Back to News

July 19, 2020

Spc. Hoffmann making a difference in South Carolina kids’ lives


The 2020 NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola is more than just a military appreciation platform — it’s a campaign that salutes all who have gone above and beyond to keep their fellow members of society safe and healthy. During a global pandemic that impacted almost every aspect of our daily lives, they have been there for us — doctors, nurses, EMTs, first responders, etc. Now, it’s our turn to be there for them and to give recognition where it’s deserved the most.

In this edition of NASCAR Salutes Refreshing Moments, NASCAR.com is highlighting the work of U.S. Army National Guard Specialist Charles H. Hoffmann.

RELATED: Learn more about NASCAR Salutes

Hoffmann has served in the South Carolina National Guard for two years after growing up in Clover, South Carolina. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, Hoffmann and the soldiers of the 117th Engineer Brigade (EN BDE) and 1050th Transportation Battalion have been helping deliver daily meals to children in Horry County, South Carolina. Hoffmann also helped raise money and organize donations to help distribute more than 2,000 books to children and families.

Service is in Hoffmann’s blood as both of his parents are veterans with his mother a Judge Advocate General (JAG) in the Tennessee Army Guard for 24 years. His father was a field artillery officer in the 101st Airborne Division. Hoffmann is also studying elementary education at Winthrop University.

In an interview with Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Newman that aired during NBC Sports Network’s (NBCSN) coverage of the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, Newman informed Hoffmann that NASCAR Salutes and the USO had teamed up for a donation to USO’s South Carolina Programming and the USO Dallas-Fort Worth.

During Newman’s conversation with Spc. Hoffmann, both men were told by Hoffmann’s commanding officer that they will be receiving a coin and certificate “given to outstanding soldiers for excellence” in the South Carolina National Guard.

“That’s one of the things I always learned when I went and experienced different things,” Newman said of different trips he has taken to military bases through the NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola platform in previous years. “It wasn’t about what a soldier does, it was about the personal story you could share and converse about what makes a soldier a soldier.”

For the first time ever, NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola kicked off with the Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as the platform shifts to a mid-summer window due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola, which runs through July 31, will see the NASCAR industry honor United States Armed Forces and frontline healthcare heroes as part of this year’s expanded program — an industry-wide opportunity to recognize and thank those who keep society safe and healthy.

MUST WATCH