to Sergeant and reported to Marine Special Operations Command in Stone Bay, North Carolina for Assessment & Selection. In October 2015, Sgt Schmieman reported to 2nd Marine Raider Battalion. In July 2016, He was assigned to Marine Special Operations Team 8232 where he served as the Communications Marine and the team’s Joint Terminal Attack Controller. During his time with the team he executed over 60 Military Freefall jumps.

Grand Marshal Car 3, Sergeant Talon Leach, United States Marine Corps

Hometown: Fulton, Missouri
Date of birth: 8/26/1989
Date of death: 7/10/2017 (Leflore County, Mississippi)
Note: Sgt. Talon R. Leach, perished in the KC-130T Hercules crash in Mississippi with 14 other Marines and one Navy personnel. Leach joined the Marine Corps in January 2010. He was a critical skills operator with the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion (MARSOC), MSOT 8231, from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In January 2016, Sgt. Leach deployed with MSOT 8231 as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. In November 2016, Sgt. Leach graduated MARSOF Advanced Sniper Course, shortly after he attended Multi-Mission Parachute Course (MMPC) in Coolidge, Arizona. At home he was an avid skateboarder, even building a half-pipe in his back yard.

Grand Marshal Car 4, Sergeant Chad Elliott Jenson, United States Marine Corps

Hometown: Manhattan Beach, California
Date of birth: 8/23/1991
Date of death: 7/10/2017 (Leflore County, Mississippi)
Note: Chad attended Mira Costa High School and helped lead the school’s football team to a championship in 2009. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in September 2010 after graduating from high school. In 2013, Chad joined the United States Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command and by 2014, he attained the rank of Sergeant. He proudly served with the elite 2nd Raider Battalion, Special Operations Command which was based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Chad was a critical skills operator and was awaiting his first deployment.

Toyota Tundra 1, Corporal Daniel Baldassare, United States Marine Corps

Hometown: Colts Neck, New Jersey
Date of birth: 6/30/1997
Date of death: 7/10/2017 (Leflore County, Mississippi)
Note: Baldassare, 20, died aboard the KC-130 while serving his country as a United States Marine. A resident of Colts Neck, he was a graduate of the Class of 2015 where he competed with the Colts Neck High School football team for four years. During his senior year of high school, he enlisted in the Marines and, prior to arriving at boot camp at Parris Island, he attended Marine Corp poolee training to prepare for recruit training. He graduated from boot camp in December 2015. Cpl. Baldassare was recently promoted to the rank of Corporal and was based out of Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York. He was awarded the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. His interests included playing the ukulele and harmonica, and riding his skateboard.

Toyota Tundra 2, Specialist Joshua Scott Piotrowski, United States Army

Hometown: Black Mountain, North Carolina
Date of birth: 5/2/1993
Date of death: 6/10/2017 (Raeford, North Carolina)
Note: Piotrowski was born in Banbury, England, and grew up a “military brat,” living in five states and two foreign countries by the age of 14. He spent his high school years playing soccer for West Henderson High School in Hendersonville, North Carolina, then graduated from Appalachian State with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He enlisted in the Army following his graduation in May 2015. Joshua married his wife, Emily, on March 5, 2017. Three months later, he died as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. At the time of his death, Joshua was serving in the 1st Battalion, 325th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Josh is being represented at the Coca-Cola 600 by his wife, Emily, his brother-in-law, Nikolaos Tish, and Julie Crenshaw.

Toyota Tundra 3, Senior Airman Bryce K. Powers, United States Air Force

Hometown: Monroe, North Carolina
Date of birth: 1/9/1992
Date of death: 4/26/2013 (Misawa, Japan)
Note: Powers graduated from Piedmont High School in 2010 and joined the Air Force through the 'Delayed Entry' program at age 17, and received the prestigious Union County, North Carolina, Patriot Award in 2009. SrA Powers served four years in the NC-955 Air Force JROTC group and was eventually promoted to serve as the NC-955 Group Commander during his senior. Following graduation, he volunteered to serve a year in Osan, South Korea, with the 51st Munitions Squadron. Bryce was serving as a Munitions Systems Specialist with the 35th Maintenance Munitions Squadron in Misawa, Japan, when he was catastrophically injured in an accident. He remained in a coma until his death, at age 21, on April 26, 2013. Senior Airman Powers was buried with full Military Honors in Arlington National Cemetery.

Toyota Tundra 4, Lieutenant J. Wesley Van Dorn, United States Navy

Hometown: Greensboro, North Carolina
Date of birth: 2/10/1984
Date of death: 1/8/2014 (Virginia Beach, Virginia)
Note: Lt. J Wesley Van Dorn, 29, passed away as a result of injuries sustained during a training mission while piloting an MH-53E Sea Dragon off the coast of Virginia. A graduate of Southeast Guilford High School in 2002, Wes had received many academic honors and participated in tennis, lacrosse and soccer. He attended the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill for one year. Wes then chose to attend the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 2007 with a degree in ocean engineering. Wes served proudly as a member of Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 14, based out of Naval Air Station Norfolk, where he was preparing for his new responsibilities as flight instructor. His service included three deployments, two to South Korea and one to Bahrain.

Toyota Tundra 5, Damage Controlman Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan B. Bruckenthal, United States Coast Guard

Hometown: Stonybrook, New York
Date of birth: July 17, 1979
Date of death: April 24, 2004 (North Arabian Gulf)
Note: Bruckenthal graduated from Herndon High School in Ashburn, Virginia, and enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard on Jan. 5, 1999. He was later assigned to Tactical Law Enforcement Detachment South, LEDET 403, at Coast Guard Air Station Miami, Florida, and deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On April 24, 2004, while serving as part of Coast Guard Patrol Forces Southwest Asia aboard USS Firebolt, DC3 Bruckenthal and two U.S. Navy sailors were killed while conducting maritime intercept operations in the North Arabian Gulf. Bruckenthal and six other coalition sailors attempted to board a small boat near the Iraqi Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal. As they boarded the boat, it exploded. Bruckenthal later died from the wounds he sustained in the explosion. Bruckenthal was the first Coast Guard member killed in action since the Vietnam War.