The 2025 NASCAR Race Weekend at Pocono Raceway promised not just high-speed thrills but also a patriotic musical, which kicked off with a carefully curated lineup of National Anthem performers across all three race days. For the main event on June 22, fans will rise to their feet as Generald Wilson, U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class (Ret.), delivers a rousing vocal performance of the National Anthem ahead of the Great American Getaway 400. Wilson, whose deep, powerful voice has made him a fixture at major sporting events, including the Super Bowl and World Series, brings unmatched emotions and military pride to his performance.

Friday’s Miller Tech 200 for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series saw a soulful performance by Kendal Conrad, a country-pop singer-songwriter and a native Pennsylvanian. She has opened for stars like Blake Shelton and has previously performed the anthem at NFL and MLB games, making her return to Pocono a sort of homecoming. Whereas Saturday’s Explore the Pocono Mountains 250 for the NASCAR Xfinity Series featured a unique and stirring rendition of the anthem by John Maurer, a renowned trumpet artist.

This is not the first time the military personnel have been a central figure in pre-race traditions. NASCAR has a long history of partnering with military bands and service members to perform the National Anthem at high-profile events. For example, the Navy Band Southeast has appeared multiple times at the Daytona 500 and Coke Zero 400, delivering stirring orchestral renditions. The U.S. Naval Academy Drum & Bugle Corps also performed at Dover Motor Speedway’s 2023 Cup weekend, bringing traditional service music to the frontstretch. Beyond Navy groups, an Air Force Technical Sergeant from Max Impact sang the anthem prior to the 62nd Daytona 500, and Talladega’s 2024 Xfinity race featured country star and Army reservist Craig Morgan performing alongside the 313th U.S. Army Band.

Recently, at the Cracker Barrel 400 race at Nashville Superspeedway, the National Anthem was performed by Sgt. Elizabeth Marino of the 2D Marine Aircraft Wing Band, just prior to the dropping of the green flag. These collaborations underscore NASCAR’s commitment to showcasing military talent and honoring their service through music, a tradition that Pocono continues with Wilson’s appearance this season. But the race has already had a turbulent and delayed start, as the weekend starts off with a green flag way past its schedule.

Breaking down Pocono’s starting grid as weather clears up amid the delayed schedule

The starting lineup for Pocono Raceway’s The Great American Getaway 400 race is as follows:

1. #11 Denny Hamlin
2. #17 Chris Buescher
3. #77 Carson Hocevar
4. #42 John Hunter Nemechek
5. #41 Cole Custer
6. #19 Chase Briscoe
7. #54 Ty Gibbs
8. #45 Tyler Reddick
9. #20 Christopher Bell
10. #99 Daniel Suárez
11. #43 Erik Jones
12. #22 Joey Logano
13. #60 Ryan Preece
14. #6 Brad Keselowski
15. #38 Zane Smith
16. #3 Austin Dillon
17. #4 Noah Gragson
18. #9 Chase Elliott
19. #2 Austin Cindric
20. #12 Ryan Blaney
21. #1 Ross Chastain
22. #7 Justin Haley
23. #88 Shane van Gisbergen
24. #5 Kyle Larson
25. #48 Alex Bowman
26. #8 Kyle Busch
27. #10 Ty Dillon
28. #71 Michael McDowell
29. #35 Riley Herbst
30. #47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
31. #24 William Byron
32. #34 Todd Gilliland
33. #16 A.J. Allmendinger
34. #23 Bubba Wallace
35. #21 Josh Berry
36. #51 Cody Ware
37. #44 Brennan Poole

Pocono Raceway began the weekend under cloudy, humid skies with scattered showers and a strong thunderstorm cell moving across Long Pond early afternoon. NASCAR officials delayed pre-race activities mid-morning due to lightning warnings, asking fans to seek shelter in cars or under cover. But later, the storm rapidly diminished, clearing an overcast sky that offered brief yet promising windows for drying the track and preparing for the green flag, which ultimately dropped at 4:30 p.m. ET.

8:25 p.m. ET is the clock that NASCAR intends to complete the race. If it rains or caution stretches the window, the officials will bring out the two-lap shootout to decide the race winner.