Oceanside CA— On Sunday, May 27, 2018, the memory of Staff Sergeant Frankie Phillips of Oceanside will be honored by the NASCAR industry as part of a special Memorial Day Weekend tribute during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
As part of 600 Miles of Remembrance, the names of U.S. Armed Forces members who sacrificed their lives for our country will be proudly displayed on the windshields of each of the 40 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series cars participating in the race.
Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson will carry Frankie’s name during the race, which will be broadcast on FOX at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 27.
Frankie died May 4, 2013 in Afghanistan when his patrol encountered an improvised explosive device. Frankie’s story has been told across the nation, as he was mentioned by President Obama in the Memorial Day Speech in 2013.
Frankie was a native of Oceanside before moving east to Auburn, NY in 2003 with his family. He joined the Army in April 2004, and would return to Auburn, NY, where his mother and brother live, when on leave.
The special tribute will commemorate the launch of NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola, the industry’s collective expression of respect and gratitude for members of the U.S. Armed Forces, past and present.