Breaking news
NASCAR Cup
Brad Keselowski takes heart in honoring fallen soldiers
NASCAR Cup Series driver spends time with family of fallen soldier Clark Schwedler prior to Coca-Cola 600.
Tim Southers
Edited: May 27, 2019, 1:01 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
One of the annual traditions during the Memorial Day race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is each NASCAR Cup Series driver displaying the name of a fallen soldier and hosting their families at the track.
Brad Keselowski has long been known as one of the most patriotic drivers who constantly works on and off the track to honor members of the military and their families. It’s a passion of his and this weekend he’ll honor a fellow Michigan native - Clark Schwedler.
“It’s a privilege to be a small part of this event to honor our fallen soldiers,”said Keselowski. “I enjoyed meeting some of Clark’s family and we are proud to have his name on our car for the Coca-Cola 600.”
Schwedler as from Crystal Falls, Michigan, a small town of around 1,600 people located in the northern peninsula of the state.
Clark’s brother Tom and his sister Kate Kokotovich visited Keselowski at the Team Penske shop earlier this week.
“It was incredibly important when they asked us to join and use Clark’s name,” said Tom Schwedler. “Looking at Brad and his patriotism it just felt right to put his name with a genuine patriot. I was incredibly honored that he wanted to pay tribute to my brother.”
Neither sibling was a big race fan, but after being asked to be a part of this program and meeting Keselowski they’re enjoying it and ready for the race becuase they felt Tom would have loved this event.
“We are (race fans) now,” said Kokotovich. “And it was so cool when I found out about Brad it just felt right to be a part of this special event. My brother loved to compete and he would love the team aspect of NASCAR.
“Coming from Michigan we’re from a small town in the upper peninsula. It’s great that Clark will be a big part of this event coming from a small time. Having Clark attached to this event means a lot to us.”
Clark Schwedler was killed in April 2007 in Iraq.
Complete list of soldiers to be remembered:
Car: 00
Driver: Landon Cassill - StarComm Racing
Solder: Kyle Richard Schneider
Car: 1
Driver: Kurt Busch - Chip Ganassi Racing
Soldier: Timothy J. Maude
Car: 2
Driver: Brad Keselowski - Team Penske
Soldier: Joseph Clark Schwedler
Car: 3
Driver: Austin Dillon - Richard Childress Racing
Soldier: Chad Wilkinson
Car: 4
Driver: Kevin Harvick - Stewart-Haas Racing
Soldier: Bryan Allen Hoover
Car: 6
Driver: Ryan Newman - Roush Fenway Racing
Soldier: James Michael Nolen
Car: 8
Driver: Daniel Hamric - Richard Childress Racing
Soldier: Kyle J. Milliken
Car: 9
Driver: Chase Elliott - Hendrick Motorsports
Soldier: Bradley W. Marshall
Car: 10
Driver: Aric Almirola - Stewart-Haas Racing
Soldier: John Patrick Bartone
Car: 11
Driver: Denny Hamlin - Joe Gibbs Racing
Soldier: Sarah Mitchell
Car: 12
Driver: Ryan Blaney - Team Penske
Soldier: Alexander Rosa Jr.
Car: 13
Driver: Ty Dillon - Germain Racing
Soldier: Robert Hugh Steele
Car: 14
Driver: Clint Bowyer - Stewart-Haas Racing
Soldier: Gary Ivan Gordon
Car: 15
Driver: Ross Chastain - Premium Motorsports
Soldier: Keith “Matt” Maupin
Car: 17
Driver: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - Roush Fenway Racing
Soldier: John Graziano
Car: 18
Driver: Kyle Busch - Joe Gibbs Racing
Soldier: Dale Russel Griffin
Car: 19
Driver: Martin Truex Jr. - Joe Gibbs Racing
Soldier: Nicholas H. Null
Car: 20
Driver: Erik Jones - Joe Gibbs Racing
Soldier: Richard Ellis Eckert
Car: 21
Driver: Paul Menard - Wood Brothers
Soldier: David E. Hickman
Car: 22
Driver: Joey Logano - Team Penske
Soldier: James Wallace Tisinger
Car: 24
Driver: William Byron - Hendrick Motorsports
Soldier: Mark Weber
Car: 27
Driver: Reed Sorenson - Premium Motorsports
Soldier: Jerome C. Bell Jr.
