The Freedom Trophy, one of Talladega Superspeedway’s unique patriotic traditions, will be presented to the winner of the Alabama 500 – the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Round of 12 elimination race – on Sunday, Oct. 23, by United States Coast Guard representatives MK2 Ruben D. Cabrera-Matos and Seaman Casey Raines.
The Freedom Trophy, introduced in the spring of 2014, has quickly become a mainstay at NASCAR’s biggest and baddest track and is presented to each NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winner by a member of one of our country’s military branches. After the Alabama 500 trophy presentation, the track will have recognized all five United States’ military branches – Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard – as presenters of the one-of-a-kind trophy to each NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Talladega winner since the trophy’s inception.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Cabrera-Matos currently serves at Coast Guard Station Gulfport, Mississippi as a Machinery Technician. Cabrera-Matos, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida, enlisted in the Coast Guard in 2007. He is also part of a unit conducting law enforcement missions, some of which includes narcotics interdiction, fishery enforcement and safety inspections aboard recreation and commercial vessels. He is well-admired for his professionalism, specialty knowledge and his work in the Gulfport community.
SN Raines, an Atlanta, Georgia native who enlisted in the Coast Guard in 2015, serves at Coast Guard Station Pensacola, Florida as a member of the search and rescue and law enforcement teams. Raines would like to further his career and serve in the Coast Guard as a Health Services Technician. A well-known volunteer and member of the Pensacola community, he was awarded the “Sailor of the Quarter,” which represents his commitment and hard work to his station. Raines, like Cabrera-Matos, is proud to represent the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard.
The U.S. Coast Guard is the only military organization within the Department of Homeland Security, and has protected our Nation’s maritime interests and environment around the world since 1790. Nearly 42,000 men and women are on active duty in today’s Coast Guard, which is an adaptable, responsive military force of maritime professionals. Their wide-range of legal authorities, capable assets, geographic diversity and expansive partnerships provide a persistent presence along our rivers, in the ports, coastal regions and on the high seas, where the impact and presence is felt locally all the way to an international level. The Coast Guard’s motto is Semper Paratus, meaning “Always Ready.”
“We are excited to have Petty Officer 2nd Class Cabrera-Matos and Seaman Raines from the U.S. Coast Guard to present the Freedom Trophy to the Alabama 500 winner,” said Talladega Superspeedway Chairman Grant Lynch. “We are pleased to have recognized all five of our military branches since this unique trophy was created in spring of 2014. It will be an extreme honor for all of our fans in attendance to show their appreciation to these fine Coast Guard representatives and all of our military. There’s nothing we like more than showing support for those who fight for our freedom so that we can put on NASCAR events here.”
Talladega Superspeedway takes pride in showing support for our nation’s military through various acts of patriotism, celebrating our military and working closely with numerous military bases. In addition to recognizing the military through the Freedom Trophy, Talladega Superspeedway is proud to offer special ticket prices for all members of the military and their families for its race weekends. For more information, visit www.
Four drivers have had the distinguished honor to win the Freedom Trophy at Talladega Superspeedway – Denny Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brad Keselowski (twice) and Joey Logano (defending Alabama 500 Champion).
While he won’t be competing in the Alabama 500, Earnhardt Jr. will be at Talladega Superspeedway and will be interacting with fans as part of the track’s Fan Driver Question & Answer session on Sunday morning at the start-finish line (Q&A will also feature Chase drivers Carl Edwards and Logano, along with Brian Scott, Michael Annett and 1989 NASCAR Champ Rusty Wallace). To be a part of this event, fans can purchase Talladega’s “Pre-Race Pit Pass Upgrade” for $75 (must also purchase a Sunday admission ticket). The “Pre-Race Pit Pass Upgrade” will be in effect on Sunday, Oct. 23, from 8 a.m. until the conclusion of Driver Introductions. The Alabama 500 gets underway at 1 p.m. CDT. To purchase, simply visit www.
Talladega Superspeedway’s action-packed weekend kicks off on Friday (Oct. 21) with practice sessions for both the fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race and the Alabama 500. Saturday’s schedule includes qualifying for the NCWTS fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola (9:30 a.m. CDT), the fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola (the Round of 8 Elimination race in the NCWTS Chase), which gets the green flag at 12 Noon CDT, and Foodland/Food Giant Qualifying for the NSCS (3:00 p.m. CDT). Sunday’s Alabama 500, which will see the field of 12 contenders for the title be reduced to eight at the checkered flag, is set for a 1 p.m. CDT start on Sunday, Oct. 23.
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