CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR and Coca-Cola are expanding their shared commitment to the military community this May with the return of NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola, while also honoring America’s 250th anniversary through a special evolution of the program: NASCAR Salutes 250 Together with Coca-Cola.
The annual initiative recognizes and supports active duty service members, veterans, military families and fallen heroes through a series of programs throughout Military Appreciation Month, including special recognition in the 600 Miles of Remembrance at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24 and culminating at Nashville Superspeedway on May 31.
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As part of this year’s enhanced platform, NASCAR and Coca-Cola will introduce the NASCAR Heroes Pass — a fan-driven initiative designed to honor military service members in a lasting and meaningful way.
From May 1 through May 31, fans can visit NASCAR.com/Salutes to nominate a deserving active duty service member or veteran from any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. GOVX will verify nominees to ensure authenticity and integrity of the program. A total of 250 recipients will be selected to receive a NASCAR Heroes Pass, granting them lifetime access to NASCAR races — defined as two tickets to one participating track annually for 20 years.
The program is designed to go beyond just recognition by creating a lifelong connection between NASCAR and those who serve. It also aims to encourage fan participation and storytelling throughout the month.
“For more than a decade, NASCAR Salutes has been a cornerstone of how our sport honors the military community,” said Jess Smith, Vice President of Brand at NASCAR. “With the introduction of the NASCAR Heroes Pass as part of NASCAR Salutes 250 Together with Coca-Cola, we’re deepening that commitment in a way that creates lasting impact and celebrates service for years to come.”
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NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola has delivered meaningful at-track experiences for service members and their families, united partners across the motorsports industry and driven critical investments in military and veteran service organizations through NASCAR Impact and other league-wide efforts. The program builds each year toward Memorial Day Weekend and the 600 Miles of Remembrance, where every NASCAR Cup Series driver takes the green flag with the name of a fallen service member displayed on their car.
“As Coca‑Cola proudly celebrates America’s 250th anniversary throughout the year, this Military Appreciation Month is especially meaningful,” said Don Rouse, Vice President of Sports & Entertainment at Coca‑Cola North America. “NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca‑Cola is a cornerstone of our partnership. We’re honored to provide Heroes Passes to deserving service members and veterans so they can experience the excitement of NASCAR for years to come.”
Honor and Remember will again collaborate with NASCAR teams to host Gold Star Families at Charlotte Motor Speedway as part of the 600 Miles of Remembrance. This year, Honor and Remember and NASCAR are calling on race fans to sign the Declaration of Remembrance, recognizing the nearly 1.4 million service members who have lost their lives in military service over the country’s history.
As a NASCAR IMPACT partner, Honor and Remember is working toward a goal of 1.4 million signatures by Memorial Day Weekend 2026 – a symbolic tribute of one signature for every fallen hero.
As part of this year’s NASCAR Salutes 250 Together with Coca-Cola program, NASCAR will:
Host at-track experiences for military members, veterans and their families, including:
- Discounted grandstand tickets for military members all season long through NASCAR MilTix Presented by GOVX. Active military and veterans can verify their status and purchase tickets by visiting NASCAR.com/miltix.
- Complimentary grandstand tickets and VIP experiences throughout May for service members from local bases, made possible by Chevrolet’s NASCAR Troops to the Track program and Vet Tix.
- The “Mobility Pit Box,” which will welcome mobility-impaired race fans and veterans at select events, continues Toyota’s commitment to “Mobility for All.”
Bring together the motorsports industry in recognition of the military, including:
- O’Reilly Auto Parts, featuring patriotic red, white and blue windshield headers during the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
- Craftsman, displaying red, white and blue windshield decals on all NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entries during race weekend at Charlotte.
- Goodyear, continuing its tradition of replacing its iconic “Eagle” sidewall design with “Honor and Remember” for the Coca-Cola 600.
- Mechanix Wear, outfitting NASCAR officials with special camouflage gloves for race weekend.
NASCAR Salutes 250 Together with Coca-Cola represents an evolution of one of the sport’s most meaningful initiatives — bringing fans, partners and the industry together to honor service, celebrate America’s legacy and create lasting connections with the military community for years to come.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Contest begins 5/1/26 and ends on 5/31/26. Open to U.S. residents, 18+. See Official Rules for eligibility and complete details: nascar.com/salutes. NASCAR, LLC, NASCAR Digital Media, LLC, and The Coca-Cola Company are not sponsors of this Contest.