With his weathered hands gripping the microphone and a century of life experience in his eyes, Corporal Don Graves stood before the crowd at Texas Motor Speedway this Sunday. The 100-year-old Marine veteran, one of the last surviving flamethrowers from the bloody shores of Iwo Jima, delivered a rendition of the National Anthem that transcended the typical pre-race ceremony before the Wurth 400. In an era where NASCAR and broadcast partner FOX have given enough reasons for viewers to bounce, Graves’ performance struck the right notes.
The network’s choice to spotlight a genuine American hero rather than a celebrity performer struck a chord with the Texas Motor Speedway crowd and viewers at home. And this move hit home with those in the grandstands at Texas Motor Speedway, along with those watching it from their home. This wasn’t Grave’s first appearance in Texas, as back in 2023, he sang God Bless America, which was equally electrifying and inspiring for the fans.
Before taking the microphone, few in attendance knew the remarkable story behind the centenarian standing before them. Graves enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1942 at just 17 years old, following in his father’s footsteps. By February 19, 1945, he found himself wading ashore at Iwo Jima with a 72-pound flamethrower strapped to his back. “I’m the only flame thrower in the Second Battalion that came off,” Graves has recounted in interviews. “We had 335 Marines going in; 18 came off.” The Battle of Iwo Jima remains one of the bloodiest in Marine Corps history, with nearly 7,000 Marines killed and another 20,000 wounded during the 36-day struggle for the island.
A 100-year-old veteran just sang the national anthem and did so beautifully. How remarkable.
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) May 4, 2025
Fans Rally Around a True American Hero
“Such a win for Nascar! No fancy addition to the anthem, just pure American,” wrote one fan online, capturing the sentiment many viewers expressed about the straightforward presentation. Unlike many sporting events where the National Anthem becomes a showcase for vocal gymnastics or personal style, Graves’ rendition represented the unadorned patriotism that many NASCAR fans consider central to the sport’s identity. This back-to-basics approach resonated particularly well at Texas Motor Speedway, a track known for its unapologetic celebration of American traditions and military appreciation events.
“That was beautiful. 100 years old, survived Iwo Jima and got to sing the national anthem at a Cup Series race. So freaking cool!” another fan commented, focusing on the emotional resonance of the moment. For many viewers, knowing that Graves once laid face-down in Iwo Jima’s black sand, making a desperate prayer—“God, I don’t know much about you. But if you’re real and you could do for me what people say you could do, and you get me off this island, I’ll serve you the rest of my life”—added profound depth to his singing. That this same man would later serve 32 years as a minister, keeping the promise made in his darkest hour, made his anthem performance a living bridge between America’s military past and present.
“Way better than the military band Talladega does every year,” observed another viewer, speaking to how this performance contrasted with NASCAR’s typical approach to pre-race ceremonies. While Talladega Superspeedway and other tracks often feature formal military bands—technically superior but sometimes lacking emotional connection—Graves’ performance offered something different. Not just Talladega, the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray also had fans rilled up in the manner the anthem was sung by the Red Sea of Sound marching band.
Be it the command to start the race or the national anthem, NASCAR fans have a thing to rate the performance on the scale of 1-10. NASCAR fans aren’t easily impressed, but Corporal Don Graves’ voice and enthusiasm were enough to win over them, and that reflected in the ratings on social media. “10 out of 10,” a fan wrote.
President Trump’s appearance at the Daytona 500 and Don Graves’ national anthem performance so far have been standouts in terms of pre-race ritual events in 2025.
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