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Fallen USS Cole Sailor to be featured on NASCAR race car

Posted at 12:55 PM, May 27, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-27 14:06:33-04

NORFOLK, Va. – A local fallen Sailor will have his name printed on the front of a race car this weekend in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

In tribute to the Armed Forces, all 40 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers in the Coca-Cola 600 will have their names replaced with those of fallen service members.

As part of NASCAR’s 600 Miles of Remembrance,  Virginia Beach native Cherone Gunn will be featured on the No. 21 car driven by Ryan Blaney.

CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 26: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire and Auto Center Ford, practices for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 27, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/NASCAR via Getty Images)

CHARLOTTE, NC – MAY 26: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire and Auto Center Ford, practices for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 27, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/NASCAR via Getty Images)

Gunn was killed on October 12, 2000 in an Al-Qaeda terrorist attack on the USS Cole in the Yemen port of Aden. He was one of 17 killed, injuring 39 others.

The Coca-Cola 600 will be held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday.