Notes & Quotes: Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Alberto Flores, born in Salinas, California, met his wife Elvira in eighth grade and they have been together ever since. At 15, he saw a pamphlet with a Marine holding a sword, and the words, "Honor, Courage, Commitment." When old enough, he joined the Marines. Fast forward to 2005 and Cpl. Flores was on his second tour of duty in Iraq when the Humvee he was in ran over an IED (improvised explosive device). The explosion shattered his right leg and led to its amputation. But his story, like so many of the Veterans profiled this season, reveals the inner strength and resilience of our Veterans who return from war injured but not defeated. We asked him a few questions...

When did you join the military and where did you serve?

AF: "I joined the Marine Corps in January 2003. Was stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif. with the 1st Battalion 5th Marines. I served two tours: December 2003 to July 2004 in Fallujah, Iraq. My second tour in Ramadi, Iraq started in February 2005.

How did you become injured? 

AF: "I was on my second deployment in Ramadi, Iraq and on May 12th, 2005 I was out on patrol when my Humvee hit an IED." From the Flores video on hfot.org:  "Just wanted to take a drive out there, check everything out before we sent our foot patrol to go research the area. Everything was pretty quiet that day. There were no civilians, no one was around, so it was a little suspicious. As soon as I mummed the words, 'Watch out for IEDs,' there was just a big old explosion. All I remember is just smoke everywhere, just a big old blast. I could feel little pebbles, rocks, everything scraping my face. As soon as I stand up, I just fell to the ground, and that's when I noticed and looked down. My whole leg was pretty much mangled."

The remains of the Humvee in which Cpl. Flores was injured.

What were the extent of your injuries?

AF: "Sustained severe damage to my right leg. After 10 days in Landstuhl, Germany I was then transported to Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. Due to multiple infections, my leg had to be amputated at first below the knee but due to continued infections they then had to amputate above the knee." From the HFOT.org video speaking of Elvira coming to his side: "It just felt amazing to have her there, having my son there with me finally. That's one of the things I was praying for when I was laying on that floor and looking at the sky. I was just like, 'God, please just don't take me now. I need to see my family. I want to be with my family, and so to have them there with me.' I just I felt like God answered my prayers and just said, 'Okay, here's your family.'

"We spent a little over 2 months in Bethesda beginning my road to recovery. Once I was healed enough, I was then transported to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. This is where I received my prosthetic leg and began my journey relearning to walk again over about a six month period."

Lance Cpl. Flores is standing second from left with his fellow Marines.

What was the most difficult part of your journey?

AF: "Leaving behind my fellow Marines when I got injured."

Do you have any advice for other Veterans who may be struggling to adapt after suffering serious injury while serving?

AF: "Take the road to recovery one day at a time. Things can get difficult but as long as you push forward nothing can stop you from accomplishing goals in your recovery." 

Who are the heroes in your life?

AF: "My heroes are my wife for always being by my side through my recovery and never letting me give up on myself.  Also, my fellow Marines who have always been there for me through tours and checked up on me even after the uniform has come off."

Please describe the impact on your life of having a specially adapted home from Homes For Our Troops in New Braunfels, Texas. How has it changed your life?

AF: "Having a specially adapted home has helped me get my independence back. It has taken away barriers so I can now do things around the house on my own. This home has given my family peace of mind that I can move safely throughout the whole house without worrying if I will fall and injure myself again. It takes a lot of burden out of my life." From the HFOT.org video: "Growing up, I didn't have too much close family bondness, and that's one thing I wanted to change with my family. I wanted to be more involved with them, with my son, do things together. With Homes For Our Troops, I think that'll be more possible. Homes For Our Troops is pretty much a lifesaver."

 Texas Governor Greg Abbott attended the ribbon cutting for the 400th home presented by Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) in 2024 to Alberto Flores and his wife Elvira, who live in New Braunfels, Texas. Also attending were HFOT President and CEO Brigadier General USA (Ret) Tom Landwermeyer next to Flores and longtime HFOT donor Diane Hendricks, chairman of Hendricks Holding Co., Hendricks Commercial Properties and ABC Supply Co.

Have you been to a race before?

AF: "Yes! We were Honored to had been invited to our first Indy 500 Race last May in Indianapolis."

What are you most looking forward to seeing/doing at the race this weekend?

AF: "Looking forward to the adrenaline you get every time the cars fly by."

Hobbies/Interests?

AF: "I enjoy family time. Hanging out, Barbecuing.  Watching Sports. Attending sporting events."

Alberto hosted his extended family and friends at an NFL watch party.

What are the top three things on your Bucket List?

AF: "Taking my Family to visit every state, being able to someday BBQ a perfect Brisket and

building a beautiful Pergola in my backyard to enjoy my barbecue time with my family."

From the hfot.org video: "To all the donors and supporters, I just like to say thank you, thank you very much. They just make it easier for us with everyday life to be able to be more independent. Makes us lift our heads up and helps us to be proud."

