Cpl. Kyle Schneider’s name will have a place of prominence in NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 race on Sunday in Charlotte.
Schneider, a Marine from Baldwinsville, will be represented on the windshield of Ryan Preece’s No. 37 JTG-Daugherty Racing car.
As part of NASCAR’s 600 Miles of Remembrance program, each of the 40 cars in the race will carry the name of a U.S. Armed Forces members who died in service. Schneider was killed in action in 2011.
“We felt very blessed and grateful that Kyle would be honored,” said Kyle’s mother, Lorie. “That’s what we want for Kyle, to always be remembered for his dedication and commitment to country and community.”
Schneider was a 2006 graduate of C.W. Baker High School, where he played baseball, football and ran track. He also attended Onondaga Community College in the Criminal Justice Program, and entered the Marine Corps at a Parris Island, South Carolina, recruitment facility in 2008. He was later killed in Sangin District, Hellmund Province, Afghanistan in 2011 protecting his men.
NASCAR has run this Memorial Day tribute at the Coca-Cola 400 since 2015. Names are submitted by local and national veterans organizations.
“The fact that he was over there defending our freedom, I just have a lot of respect for people like him and their families,” Preece said. “It’s not easy, I’m sure, losing a son. This is a way for us to honor that.”
The race starts at 6 p.m. and will be televised by FOX.
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