On Memorial Day weekend every year, Charlotte Motor Speedway honors the fallen with a solemn Coca-Cola 600 pre-race ceremony featuring representatives from all six branches of the military. As part of its longstanding tradition to commemorate Military Appreciation Month, the speedway invited defending Coca-Cola 600 winner Christopher Bell, along with his wife, Morgan Bell, and Joe Gibbs Racing president Dave Alpern, for a visit to Arlington National Cemetery.
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During the visit, Bell was introduced to Col. Mike Binetti, Chief of Staff at Arlington National Cemetery. He then made his way to the grave of First Lieutenant Audie L. Murphy, a World War II hero. Lieutenant Murphy was the most decorated American combat soldier of the war.
Later, Bell, his wife, Alpern, and Speedway Motorsports Chief Operations Officer Mike Burch were escorted to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Bell and Burch were then briefed on the wreath-laying protocol inside the Memorial Amphitheater’s artifacts room.
With precision and reverence, the wreath was placed before the two stepped back. The moment was marked by silence that soon gave way to the solemn notes of Taps.
At exactly 11 AM ET, the clock bells rang, signaling the changing of the guard. Bell, Alpern, Burch, and Morgan observed the ritual from the steps leading down to the tomb, where members of The Old Guard have stood watch continuously since 1948.
“Just being here at Arlington – it is a constant reminder that freedom isn’t free,” Bell said, moved by the experience.
“It reminds you that it is a memorial day. All of these people here have paid the price and given us the freedom that we have in the United States of America… It just hits hard whenever you see how many people are here and how many people have paid the ultimate price for us to live in the country that we live in and to have the freedoms we have,” he reflected further.
Bell’s grandfather served in World War II, and his uncle fought in the Vietnam War. Though Bell had never visited Arlington before, he leaned on the words of his father, David, who had once visited.
His father had told him it was an honor to take part in the wreath-laying ceremony and to witness the changing of the guard — an experience marked by discipline and precision.
The group also visited the gravesite of the astronauts lost in the Challenger explosion and spent time with members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard.
With the Coca-Cola 600 set for May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Bell, having fully embraced the weight of the tribute, will no doubt aim to take another crack at winning this year. Of course, he would also like to continue his form this season and contend for the big prize.
Fox Sports veteran believes Bell is ready for a Cup championship win
Mike Joy, Fox Sports’ lead NASCAR commentator, recently joined Kevin Harvick on his podcast and offered his take on which driver, aside from Kyle Larson, he’d like to see win a championship. Before Joy could say the name, Harvick called it: Christopher Bell.
“Yes. Yeah, he’s wow. He will be a champion of this sport. I have no doubt. I really wished he’d had the chance to run for it last year,” Joy affirmed.
The commentator pointed out how Martinsville derailed Bell’s title hopes last season, along with a couple of blocking Chevrolets. He then praised Bell’s composed response and the way he addressed the situation without publicly challenging NASCAR.
According to Joy, that approach earned Bell a great deal of respect both in the garage and across the sport. “He’s [Bell] someone that NASCAR respects and listens to. And I think they’re ready for him to be a champion,” he added.
Bell has registered three consecutive wins already this season. It remains to be seen whether Joy’s prediction will come true by the end of this year.