CAIO COLLET

Driving the No. 4 Combitrans Amazonia Chevrolet, Collet continues to impress in his rookie season qualifying 11th and finishing 11th at Mid-Ohio, thereby closing the points gap between himself and fellow Rookie of the Year contender Dennis Hauger. In the INDY NXT races at Nashville Speedway, Collet finished 3rd (2024) and 4th (2025) driving for HMD Motorsports. On ovals this season he has finished 19th (Phoenix), 26th (Indy 500-accident) and 26th (St. Louis-mechanical) where he led seven laps.

You had your best finish to date at the last race in Mid-Ohio—does it give you a level of confidence going to Nashville?

CC: " Definitely. More than the finishing position itself, I’m happy with the progress we’ve been making

as a team. We’ve been getting more comfortable with the car, improving our execution throughout the weekends, and that momentum is important. Nashville is another opportunity to keep building on that and hopefully fight for another strong result."

You tested at Nashville last year—does it help your approach this year? Or did the test at Milwaukee last week help more?

CC: "I think both were valuable in different ways. Testing at Nashville last year gave me my first experience with an Indy car on an oval. But the Milwaukee test was probably more relevant because it was much more recent."

You’ve run competitively on the ovals in Indy car this year—what is it about them that suits your style?

CC: "I’ve always enjoyed tracks where commitment and confidence make a big difference. On ovals, you have to be very precise, manage traffic well, and make quick decisions at high speed, and that’s something I really enjoy. Every oval is different, but I feel like the team did a really good job preparing me and giving me a car that I have confidence to drive."

How do you prepare for an oval race vs. a street course?

CC: "The preparation is a little different. For an oval, I spend a lot of time studying previous races, traffic situations, restarts, and how the race changes over long green-flag runs. Mentally, you also prepare for racing at very high speeds with very little margin for error. On a street course, the focus is more on braking points, precision, and maximizing qualifying because track position is so important. Physically the preparation is similar, but the driving mindset is definitely different between the two."

Caio Collet Facts: Age 24...Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil...Lives in Indianapolis, Indiana...In 2024-2025, he competed in the INDY NXT by Firestone Series, winning a total of four races, four poles and scored 15 podiums, ranked second in 2025 and 3rd in 2024 final standings...From 2021 to 2023, he competed in FIA Formula 3, won a total of three races, one pole and scored nine podiums with best rank of 8th in 2022...In 2019-20, he competed in Formula Renault Eurocup where he won five races (2020), three poles, 12 podiums to rank 2nd in standings ...Competed in French Formula 4 in 2018 and won the title along with seven races, three poles and posting 13 podiums... Began racing go-karts at age 7 and won multiple titles before moving to Europe...His father was a rally driver and Caio became interested in motorsports at age 4...Enjoys cycling, running, music from the 2000s and spending times with family and friends. 

SANTINO FERRUCCI

At Nashville Speedway, Ferrucci has finished 6th (2024) and 8th (2025). In 2026, Ferrucci currently sits 17th in the standings after posting three top-10 finishes, including extending his record of consecutive top-10 finishes in the Indy 500 to eight. Driving the No. 14 Homes For Our Troops Chevrolet, he has finished 11th (Phoenix), 8th (Indy) and 13th (St. Louis), three of the five ovals on the NTT INDYCAR Series circuit.

You earned two top-10s in the last two races at Nashville. What will it take to get a top-five?

SF: "I think being on the right side of the strategy will be helpful. I thought we had a great car last year. We just stayed out a little bit too long before the final stint because we didn't want to get burned by a yellow, and unfortunately, that was the wrong side. But we also came from the back after a pit road penalty. It was quite an eventful race. [Why the penalty?] I pitted off three under caution instead of four."

This race was 206 laps (275 miles) in 2024, and 225 laps (300 miles) in 2025, and now it's 300 laps (399 miles) in 2026. Do you know why they keep increasing the length?

SF: "It's probably got to do with the time. The races were so short. It's been a two or three stop race. So now it makes it a proper oval race distance. Four hundred miles, that's a proper distance for an oval." [Phoenix is 250 miles.] "It would have been fun if Phoenix was longer."

Is 400 miles more or less demanding than 500 miles at Indy?

SF: "It's different. I think with Nashville having a lot more downforce on the car, it's better to drive. At Indy, it (car) is just always on the edge. Physically Nashville is more demanding, but mentally it's less stressful."

Which do you prefer, given your great record at Indy?

SF: "I think I do better with the longer races. I do better with the heat, with the physical and the mental. For me, that's why I prefer the longer races. When the races were long, I've done well historically."

How does the high heat affect you in the cockpit, and how do you prepare for it?

