NASCAR and Ford both have a legacy of recognizing and celebrating the contributions of those in the US Armed Forces. The forces will now come together for a specially curated race that is set to honor U.S. servicemen on Veterans Day.

Using the historic USS Midway as the platform for the Wednesday announcement, NASCAR and Ford announced a special exhibition race, called the “Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic,” which will take place on November 11th, celebrated as Veterans Day in the USA. 

While the location of the race is yet to be confirmed, the organizers have confirmed that the race will serve as a nod to all six branches of the military. There is an expectation that six Cup drivers will race in the Veterans Day event.

Henry Ford’s great-great-grandson Nick Ford, who is part of the Ford’s corporate strategy team, said:

“I think supporting our military has always been in our company’s DNA for our entire 123-year history. It shows up in a lot of ways, but for America 250 this summer, we wanted to think about something that bridges the world of racing, which is another huge part of our company’s DNA.”

NASCAR’s 2026 season ends in Homestead, Miami, on November 8. There is usually an off-track tribute for Veterans Day, making this year’s special exhibition race, organized in collaboration with Ford, an even more significant tribute to the Armed Forces. 

What’s on the Cards for the First NASCAR Veterans Day Classic?

The race, which will be a first for the Proud to Honor campaign, which is Ford’s initiative to support, honor, and raise awareness for military service members, veterans, and their families, will see funds raised to support the Blue Star Families.

Blue Star Family is a non-profit military service organization. With Ford contributing to this noble cause, the race is set to be historic in adding another layer to the bond between racing and the military. 

This weekend in San Diego, NASCAR will have its first-ever race at an active military base. However, historically, the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend was already honoring the veterans.

NASCAR’s EVP and Chief Brand Officer Tim Clark, who served in the army after his father and uncle served in the military, reflected on this connection, saying:

“I think there’s so many similarities between the organizers, between Ford and NASCAR. It’s really core to who we are as an organization and a sport. Our race a few weeks ago on Memorial Day, we do a military tribute as part of that race weekend. It’s kind of a through-line throughout our 78 years.”

While the NASCAR EVP said that he is thrilled to be part of the planned event, it will also feature special Ford car showcases as well as a performance by the Zac Brown Band, which also performed in San Diego this week.

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Written by

Debrup Chaudhuri

Edited by

Yash Kotak