CONCORD, N.C. -- Chase Elliott is honored to carry a special name on his No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE for Sunday’s Memorial Day weekend race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Frederick Pokorney’s name will replace Elliott’s on the windshield of his NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevy as part of the NASCAR Salutes initiative that’s run every year. Participating drivers will have the name of a U.S. soldier who gave the ultimate sacrifice on their windshields for Sunday's event.
“Memorial Day weekend, I feel like, has always been centered around the 600 for NASCAR as long as I’ve been around, have watched or been a part of it,” Elliott said. “I feel like NASCAR has really done a fantastic job of honoring the men and women who have served our country and I feel like they have shown a great example of that at the 600 every year.”
Pokorney was accepted into the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP) to enlist as a future officer. It was his dream to be commissioned through the program designed to provide outstanding enlisted Marines the opportunity to serve as Marine Corps officers.
Pokorney then attended Oregon State University for his Bachelor's degree in political science and was commissioned as second lieutenant in March 2001. He one of six Marines killed when their unit was attacked near Nasiriyah, Iraq, on March 23, 2003. Pokorney was 31 years old. He was promoted to first lieutenant posthumously since he served 10 years in the Marine Corps.
Elliott said it’s the least the drivers can do for those who lost their lives serving the United States and added the NASCAR Salutes program needs to remain a mainstay in the sport.
“It’s a tradition that we need to carry on, a tradition that should be carried on,” he said. “That’s not saying thanks enough but it’s a small way to honor those folks who you might not hear about or know about otherwise. I think it’s an important thing and I’m glad that we can it forward.”
Sunday’s 600 Miles of Remembrance will start at 6 p.m. ET and air on FOX.