SF: "Honestly, the heat doesn't bother me as a person. The only problem is you dehydrate faster, and it's important that you're aware of that. Like at Mid-Ohio, that was probably the first time all year I've had water while racing or needed to drink water out of the camelback (drink system). Just due to sweating so much, but physically I felt fine. I was in the gym on Monday."

Do you wear a cool suit?

SF: "I did not wear a cool suit. I don't wear them. I find them uncomfortable. I'd rather just train and be in better shape and not have to deal with it."

Do you prefer the oval track to the street circuit in Nashville?

SF: "Definitely prefer the oval to the street circuit. I wish the oval was closer to Downtown because Downtown's pretty awesome. But I'll take the oval any day."

Ferrucci Fast Facts: Age 28 (as of May 31)...Born in Woodbury, CT...Lives in Dallas, Texas...Married Renay Moore in January, 2024...In 2026, he continued to add to his record of  consecutive top-10 finishes in the Indianapolis 500 which is now eight with his eighth place finish...In 2025, earned career best finish of 2nd at Detroit Grand Prix and followed up with 3rd place finish at Road America for fourth consecutive top-5 finish...Earned 2024 NTT P1 Award at Portland, Ore. and posted 11 Top-10 finishes (career-best) to finish 9th in the NTT INDYCAR Series driver standings, his highest ranking to date. The Foyt team finished in the top-10 in the points standings for the first time since 2002... Scored career-best finish to date with his 3rd place finish in the 2023 Indianapolis 500 to continue his string of consecutive top-10 finishes in the 500...Finished 13th in standings with fourth place finish in the 500...drove part-time in 2021-22 but maintained top-10 streak in Indy 500 with finishes of sixth (RLL Racing) and 10th (Dreyer Reinbold Racing...Competed part-time in NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2021-22...moved to NTT INDYCAR Series fulltime in 2019 finishing 13th in standings for Dale Coyne and won Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year after finishing seventh... Made his INDYCAR debut in Detroit in 2018...Competed in Formula 2000, British Formula 3, GP3 finishing third at Spa Francorchamps as a rookie, was development driver for Haas F1 team for three years (2016-2018), moved to Formula 2 in 2018...Began racing karts at age 5, moved to cars in 2013.

The Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix has been extended to 300 laps which equals 399 miles on the 1.33 mile oval.

Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls airs immediately after the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup final match - approximately 5:35 p.m. ET, Sunday on FOX, FOX One (live).

 INDY NXT BY FIRESTONE SERIES

Nicholas Monteiro, driver of the No. 4 AJ Foyt Racing INDY NXT entry, heads to the Music City Grand Prix eager to build on the work he's put in behind the scenes. With countless hours in the gym and simulator, the rookie is focused on translating that preparation into a season-best result.

Nashville marks the second oval race of the season. What did you learn from your first oval race and the Nashville test that you'll apply this weekend?

NM: “My first oval race taught me a lot about patience, race management, and how important it is to stay consistent throughout a long run. The Nashville test also gave me a better understanding of the track and how the car reacts over a stint. I feel much more comfortable now, and I’m looking forward to putting everything I learned into practice this weekend.”

How challenging is Nashville from a driver’s perspective?

NM: “Nashville is a very demanding track. It’s fast, technical, and there’s very little room for mistakes because you’re always close to the wall. Managing tire degradation while staying aggressive is one of the biggest challenges, so it really rewards drivers who can stay focused every lap.”

If you had to compare the feeling of racing on an oval to anything, what would it be?

NM: “I’d compare it to flying a fighter jet just a few feet above the ground. Everything happens incredibly fast, you’re constantly making small corrections, and there’s no time to relax. It’s an adrenaline rush from the green flag all the way to the checkered flag.”

Alessandro de Tullio, heads to Nashville Superspeedway for the second oval race and only superspeedway event of the 2026 INDY NXT by Firestone season, setting his sights on victory in the No. 14 AJ Foyt Racing INDY NXT entry. The previous oval was a successful one for de Tullio, who finished second in his INDY NXT oval debut at World Wide Technology Raceway (aka Gateway). He also heads to Nashville tied for the fourth-most poles in a single INDY NXT season.

Nashville marks the second oval race of the season. What did you learn from your first oval race and the Nashville test that you'll apply this weekend?

ADT: “I learned a lot at Gateway and during the Nashville test, especially about how to manage the tires and racing in dirty air. Those lessons will definitely help this weekend.”

How challenging is Nashville from a driver's perspective?

ADT: “Nashville is tough, especially in race conditions because of the high speed cornering. It’s challenging to find the right balance and to follow other cars.”

You earned a runner-up finish in your INDY NXT oval debut at St. Louis. Does that help calm your nerves or give you an extra boost of confidence heading into Nashville?

ADT: “It certainly gives me a bit of confidence, but Nashville is a completely different type of oval. So, I will have a lot to learn here still.”

The INDY NXT race will be on FS1 starting at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.