It was an enjoyable few minutes among racing legends on Sunday prior to the Coca-Cola 600 as three former 600-mile event champions swapped stories and memories during a Coca-Cola Family Reunion.
Jeff Burton (1999, 2001 Coca-Cola 600 winner), Dale Jarrett (1996 winner) and Bobby Labonte (1995 winner) all shared their memories of not only winning one of NASCAR’s premier races but also of being some of the early members of the Coca-Cola Racing Family, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this season.
“Some folks didn’t think it would last five years but 25 years later it’s still here,” said Labonte, the 2000 NASCAR Cup Series champion. “We appreciate everything that Coke has done for us. It’s a memorable event to come to.”
Original members of the Coca-Cola Racing Family when it was formed in 1998 were Burton, Jarrett, Labonte, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Bill Elliott, Kyle Petty, Todd Bodine, Ricky Rudd, Kenny Irwin and Steve Park.
“It became something that we all enjoyed and were happy to be a part of,” Jarrett said. “We did commercials that were fun to do. I’m proud to still be a part of the Coke family.”
Burton joked with Labonte about gaining the upper hand over him in a classic Coca-Cola 600 finish. Labonte in 1999.
“It’s a very special event,” said Burton of the annual 600-mile test for drivers, teams and equipment. “It’s a hugely important race in our sport. We don’t need a lot of 600-mile races but we damn sure need one.”
NEW SPONSOR FOR RFK
Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Infield Media Center Theater was bathed in nautical imagery and blue coloring as RFK Racing unveiled a new sponsor/paint scheme for their new partnership with BlueForge Alliance, the nonprofit integrator for the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Industrial Base Program.
BuildSubmarines.com will be featured as a primary partner for 10 races across RFK’s two NASCAR Cup Series teams (Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher) in 2023 and in 18 races per season beginning in 2024.
“I’m proud to support a cause of such vital significance to our country with this new partnership,” said Keselowski, co-owner and driver of the No. 6 Ford for RFK Racing who will start third in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600.
“The synergies between a NASCAR team and our military’s needs to stay on track fast are countless. We hope to inspire the workforce of the next generation across the country when they see RFK race and hear our message.”
NFL STARS JOIN THE PARTY
Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown joined former Panthers cornerback Josh Norman and New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara in attending the Coca-Cola 600.
Brown, one of the NFL's most accomplished defensive tackles in 2022, visited America's Home for Racing for his second Coca-Cola 600.
"It's a very different [spectacle] compared to football," Brown said. "With the fans walking around and just being this close to everything, it's different. Football is like, we're here, and the fans are in the stands. For them to be right here in the middle of the racing atmosphere, that's pretty cool."
Brown is new to NASCAR and he enjoys the action, but don't expect the six-foot-five, 320-pound lineman to make his racing debut anytime soon.
"I don't know if I could fit in the car, if I'm being honest," Brown said. "A lot of the drivers are way smaller than me."
