CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Kyle Busch wins NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway to cap auto racing's busiest day.
- Coca-Cola 600 starts with Salute the Troops show
- All 5 branches of military represented for the first time
- NC State football coach Dave Doeren serves as honorary race official
Charlotte Motor Speedway officials call the Coca-Cola 600 one of the largest patriotic displays in our country, with the Salute the Troops pre-race show.
For the first time ever, all 5 branches of the military were represented.
NC State Wolfpack football coach Dave Doeren was at the track serving as an honorary race official.
Also at the track was newly announced member of the NASCAR Hall of Famer Jack Roush. He will be enshrined with the class of 2019 in January, along with Jeff Gordon, Roger Penske, Davey Allison and Alan Kulwicki.
Thousands of fans traveled to the Speedway to watch the race, even if it was on a television.
Campers, like Shane Freeman, watched the race sitting on top of scaffolding, their vehicle, or the video board.
"You come out here with all your friends to party and drink," says Freeman.
Others, like Mary Lindquist watched the race on her TV from her RV in the parking lot.
"I know it's not the same," says Lindquist. "If you're in the stands, you look where you want to look and on TV you look where the camera is."
However, for Lindquist, it's about the atmosphere of the campgrounds.
"I don't have to pay to have something to eat and there's no one standing up in front of me," she states.