Fort Bragg, North Carolina, hosted NASCAR driver Austin Dillon, May 7, as part of Mission 600, an annual program where racing teams visit military bases and learn about service members' daily lives in preparation for the Coca‑Cola 600.
Dillon, who drives the No. 3 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, is a two‑time NASCAR champion with wins in the Daytona 500 and Coca‑Cola 600. This was not his first time at the Army installation. Dillon previously visited the post in 2019 during an earlier Mission 600 tour, where he also trained with soldiers and learned about airborne operations.
This year, Charlotte Motor Speedway sent drivers to military installations across the country for the ninth time to meet with troops and recognize their service. Fort Bragg became one of the key stops for the 2026 campaign.
During the visit, Dillon and his racing team fired a howitzer, received weapons training, tested a flight simulator and jumped from the installation's 34‑foot jump tower. These hands‑on activities were designed to help the team understand the skills, training and challenges soldiers face every day.
Dillon said the experience helped him better understand why Memorial Day weekend is so important to NASCAR and to the military community.
"So appreciative for all of our military, the men and women out there who truly keep America what it is," Dillon said.
Mission 600 leads into the Coca‑Cola 600, NASCAR's Memorial Day weekend race that honors service members across the War Department. Charlotte Motor Speedway will host the 2026 race May 24.