MTSU’s Daniels Center helps Nashville Superspeedway honor troops, veterans at NASCAR event

LEBANON, Tenn. — The Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center at Middle Tennessee State University helped the Nashville Superspeedway honor active-duty troops, veterans and their families during opening ceremonies of the three-day 2025 NASCAR racing weekend.

MTSU’s retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Huber was an honorary track official at the May 30 Rackley Roofing 200.

Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Huber, senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., waves to NASCAR fans during his appearance as the honorary track official at the May 30 Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

Members of the U.S. Army ROTC color guard from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., present the colors May 30 before the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

Also before the Rackley race, the Army ROTC color guard at MTSU presented the nation’s colors and about 75 military-connected family members organized by the Daniels Center unfurled a giant American flag in the track’s infield.

Huber, senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives at MTSU, talked with NASCAR fans in the Nashville Superspeedway Fan Fun Zone before the June 1 Cracker Barrel 400 about the services provided by the Daniels Center.

Huber stressed to the crowd that the Daniels Center stands ready to serve all veterans, regardless of their affiliation to MTSU. The Daniels Center is an on-campus resource to more than 1,200 military-connected students on the MTSU campus.

Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Huber, right, senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., speaks to NASCAR fans in the Nashville Superspeedway Fan Fun Zone about the services provided by the university’s Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center the June 1 Cracker Barrel 400 at the superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn. (MTSU photo by Andrew Oppmann)

The retired general urged veterans among the NASCAR fans at the superspeedway to reach out to him personally if they need help with veterans’ federal benefits. “I will be your action officer,” Huber said.

After his Fan Zone event, Huber viewed a precision demonstration by members of the U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon at the superspeedway.

MTSU’s School of Concrete and Construction Management staffed an information table at the Fan Zone before each of the three races. This marked the fourth year of MTSU ’s partnership with the Nashville Superspeedway.

— Andrew Oppmann (Andrew.Oppmann@mtsu.edu)