NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
NASCAR driver Christopher Bell dedicated his NASCAR Cup Series victory at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee, on Saturday to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was murdered earlier in the week in Utah.
Moments after climbing out of his car, Bell announced that his win was dedicated to Kirk.
“It wasn’t pretty there at the end, but we got her done,” Bell, the driver of the #20 DEWALT Toyota, said after the win.
“Most importantly, this week’s obviously been a very tough week. You know, there’s a lot on our minds,” he continued.
“This one’s for Charlie,” Bell added.
Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on the campus of Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon. He was transported to a hospital in critical condition before he was later pronounced dead.
The alleged gunman was identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, whose family persuaded him to turn himself in after a two-day manhunt.
Other major figures in sports have paid tribute to Kirk since his assassination on Wednesday.
Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Blake Treinent, during Friday night’s game against the San Francisco Giants, wore a hat on the mound that featured Kirk’s name alongside a cross.
The inscription on his hat read “Charlie Kirk” and a cross was also prominently featured.
The Chicago Cubs also paid tribute to Kirk before the team’s game on Friday. Describing him as a lifelong Cubs fan, the team held a “moment of reflection” and called for an end to “all political violence.”
The New York Yankees were the first pro sports team to honor Kirk, holding a moment of silence to commemorate the influencer ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Tigers.
Meanwhile, the NFL released a statement on Friday addressing a tribute to Kirk ahead of its most recent game, and said teams will be left to make their own decisions about whether to follow suit this Sunday.
Thursday night’s game between the Green Bay Packers and Washington Commanders featured a moment of silence in honor of Kirk before kick-off.
“Last night’s moment was the league’s decision. It’s up to the clubs for this Sunday’s games,” the league’s statement read.
The post NASCAR driver dedicates victory in Bristol to Charlie Kirk: ‘This one’s for Charlie’ appeared first on Fox News.