Car: 32
Driver: Corey Lajoie - GoFas Racing
Soldier: Alex Conrad
Car: 34
Driver: Michael McDowell - Front Row Motorsports
Soldier: Jonathan Farmer
Car: 36
Driver: Matt Tifft - Front Row Motorsports
Soldier: Joshua ‘Zach’ Beale
Car: 37
Driver: Chris Buescher - JTG Daugherty Racing
Soldier: David Moore
Car: 38
Driver: David Ragan - Front Row Motorsports
Soldier: William G. Taylor
Car: 41
Driver: Daniel Suarez - Stewart-Haas Racing
Soldier: Randy David Shughart
Car: 42
Driver: Kyle Larson - Chip Ganassi Racing
Soldier: Jeannette Lee Winters
Car: 43
Driver: Bubba Wallace Jr. - Richard Petty Motorsports
Soldier: Dylan J. Elchin
Car: 47
Driver: Ryan Preece - JTG Daugherty Racing
Soldier: William Jeffries
Car: 48
Driver: Jimmie Johnson - Hendrick Motorsports
Soldier: Richard Michael Donlan
Car: 51
Driver: Cody Ware - Rick Ware Racing
Soldier: Lee C. Wilson
Car: 52
Driver: Bayley Currey - Rick Ware Racing
Soldier: James Allen Slape
Car: 53
Driver: BJ McLeod - Rick Ware Racing
Soldier: William O’Brien
Car: 66
Driver: Joey Gase - MBM Motorsports
Soldier: Timothy D. Howerton
Car: 77
Driver: Quinn Houff - Spire Motorsports
Soldier: Bantee L. Hall
Car: 88
Driver: Alex Bowman - Hendrick Motorsports
Soldier: John Tumilson
Car: 95
Driver: Matt DiBenedetto - Leavine Family Racing
Soldier: Danny A. Dessens Jr.
Car: 96
Driver: Parker Klingerman - Gaunt Brothers Racing
Soldier: Andrew F. Whitacre
Grand Marshall Car #1
Soldier: Jason Hicks
Grand Marshall Car #2
Soldier: James M. Brophy
Grand Marshall Car #3
Soldier: William Carter Ross
Grand Marshall Car #4
Soldier: David M. Sonka
Lead Pace Car
Soldier: Jason C. Denfrund
Splitter Pace Car
Soldier: Kevin R. Herrmann
Air Force Tundra
Soldier: Zachary S. Barton
Marine Tundra
Soldier: Daniel Baker
Navy Tundra
Soldier: Dakota Kyle Rigsby
Coast Guard Tundra
Soldier: Adam Bryant
Army Tundra
Soldier: Kenneth ‘Kenny’ McAninch
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article With a Coca-Cola 600 victory come plenty of spoils
Next article Coke 600: Brad Keselowski wins hectic first stage
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Tim Southers
Wood Brothers and Stewart-Haas Gaming pick up wins in Michigan
Esports
Esports
Wood Brothers and Stewart-Haas Gaming pick up wins in Michigan
Roush Fenway Gaming uses consistency to fuel success
Esports
Esports
Roush Fenway Gaming uses consistency to fuel success
2019 Watkins Glen/Eldora NASCAR weekend schedules
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
2019 Watkins Glen/Eldora NASCAR weekend schedules
More from
Brad Keselowski
What now for Brad Keselowski and RFK Racing with impending split?
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Las Vegas II
What now for Brad Keselowski and RFK Racing with impending split?
Kaulig Racing shoots down Brad Keselowski NASCAR rumors
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Kaulig Racing shoots down Brad Keselowski NASCAR rumors
The most unexpected driver and team breakups in modern NASCAR Cup history
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
The most unexpected driver and team breakups in modern NASCAR Cup history
More from
Team Penske
NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles
Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix
You Ask The Questions: David Malukas
IndyCar
You Ask The Questions: David Malukas
Latest news
Ducati says Aprilia “can do whatever they want” amid team order talks in MotoGP
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
17 min
Ducati says Aprilia “can do whatever they want” amid team order talks in MotoGP
Why it's now Oliver Bearman versus Rafael Camara for the next Ferrari vacancy
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
38 min
Why it's now Oliver Bearman versus Rafael Camara for the next Ferrari vacancy
MotoGP Australian GP: Marco Bezzecchi leads Aprilia 1-2-4-5 in Friday Practice
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
3 h
MotoGP Australian GP: Marco Bezzecchi leads Aprilia 1-2-4-5 in Friday Practice
Max Verstappen slams “unacceptable” bumps at Austin F1 track: “It's out of control”
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
10 h
Max Verstappen slams “unacceptable” bumps at Austin F1 track: “It's out of control”
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe