Playful Joey Logano Reveals ‘Scaring’ People in U.S Air Force’s $70 Million Masterpiece

Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano swapped his fire suit for a flight suit with the 77th Fighter Squadron “Gamblers” at Shaw Air Force Base. This is all part of Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Mission 600 campaign.

With this initiative, drivers are partnered with regional military bases ahead of the Coca-Cola 600. Logano, as a member of the Coca-Cola racing family, got to spend the day engaging with pilots, soldiers, and even the staff at the base. Shaw base is home to the 20th Fighter Wing, the largest combat F-16 wing in the U.S. Air Force.

Joey Logano’s incredible experience flying the F16

While racing in NASCAR has a thrill, flying a $70 million beast just is just another ballgame. The F-16 flight is been used not just by the US military but by at least 25 other nations and over 4500 aircraft have been delivered. So when Joey Logano got the chance that same plane, there was no chance he was going to pass on “the coolest job”.

Ahead of the event, he said, “When you get the opportunity to fly in an F-16, I mean like that’s just like a dream come true territory for sure, so I’m so excited, I’m suited up getting ready to do this for the first time. So pretty stoked. I’m a bit nervous at the same time.” Logano completed his pre-flight training with the 77th Fighter Squadron “Gamblers.” He got his physical examination done, too, to ensure he was healthy and even went through a lot of breathing techniques and ways to handle the Gs.

But that was just the warm-up. The real adventure awaited Logano in-flight, where he didn’t just relish every moment but also took on a target! He zeroed in on an unsuspecting man seated on a tractor. Then they decided to descend from a crazy 18-20k foot towards him. One can imagine the terror the man must have faced watching a jet fly towards him!

On the SiriusXM NASCAR, channel Logano said, “We just scared the hell out of the guy.” He even joked about it and said, how that guy will never have anyone believe in his story! This experience would be surreal to anyone, and so was it for Logano. He said, “Everyone thinks that because you can drive a race car you can fly in one of these things. No, you can’t. It’s incredible the amount of speed, how quick it is … to feel the acceleration it takes. We took off at 600 mph and then went straight up, really, really fast.”

But speed and thrill are not what Mission 600 is all about, it is about spreading awareness. Awareness about our front-liners: Those who courageously defend the nation.

Logano highlighting Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Mission 600 campaign’s importance

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The Memorial Day Weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway venue is unlike any other. Here people come together with a motive. The motive is to honor the brave men and women of the US armed forces. More so for those who gave their lives defending the country. It is a reminder of the sacrifices the military makes and to show them gratitude for their work. Reportedly, Joey Logano tried his hand in the impressive F16 as part of Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Mission 600 campaign. This initiative pairs drivers with regional military bases ahead of the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day Weekend. 

But why was Logano chosen for this experience you ask? Christopher Griste, the command in chief of the 20th Fighter Wing, answered it. He says, “Any time that we have a chance to showcase our mission, that goes into the living rooms of Americans — and sometimes across the world with social media. Any time we get the chance to put a celebrity in the jet, it opens up a whole different world for recruitment purposes to show what we do.” Not just that, according to the top leaders at the Shaw Air Force Base, they believe having someone like Logano visit the base is an immense morale booster. As per the Chief Master Sgt, “Our goal is showcasing what the men and women at Shaw do day in and day out to support our nation.” 

As for Logano, he says, as a civilian he is just wrapped around his bubble thinking about cars. But it’s wise to take a step back and realize that they get to race cars all day because men and women are fighting for their freedom. He thinks that the Coca-Cola 600 is not really about the race, but about the weekend and what it stands for. He said, “It highlights what these guys do. … Not only our military members but also their families and the sacrifices they make.”

As Memorial Day Weekend approaches, we hope that the joint effort of the NASCAR drivers and the military shines through. Educating people about military is paramount and if NASCAR acts as a vehicle–why not?