NASCAR Cup
Charlotte Grand Marshal, Starter named
Brigadier General Benjamin Freakley Named Grand Marshal, Congressman Richard Burr Honorary Starter for May 30 Coca-Cola 600 CONCORD, N.C. (May 4, 2004) - In recognition of Memorial Day weekend, Brigadier General Benjamin Freakley has been ...
Published: May 5, 2004, 6:21 AM
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Brigadier General Benjamin Freakley Named Grand Marshal, Congressman Richard Burr Honorary Starter for May 30 Coca-Cola 600
CONCORD, N.C. (May 4, 2004) - In recognition of Memorial Day weekend, Brigadier General Benjamin Freakley has been named grand marshal and United States Congressman Richard Burr will serve as the honorary starter for the May 30 Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Among his duties as grand marshal, Freakley will give the command, "gentleman start your engines," to send the 43 drivers on their way in the longest race on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series schedule.
Freakley is the chief of infantry for the United States Army and the commanding general of Fort Benning in Georgia. He has commanded infantry units on a variety of levels and has twice served in combat.
He was a brigade operations officer during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and served as the Assistant Division Commander of the 101st Airborne Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.
A graduate of the United States Military Academy, Freakley has earned numerous honors and accommodations during his 29-year military career, including two Bronze Stars.
Burr, who represents North Carolina's fifth congressional district, will wave the green flag to start the Coca-Cola 600.
A member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Burr is uniquely positioned to protect and promote North Carolina's economic and security interests.
After reaching Washington in 1995, Burr's first major legislative achievement was passage of the Food and Drug Administration and Modernization Act of 1997.
Raised in North Carolina, Burr is a graduate of Wake Forest University.
Tickets for the Coca-Cola 600 start at just $29 and can be obtained by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.
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