By Kevin M. Hymel, Contract Historian

Denny Hamlin’s mother took great pride in her son’s visit to Arlington National Cemetery. While the stock car driver took in the hollowed grounds on May 3, 2023, she texted him an important message: “Isn’t it amazing the honor you have to go there today and lay a wreath?”
Hamlin, the defending champion of the Coca-Cola 600, came to the cemetery with NASCAR and Charlotte Motor Speedway representatives to visit graves, learn ANC’s history and lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. His group included Marcus Smith, CEO and president of Speedway Motorsports; Dave Alpern, president of Joe Gibbs Racing; and Greg Walter, executive vice president of Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Three ANC representatives greeted Hamlin inside the cemetery: Superintendent Charles “Ray” Alexander, Chief of Staff Col. Mike Binetti and Deputy Chief of Staff Robert Quackenbush as well as Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Strategic Engagement Melanie Fonder Kaye. Before heading into Memorial Amphitheater, the three men took Hamlin’s group to the Space Shuttle Columbia and Challenger Memorials, the Iran Rescue Mission Memorial and the grave of highly decorated World War II veteran Audie Murphy.
Inside the Memorial Amphitheater Display Room, Curator Rod Gainer explained the history of ANC’s grounds, the Amphitheater itself and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Hamlin appreciated the tour and the history lesson. “It’s really important to me to learn how the cemetery has changed over the last century,” he said, “and to understand what I’m paying homage to.”
Hamlin and his group then watched the changing of the guard before laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Smith, Alpern and Walter accompanied Hamlin in the wreath laying.
When the visit ended, Hamlin expressed his gratitude for the tour and the sacrifices of his fellow Americans. “It’s one thing to talk about those who are remembered, but to actually see it definitely puts it in different perspective.”
Hamlin departed the cemetery with a memento given to him by a Tomb guard: a military unit coin (challenge coin) , which he displayed with pride. When asked if he might bring the coin to his next race, he responded, “Absolutely, this will be in my car.”
