NASCAR Cup Series: Kobe Bryant tributes set for Fontana

There are set to be a number of tributes to the late Kobe Bryant in this afternoon’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway, the Auto Club 400.

On Sunday, January 26, NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were tragically killed in a helicopter crash along with seven others on their way to a basketball game at Mamba Sports Academy, a multisport training center for young athletes that the Los Angeles Lakers superstar opened in 2016, the same year he retired from the NBA.

In the days and weeks that have passed since then, there have been a number of tributes for Kobe, Gianna and the other victims of the crash, who include Alyssa Altobelli, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Payton Chester, Sarah Chester, Christina Mauser and Ara Zobayan.

NASCAR is set to join in that trend in this afternoon’s Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway. The track is less than 50 miles from the STAPLES Center, where the Black Mamba played his home games as a member of the Lakers throughout his entire career.

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Prior to today’s 200-lap race around the four-turn, 2.0-mile (3.219-kilometer) oval in Fontana, California, there will be a ceremony to honor the nine victims of the crash.

In addition, the grass will be painted with the number 24. Bryant wore the number 24 for the final 10 seasons of his 20-year career after switching from the number 8. There will also be a memorial display for fans to write on before it is sent to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation with a donation.

Several individual drivers are set to honor the deceased in their own ways as well.

Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney is set to run a Lakers/Black Mamba-themed #12 Ford (pictured) in this race through primary sponsor BODYARMOR, an American independently owned sports drink based in Queens, New York. All proceeds from ensuing merchandise sales are set to go to the Mamba On Three Fund.

Bryant was an investor in BODYARMOR and served on the company’s board of directors. He met Blaney back in October of 2018, and Blaney gifted him a BODYARMOR firesuit. In exchange, Bryant sent him a copy of his book, “The Mamba Mentality”.

Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron is set to run a Lakers-themed scheme as well, and it is very fitting considering the fact that he drives the #24 Chevrolet.

Byron’s tribute scheme was made possible through primary sponsor Axalta, a coatings company headquartered in Bryant’s hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The company is set to make a donation to After-School All-Stars, a non-profit organization where Bryant served as a National Ambassador, in honor of the nine victims.

There will be other tributes as well, including a #8 Bryant/Lakers-themed decal on the #8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet driven by rookie Tyler Reddick.

Additionally, Gaunt Brothers Racing’s Daniel Suarez is set to wear gloves and shoes to honor the late Black Mamba, and those gloves and shoes will be auctioned off for the Mamba On Three Fund following the race.

https://twitter.com/Daniel_SuarezG/status/1232350675520102409

Tune in to Fox today at 3:30 p.m. ET for the live broadcast of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season’s third race from Auto Club Speedway, and don’t miss the various tributes that are planned throughout the Auto Club 400 to honor the victims of this tragedy.