Capt. Timothy Talbert and his wife Erica stand with number 43 Air Force car driven by Aric Almirola at the Coca Cola 600, May 26, 2013. Talbert was one of 43 service members from Fort Bragg and Pope Field, N.C. who were given VIP treatment at the Charlotte Motor Speedway race. Talbert is a flight nurse with the 36th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at Pope Field. (US Air Force photo by Adam Luther, 440 AW/PA)
Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, General Mark A. Welsh III, his wife Betty talked with Senior Airman Kevin Jackson and his wife Maceny at the Coca Cola 600 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C., May 26, 2013. Jackson was one of 43 service members from Fort Bragg and Pope Field, N.C. who were given VIP treatment at the race. Jackson is assigned to the 14th Air Support Operations Squadron at Pope Field, N.C. (US Air Force photo by Adam Luther, 440 AW/PA)
Capt. Timothy Talbert wishes driver Aric Almirola luck before the Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., May 26, 2013. Almirola is the driver of the number 43 Air Force Ford Fusion. Talbert was one of 43 service members from Fort Bragg and Pope Field, N.C. who were given VIP treatment at the Charlotte Motor Speedway race. Talbert is a flight nurse with the 36th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at Pope Field. (US Air Force photo by Adam Luther, 440 AW/PA)
5/29/2013 - CONCORD, N.C. -- Every year service members from Fort Bragg and Pope Field, N.C. are invited to spend the day at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca Cola 600. This year was no exception with 43 service members and their guests received VIP treatment at the nationally televised NASCAR race, May 26.
Each service member was paired up with a race team and had the opportunity to spend time in the garages and pits with their respective teams. All of the service members that participated have deployed in the last year and were nominated by their commands to serve as representatives for their unit.
Additionally, 600 Soldiers from across Fort Bragg participated in the opening ceremony of the race; receiving a standing ovation from the crowd and a thank you from everyone in attendance.
